PCGame

Hearts of Iron III

World War II grand strategy across diplomacy, industry, and combat

Paradox Development Studio · Published by Paradox Interactive · Released Aug 7, 2009

Strategy

Reviews
Mostly Positive
72% of 5,706
Recent reviews
Mostly Negative
25% of 51 in 30 days
Players
40
daily peak, Nov 7, 2026
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Last update on Steam
6 years ago
May 4, 2020
Minimum PC
8800
2 GB RAM · 2 GB disk
Full requirements

Metacritic: 77/100 (critic reviews)

What is Hearts of Iron III?

A map-based World War II grand strategy game where you lead a nation through scenarios set between 1936 and 1948. You direct land, naval, and air forces while managing diplomacy, politics, industry, and research as the war unfolds.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy detailed World War II military planning
  • +you like managing diplomacy, production, and research
  • +you favor complex strategy with extensive micromanagement

Not for you if...

  • −you prefer straightforward battles to detailed nation management
  • −you want strategy without a steep learning curve

What players say

72% of 5,706 reviews are positive · 25% of 51 in the last 30 days

Players praise the detailed military planning, logistics, and wartime politics. Many report crashes or trouble launching the game on modern systems, and some find it difficult to learn.

Players over time

▲ +5% vs a month ago

Players online on Steam, one sample a day.

Highest since Sep 2026: 56 players on Sep 21, 2026.

Show the data
DayPlayers
Nov 7, 202640
Nov 6, 202630
Nov 5, 202635
Nov 4, 202636
Nov 3, 202638
Nov 2, 202645
Nov 1, 202646
Oct 31, 202644
Oct 30, 202632
Oct 29, 202639
Oct 28, 202632
Oct 27, 202618
Oct 27, 202633
Oct 26, 202632
Oct 25, 202638
Oct 24, 202633
Oct 23, 202625
Oct 22, 20260
Oct 21, 202640
Oct 20, 202640
Oct 19, 202643
Oct 18, 202644
Oct 17, 202642
Oct 16, 202628
Oct 15, 202631
Oct 14, 202633
Oct 13, 202644
Oct 12, 202638
Oct 11, 202642
Oct 10, 202633
Oct 9, 202640
Oct 8, 202641
Oct 7, 202635
Oct 6, 202628
Oct 5, 202639
Oct 4, 202651
Oct 3, 202642
Oct 2, 202643
Oct 1, 202638
Sep 30, 202635
Sep 29, 202641
Sep 28, 202642
Sep 27, 202650
Sep 26, 202642
Sep 25, 202641
Sep 24, 202627
Sep 23, 202641
Sep 23, 202636
Sep 22, 202647
Sep 21, 202656

Screenshots and trailer

Hearts of Iron III screenshot 1

Hearts of Iron III system requirements

Minimum: 8800, 2 GB RAM, 2 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run Hearts of Iron III?

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Minimum

OS
Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP/Vista
Processor
Intel Pentium IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+
Graphics
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1900 videocard
Memory
2 GB of RAM
Storage
2 GB

Does Hearts of Iron III have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: co-op (mode not specified). It also has a single-player mode.

Does Hearts of Iron III run on Steam Deck?

Unsupported No: Valve rates it Unsupported on Steam Deck.

  • Not supported on SteamOS

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Steam features
Family Sharing, Trading cards
Languages
Text only: English, French, German, Spanish - Spain.

Does Hearts of Iron III use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

Tags

Recent updates

18 DLC available.

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