Expansion - Hearts Of Iron IV: Man The Guns

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Edited by:Tiffany Lillie
Check out the review of Hearts of Iron IV here.

Hearts of Iron IV. All Discussions. Man the Guns changes. Another probable DLC would be Spain due to the SCW and an expansion of the Civil war mechanics. If you're more interested in the naval aspects of the game, then Man the Guns. It has a new ship designer, new naval missions (e.g. laying mines), you can select new traits for admirals, etc. It also has expanded focus trees for the US (including a new civil war), the UK, Mexico, and the Netherlands.

Paradox Development Studio is well known in the PC community for its niche market. Famed for their grueling grand strategy simulators, Paradox focuses in on what it does best and offers it in a variety of different flavors. These games have never been for the grander market, nor have they ever tried to make themselves out to be. From Europa Universalis to Stellaris, every Paradox studio title is intended for those gamers with a love for the minutiae of empire-building and the sweeping tide of grand conflict. Hearts of Iron IV, originally released in 2016,is one such title. The World War II simulator has received continued support from the developers in the form of DLC expansions, with Man the Guns being the most recent. Loaded with additional content to completely revamp the game's core naval systems, along with a host of changes to government and overall quality-of-life, the only question now is whether or not Man the Guns is a worthy addition to the series.

A War to End All Wars

For the uninitiated, delving into a Paradox Interactive title is something akin to building your first computer without a complete manual. Hearts of Iron IV is certainly no exception to this reality. Much like every other title developed by Paradox, Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy simulator that puts you in direct control of your nation with an almost datasheet-like system that will bombard you with an egregious amount of information that you probably won't think is important — but surprise, surprise: it's all important. While it can be a grueling process to become familiar with its robust features, Hearts of Iron IV is a truly rewarding experience, so long as you are willing to give it the necessary time to understand.

Hearts of Iron IV is set within the scant few years leading up to World War II, the climactic conflict that engulfed the entire world in its raging inferno. As is to be expected of a global conflict, you are able to play any of the available nations, from Argentina all the way to Nazi Germany or Mother Russia. Of course, it's important to note that many of the minor nations are given far fewer options. If you're not a veteran player of several hundred hours, playing your third how-Mexico-conquered-the-world run, then you'll likely be sticking to the major powers of the game. Regardless of which nation you choose, you will find yourself diving down into the guts of your nation's estate. Government policies, economics, ground forces, production, trade, naval, and air forces are all at your disposal and demand your attention. You must prepare your nation for the inevitable war, and you must decide whether you will weather the coming storm or fan the flames higher for your own ambitions.

Of course, as gratifying an experience it may be, the sheer complexity leaves several systems of the game lacking in depth, clunky, and messy to deal with at times. Over the past two years, several updates and expansions have been added, fine-tuning and overhauling major facets of the game or adding more depth to the many available nations for more varied playthroughs. The first to be added in 2019, Man the Guns is one such addition to the already extensive game. It's an expansion DLC that offers a much-needed overhaul for the naval system, and it also delivers a more diverse national focus system to four nations: The United States, The British Empire, Mexico, and The Netherlands.

Out in the Open Seas

As its title and cover art of strapping, shirtless sailors would suggest, Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns is primarily focused on its significant additions to naval organization and strategy. Compared to the ground forces, air and naval combat have felt like something of a constant afterthought, involving no more than clicking on a fleet and sending it off in a very generalized direction with a very generalized set of instructions, hoping for the best. While air-based combat is still waiting for that kind of love, the wolves of the sea have received some much-deserved love. Similar to how you can completely reorganize army divisions to suit your needs, naval ships now have the ability the be upgraded and redesigned. This allows you to not only change your naval vessels to suit any specific task you require, but also gives you the opportunity to refit older ships to help them keep up with newer models.

The sea chart has been cut into smaller pieces in certain areas now, allowing you to move your vessels around with more accuracy to help you avoid enemy ships or the new mines. More orders have been added as well, such as minesweeping (for the new mines) and you can even drill your naval and air units in peace time in the same way you can ground forces. Commanding your naval forces can still be somewhat clunky at times, but their continued naturalization into something more akin to ground forces is an important change that ensures quicker comprehension and easier gameplay. Speaking of making things easier, amphibious vehicles have been added in, giving you an extra boost for punching your way into enemy coastlines or providing solid support at a major river crossing.

Those Who Will Lead

New National Focus options offer new ways to play with some nations. The United States has been given Congress, requiring House and Senate support to enact major events while also offering many bonuses and unique story points. If that doesn't suit your fancy, a second civil war might occur, repeating the succession of the South for independence in a new, alternate history. Mexico is transformed to represent the conflict-ridden nation that it was, licking their wounds from their recent civil war and leaving you to decide how best to help your people rise from the ashes. The British Empire is given more control over its colonial vassals, allowing you to unite or simply decolonize them at your will, even giving you the option to retake the original colonies of North America, if you're gutsy enough. The Netherlands now have the alternate-history option to reinstate the monarchy at your whim, but the majority of their update revolves around how to better function as an exiled government.

While it will largely be of little interest in most single-player games, governments in exile is a new facet of gameplay that will add a bit of longevity to multiplayer campaigns. After a nation has capitulated, that nation's government will be sent into exile, usually under the patronage of a more powerful nation still in the game. This allows you to stay on the board as their selected nation, no longer in their homeland, but now with a host of added bonuses to fight back and reclaim their land in a glorious Reconquista.

Other changes include fuel as a new resource that is required to functionally manage vehicles, ships, and planes, requiring you now to stockpile them and keep a close eye on how you use these powerful weapons of war when the gas is being rationed out. Several new map filters have been added to make it easier for you to spot things like ideology, terrain, infrastructure, and population density. In truth, this still only scratches the surface of what Hearts of Iron IV: Man the Guns has to offer, and there is still yet more that comes with this extensive expansion.

The Verdict: Great

While it will do little to sway newcomers into picking up this title, Man the Guns is a fine addition to Hearts of Iron IV and a must buy for dedicated fans. A naval revamp, tons of changes for governments, and tweaks that make things easier or add more depth, make this DLC a worthy addition.

Of all the Paradox titles to deploy massive Mods libraries, none might compare with the whopping collection of over 20,000 Hearts of Iron IV Mods. Trying to pick and choose mods through this white-out of vast choices can be as daunting as Operation Barbarossa.

Still, let's ride this tiger of selection and focus on four salient categories to encircle some of the best mods out there. And yes, there is a Battle Royale mod.

What are the best Hearts of Iron 4 Mods?

• Cold War Iron Curtain: A World Divided (Total Conversion)
• End of a New Beginning (Total Conversion)
• BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• The Great War (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• The Road to 56 (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Hearts of Oak – Man the Guns (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Kaiserreich (Alternate History)
• Old World Blues (Alternate History)
• Expert AI 4.0 (Mechanics/Balance)
• Player-Led Peace Conferences (Mechanics/Balance)
• HOI4 In Real Time! (Mechanics/Balance/why)
• Soldier's Radio (Cosmetic)
• HOI4 – Texture Overhaul – Terrain (Cosmetic)
• World News (Cosmetic)

Cold War Iron Curtain: A World Divided

This is a new mod that's risen in popularity since we last did our checks. As implied by the title, it changes the setting to the Cold War period, with start dates ranging from 1949 through to 1970. There are plans to extend the timeline into the 1990's. This mod features between 10-20 years worth of content for all the major powers, including some minors. It also has thousands of new events, new units, new mechanics including DECON and MAD. You can purchase equipment from the private sector, a new economic system.

Many nations have their own unique mechanics as well. Make sure you don't accidentally download the old version of the mod. You want this one here.

Compatible of Collie 1.10.

End of a New Beginning

This mod caught our eye recently via our Discord sever, as it appeared to offer a Victorian-era experience wrapped in Hearts of Iron's shenanigans. We immediately sent our resident HoI 4 mod guru, Timothy, to check it out and answer one simple question: Is End of a New Beginning the Victoria 3 we've been looking for?

Short answer, probably not. The mod is still in relatively early days, and there's only dedicated content up to 1885. Furthermore, we're worried its commitment to extending the timeline from 1857 through to 2050 is a bit ambitious, given the vastly different worlds represented in that start and end date. They might as well just ask Paradox to make a new game. Also, warfare in EoanB isn't that satisfying as it still uses the mechanics from vanilla HoI 4, more or less. Waging war in the 19th century feels no different than waging war in the 20th, so there's still plenty of work to be done. That said, this is still a fascinating project, and one to keep an eye on!

Officially compatible up to Patch 1.9.3. Does not require any DLCs at the moment, and users are reporting that it seems to work fine with 1.10 Collie anyway.

BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod

One of the more famous mods from the days of Hearts of Iron 3, BlackICE is an immersion & realism mod aimed at making the game more challenging & historical. It's actually recommended that you play with 'Historical Focus' switched on for this mod, as it caters for the crowd who specifically want the challenge of WW2 as it unfolded, as opposed to the growing alt-history/sandbox crowd. Everything from new units and equipment, to new national Focus Trees (many borrowed from other mods that have done good work in this area), to expanding on the Law and Politics mechanics has been looked at. The AI is more challenging, there's more breadth and depth of options, and generally speaking this an excellent historical immersion experience.

BlackICE is compatible with Husky 1.9.3 and there's a test version for 1.10 Collie currently live here.

The Great War

Why fight WW2, when you can fight WW1 instead? The Great Wardoes exactly what it says on the tin - Hearts of Iron 4 has been transformed to the world of 1910, where old-fashioned imperialistic powers jockey for supremacy at the dawn of the 20th Century. The game & mechanics have been completely overhauled to fit the period - that means that innovations like Tanks and Planes will take a while to enter the fray, so you'll mainly be looking at infantry tactics. The team is currently at work on bridging the gap between the First and Second World Wars, with work being done on the interwar tech and decision trees.

Fun fact, the developers of this mod have actually launched a Patreon to fund development of their from-scratch WW1 game, Fields of History: The Great War.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS.

The Road to 56

More than just extending the timeline to 1956, this mod peppers the entire world with greater detail and complexity. Not content to wait for Paradox to release content packs for various countries, The Road to 56 provides deep and sometimes quirky focus trees for dozens of countries overlooked by the base game. The most amazing part about this deeper focus on different countries is that it offers choices that go to the very heart of the focus system: the ability to choose a nation's destiny does not need to be an exercise in strict historicity. The creativity that the team places on the focus trees is bolstered by upgrades and expansions to the technologies, political mechanics, laws, etc. This is a one stop shop for a total enhancement of the game.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.9.2 Husky & all DLCS. At the time of writing, an update to 1.10 Collie is expected within the next week.

Hearts of Oak – Man the Guns

Sometimes totally overhauling the game requires a subtle touch. In this case, Hearts of Oak does not attempt to change the base game into something unrecognizable but enhances and re-balances technologies, industries, wars, events etc. in areas where the Paradox team may have glossed over. Complete with a much improved AI, playing HOI4 no longer feels like a 'solved' game as most playthroughs can be like but is a dynamic and challenging foray into the dangers of Global Total War. With a keen focus on deepening historical accuracy with challenges for the player, this mod succeeds in bringing more life to this cacophony of death.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS.

Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod

Winner of the 'Outstanding Modding Achievement' at the 2018 PDXCon, Millennium Dawn delivers exactly what one would imagine: the modern world set in stunning detail on the HOI4 Engine. This mod will be the closest we'll get to a global geopolitical grand strategy set in contemporary times and its fantastic depth makes it an exciting if not eerie look at today's world. One of the best examples of the impressive capabilities of totally overhauling the game, this mod promises political intrigue that's worthy of network news.

Last time we checked, this mod is compatible with Husky 1.9.1. We're not sure about later versions at this time.

Kaiserreich Mod

The veteran alternate history mod on the block. This mod can trace its origin back to Hearts of Iron II. Kaiserreich asks the daring question of: 'What if Germany won WWI?'. A deeply rich world fourteen years in the making, every aspect of this alternate history is fully fleshed out in this latest incarnation to delight fans of the legacy of this mod as well as new players.

Tackling an entirely dynamic yet strangely parallel political landscape boasting thousands of unique events, fully fleshed out focus trees, and quirky interactions, this mod gives the player a tantalizing taste of living in an alternate timeline. A true joy to experience for the story and drama with brand new ideologies and situations based on all of the consequences of this 'what if'. The visual appeal is impressive as the custom models and graphics add true immersion to this other world. If you're interested in learning more, we did a more in-depth analysis into what makes this mod so compelling.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. Please note that a new version of the mod has been uploaded under a new entry, and you'll need to unsubscribe and re-subscribe to the new version.

Old World Blues

Old World Blues brings the Fallout universe to HoI4, which makes for a surprisingly solid combination. The research tab has been replaced by a new tech tree, reflecting the state of the Fallout universe in 2275; some of the 'tribal' factions will be equipped with spears and scavenged firearms, where the more advanced factions can research and deploy the vaunted Power Armor that has been on the cover of most every Fallout release in the last few years. Many of the factions will have their own unique decisions and focus trees. Much of this will be familiar to players of New Vegas, but there is plenty grabbed from the lore of the first and second Fallout games as well.

There is a lot of depth here, and more on the way, as the modding team is looking to expand the map eastward past the plains and to the Atlantic coast, where we will see the Capital Wasteland and the Commonwealth of Boston represented as well. Keep your eye on this one. Nethack: legacy download.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. There is a legacy version here.

Hearts Of Iron Iv Guide

Expert AI 4.0

This could also be considered an 'overhaul' mod of sorts given the extensive work done with the AI, but it's not meant to necessarily give the player an alternative scenario or a more immersive experience. Expert AIputs in a lot of behind the scenes work to make the AI a more challenging opponent for the players, specifically with the 1936 start with Historical Focus mode turned on. It's not able to address everything, but it touches a wide range of AI behaviours & decision making systems so that computer opponents fight smarter & harder. It's also not recommended you use this mod while playing minor nations.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Husky & all DLCS, although it has some very specific compatibility requirements. If you don't have Man the Guns, the mod will also cause some unexpected AI behaviour.

Thicc Cities – Continued

The amusingly accurate name delivers on its promise. Cities are now expanded into several provinces ramping up the siege drama of urban warfare. Single points and single army combat is expanded into a truly epic battlefield that does away with another layer of abstraction. A small change, but an incredibly rewarding one when such battles as Stalingrad and Moscow are finally more representative of their real history counterparts.

This mod is compatible up to Husky 1.9.2., but it doesn't work with other non-graphics mods.

Player-Led Peace Conferences

Never to trust the AI to have our best interests at heart, it's time to take full control of the peace process through the Player-Led Peace Conferencemod. The obvious drawback is that this is not at all 'historically accurate' but it does offer the player the choice to roleplay their way into a more reasonable peace table if they so desire or just greedily skew everything in his or her favour. Simple yet this mod fixes one of the most annoying things about playing with AI allies.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. A Legacy version for Version 1.9 and below players can be found here.

HOI4 In Real Time!

Have you ever thought, 'Gee, HOI4 goes way too fast for me! If only there was something more immersive!' Well you're in luck! With HOI4 In Real Time!, the game takes a full 60 real-life minutes to process one in-game hour at the slowest speed. You read that correctly. Don't use this mod. Or do. If you're reading this and the 2020 COVID-19 crises is still on-going, you'll certainly have time to now with us all quarantined.

This mod is, unfortunately, fully compatible up to 1.10 Collie.

Soldier's Radio

While the epic tones of HOI4 may be great for the high stakes drama, it's still rewarding to sit back and listen to the music of the era and of the common soldier. Highly immersive and strangely sombre, this music pack of over 600 songs (though not all are historically accurate) aims to create a certain atmosphere that reminds the player that he's leading millions to death, heartache, and immortal glory.

With the addition of the new in-game radio, now is a better time than ever to try this mod out!

Currently compatible with 1.10 Collie.

HOI4 – Texture Overhaul – Terrain

The nitty gritty of realistic global warfare is reflected in this meticulous reworking of the terrain textures into landscapes that not only look more realistic but speak of the startling scope of the conflict. A gorgeous tour de force, no one is the poorer for this graphical upgrade which brings an added level of immersion to the rampaging divisions vying for global control. One of the best things about this mod is that it does not sacrifice performance allowing the player to enjoy a greater expanse of visual goodies without any added lag.

Currently compatible up to 1.10 Collie.

World News Mod

One of the things HOI4 lacks is the view of how the general population fares when the world is in turmoil. World News brings back the newspaper feature of Victoria II, giving a glimpse into the life of the average person during wartime. There are some recycled items from Victoria II, but this mod goes a ways towards breaking up the monotony of the early game slog where all you can do is wait for foci to finish and factories to be built.

Fully compatible up to the current version and all DLCS.

How to Mod Hearts of Iron 4

Modding has never been easier as the Steam Workshop literally makes adding a mod as easy as clicking the subscribe button on the mod's respective page. The mod will be automatically downloaded and will populate the mods section in HOI4's launcher. Here are some tips for first timers:

• Check if the mod is up to date with the most recent patch for HOI4 (Currently 1.10 Collie). Once a new expansion comes out you may have to wait a few days, weeks, or even months for bigger mods, until the mod is updated. Thankfully, HOI4 will give you a warning if you're about to load a mod that isn't up to date. Also, each mod will tell you on the side menu if it requires certain DLC.
• Still want to play that favourite mod of yours but HOI4's latest update ruins your save game? You can always roll back your HOI4 version to continue your campaign. Check the mod pages on Steam or the Paradox forums on how to do this since it might be different for each mod and version of the game. If all else fails, ask in the comments threads for instructions!
• Check if the mods you've selected are compatible with the other mods you've downloaded. This information is usually found on each mod's page as they usually list which mods they are able to run with.
• Remember that most mods are not compatible with Ironman as they change game balance. If you're achievement hunting, you'll need to find those mods that will tell you in their descriptions that they're Ironman compatible.
• Finally, sometimes it takes a while for the HOI4 interface to properly load the mod's latest version. Check if you have auto-updates enabled for mods and then, if you're unsure, simply relaunch the HOI4 launcher to check if all of the mods are present and up to date.

Keep in mind that not all mods might be found on the Steam Workshop even if the vast majority are. Simply check the Paradox forum for their listed mods and follow their instructions on their respective threads to download them. While the kinds of mods people want to look for is up to them, let's go through some key categories that will help catalyse that modding experience that has become such a staple for Paradox games.

Hearts Of Iron Iv Wiki

Do you have any mod suggestions or personal favourites we can add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

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The Verdict: Great

While it will do little to sway newcomers into picking up this title, Man the Guns is a fine addition to Hearts of Iron IV and a must buy for dedicated fans. A naval revamp, tons of changes for governments, and tweaks that make things easier or add more depth, make this DLC a worthy addition.

Of all the Paradox titles to deploy massive Mods libraries, none might compare with the whopping collection of over 20,000 Hearts of Iron IV Mods. Trying to pick and choose mods through this white-out of vast choices can be as daunting as Operation Barbarossa.

Still, let's ride this tiger of selection and focus on four salient categories to encircle some of the best mods out there. And yes, there is a Battle Royale mod.

What are the best Hearts of Iron 4 Mods?

• Cold War Iron Curtain: A World Divided (Total Conversion)
• End of a New Beginning (Total Conversion)
• BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• The Great War (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• The Road to 56 (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Hearts of Oak – Man the Guns (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod (Total Conversion/Immersion)
• Kaiserreich (Alternate History)
• Old World Blues (Alternate History)
• Expert AI 4.0 (Mechanics/Balance)
• Player-Led Peace Conferences (Mechanics/Balance)
• HOI4 In Real Time! (Mechanics/Balance/why)
• Soldier's Radio (Cosmetic)
• HOI4 – Texture Overhaul – Terrain (Cosmetic)
• World News (Cosmetic)

Cold War Iron Curtain: A World Divided

This is a new mod that's risen in popularity since we last did our checks. As implied by the title, it changes the setting to the Cold War period, with start dates ranging from 1949 through to 1970. There are plans to extend the timeline into the 1990's. This mod features between 10-20 years worth of content for all the major powers, including some minors. It also has thousands of new events, new units, new mechanics including DECON and MAD. You can purchase equipment from the private sector, a new economic system.

Many nations have their own unique mechanics as well. Make sure you don't accidentally download the old version of the mod. You want this one here.

Compatible of Collie 1.10.

End of a New Beginning

This mod caught our eye recently via our Discord sever, as it appeared to offer a Victorian-era experience wrapped in Hearts of Iron's shenanigans. We immediately sent our resident HoI 4 mod guru, Timothy, to check it out and answer one simple question: Is End of a New Beginning the Victoria 3 we've been looking for?

Short answer, probably not. The mod is still in relatively early days, and there's only dedicated content up to 1885. Furthermore, we're worried its commitment to extending the timeline from 1857 through to 2050 is a bit ambitious, given the vastly different worlds represented in that start and end date. They might as well just ask Paradox to make a new game. Also, warfare in EoanB isn't that satisfying as it still uses the mechanics from vanilla HoI 4, more or less. Waging war in the 19th century feels no different than waging war in the 20th, so there's still plenty of work to be done. That said, this is still a fascinating project, and one to keep an eye on!

Officially compatible up to Patch 1.9.3. Does not require any DLCs at the moment, and users are reporting that it seems to work fine with 1.10 Collie anyway.

BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod

One of the more famous mods from the days of Hearts of Iron 3, BlackICE is an immersion & realism mod aimed at making the game more challenging & historical. It's actually recommended that you play with 'Historical Focus' switched on for this mod, as it caters for the crowd who specifically want the challenge of WW2 as it unfolded, as opposed to the growing alt-history/sandbox crowd. Everything from new units and equipment, to new national Focus Trees (many borrowed from other mods that have done good work in this area), to expanding on the Law and Politics mechanics has been looked at. The AI is more challenging, there's more breadth and depth of options, and generally speaking this an excellent historical immersion experience.

BlackICE is compatible with Husky 1.9.3 and there's a test version for 1.10 Collie currently live here.

The Great War

Why fight WW2, when you can fight WW1 instead? The Great Wardoes exactly what it says on the tin - Hearts of Iron 4 has been transformed to the world of 1910, where old-fashioned imperialistic powers jockey for supremacy at the dawn of the 20th Century. The game & mechanics have been completely overhauled to fit the period - that means that innovations like Tanks and Planes will take a while to enter the fray, so you'll mainly be looking at infantry tactics. The team is currently at work on bridging the gap between the First and Second World Wars, with work being done on the interwar tech and decision trees.

Fun fact, the developers of this mod have actually launched a Patreon to fund development of their from-scratch WW1 game, Fields of History: The Great War.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS.

The Road to 56

More than just extending the timeline to 1956, this mod peppers the entire world with greater detail and complexity. Not content to wait for Paradox to release content packs for various countries, The Road to 56 provides deep and sometimes quirky focus trees for dozens of countries overlooked by the base game. The most amazing part about this deeper focus on different countries is that it offers choices that go to the very heart of the focus system: the ability to choose a nation's destiny does not need to be an exercise in strict historicity. The creativity that the team places on the focus trees is bolstered by upgrades and expansions to the technologies, political mechanics, laws, etc. This is a one stop shop for a total enhancement of the game.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.9.2 Husky & all DLCS. At the time of writing, an update to 1.10 Collie is expected within the next week.

Hearts of Oak – Man the Guns

Sometimes totally overhauling the game requires a subtle touch. In this case, Hearts of Oak does not attempt to change the base game into something unrecognizable but enhances and re-balances technologies, industries, wars, events etc. in areas where the Paradox team may have glossed over. Complete with a much improved AI, playing HOI4 no longer feels like a 'solved' game as most playthroughs can be like but is a dynamic and challenging foray into the dangers of Global Total War. With a keen focus on deepening historical accuracy with challenges for the player, this mod succeeds in bringing more life to this cacophony of death.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS.

Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod

Winner of the 'Outstanding Modding Achievement' at the 2018 PDXCon, Millennium Dawn delivers exactly what one would imagine: the modern world set in stunning detail on the HOI4 Engine. This mod will be the closest we'll get to a global geopolitical grand strategy set in contemporary times and its fantastic depth makes it an exciting if not eerie look at today's world. One of the best examples of the impressive capabilities of totally overhauling the game, this mod promises political intrigue that's worthy of network news.

Last time we checked, this mod is compatible with Husky 1.9.1. We're not sure about later versions at this time.

Kaiserreich Mod

The veteran alternate history mod on the block. This mod can trace its origin back to Hearts of Iron II. Kaiserreich asks the daring question of: 'What if Germany won WWI?'. A deeply rich world fourteen years in the making, every aspect of this alternate history is fully fleshed out in this latest incarnation to delight fans of the legacy of this mod as well as new players.

Tackling an entirely dynamic yet strangely parallel political landscape boasting thousands of unique events, fully fleshed out focus trees, and quirky interactions, this mod gives the player a tantalizing taste of living in an alternate timeline. A true joy to experience for the story and drama with brand new ideologies and situations based on all of the consequences of this 'what if'. The visual appeal is impressive as the custom models and graphics add true immersion to this other world. If you're interested in learning more, we did a more in-depth analysis into what makes this mod so compelling.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. Please note that a new version of the mod has been uploaded under a new entry, and you'll need to unsubscribe and re-subscribe to the new version.

Old World Blues

Old World Blues brings the Fallout universe to HoI4, which makes for a surprisingly solid combination. The research tab has been replaced by a new tech tree, reflecting the state of the Fallout universe in 2275; some of the 'tribal' factions will be equipped with spears and scavenged firearms, where the more advanced factions can research and deploy the vaunted Power Armor that has been on the cover of most every Fallout release in the last few years. Many of the factions will have their own unique decisions and focus trees. Much of this will be familiar to players of New Vegas, but there is plenty grabbed from the lore of the first and second Fallout games as well.

There is a lot of depth here, and more on the way, as the modding team is looking to expand the map eastward past the plains and to the Atlantic coast, where we will see the Capital Wasteland and the Commonwealth of Boston represented as well. Keep your eye on this one. Nethack: legacy download.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. There is a legacy version here.

Hearts Of Iron Iv Guide

Expert AI 4.0

This could also be considered an 'overhaul' mod of sorts given the extensive work done with the AI, but it's not meant to necessarily give the player an alternative scenario or a more immersive experience. Expert AIputs in a lot of behind the scenes work to make the AI a more challenging opponent for the players, specifically with the 1936 start with Historical Focus mode turned on. It's not able to address everything, but it touches a wide range of AI behaviours & decision making systems so that computer opponents fight smarter & harder. It's also not recommended you use this mod while playing minor nations.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Husky & all DLCS, although it has some very specific compatibility requirements. If you don't have Man the Guns, the mod will also cause some unexpected AI behaviour.

Thicc Cities – Continued

The amusingly accurate name delivers on its promise. Cities are now expanded into several provinces ramping up the siege drama of urban warfare. Single points and single army combat is expanded into a truly epic battlefield that does away with another layer of abstraction. A small change, but an incredibly rewarding one when such battles as Stalingrad and Moscow are finally more representative of their real history counterparts.

This mod is compatible up to Husky 1.9.2., but it doesn't work with other non-graphics mods.

Player-Led Peace Conferences

Never to trust the AI to have our best interests at heart, it's time to take full control of the peace process through the Player-Led Peace Conferencemod. The obvious drawback is that this is not at all 'historically accurate' but it does offer the player the choice to roleplay their way into a more reasonable peace table if they so desire or just greedily skew everything in his or her favour. Simple yet this mod fixes one of the most annoying things about playing with AI allies.

This mod is compatible with Version 1.10 Collie & all DLCS. A Legacy version for Version 1.9 and below players can be found here.

HOI4 In Real Time!

Have you ever thought, 'Gee, HOI4 goes way too fast for me! If only there was something more immersive!' Well you're in luck! With HOI4 In Real Time!, the game takes a full 60 real-life minutes to process one in-game hour at the slowest speed. You read that correctly. Don't use this mod. Or do. If you're reading this and the 2020 COVID-19 crises is still on-going, you'll certainly have time to now with us all quarantined.

This mod is, unfortunately, fully compatible up to 1.10 Collie.

Soldier's Radio

While the epic tones of HOI4 may be great for the high stakes drama, it's still rewarding to sit back and listen to the music of the era and of the common soldier. Highly immersive and strangely sombre, this music pack of over 600 songs (though not all are historically accurate) aims to create a certain atmosphere that reminds the player that he's leading millions to death, heartache, and immortal glory.

With the addition of the new in-game radio, now is a better time than ever to try this mod out!

Currently compatible with 1.10 Collie.

HOI4 – Texture Overhaul – Terrain

The nitty gritty of realistic global warfare is reflected in this meticulous reworking of the terrain textures into landscapes that not only look more realistic but speak of the startling scope of the conflict. A gorgeous tour de force, no one is the poorer for this graphical upgrade which brings an added level of immersion to the rampaging divisions vying for global control. One of the best things about this mod is that it does not sacrifice performance allowing the player to enjoy a greater expanse of visual goodies without any added lag.

Currently compatible up to 1.10 Collie.

World News Mod

One of the things HOI4 lacks is the view of how the general population fares when the world is in turmoil. World News brings back the newspaper feature of Victoria II, giving a glimpse into the life of the average person during wartime. There are some recycled items from Victoria II, but this mod goes a ways towards breaking up the monotony of the early game slog where all you can do is wait for foci to finish and factories to be built.

Fully compatible up to the current version and all DLCS.

How to Mod Hearts of Iron 4

Modding has never been easier as the Steam Workshop literally makes adding a mod as easy as clicking the subscribe button on the mod's respective page. The mod will be automatically downloaded and will populate the mods section in HOI4's launcher. Here are some tips for first timers:

• Check if the mod is up to date with the most recent patch for HOI4 (Currently 1.10 Collie). Once a new expansion comes out you may have to wait a few days, weeks, or even months for bigger mods, until the mod is updated. Thankfully, HOI4 will give you a warning if you're about to load a mod that isn't up to date. Also, each mod will tell you on the side menu if it requires certain DLC.
• Still want to play that favourite mod of yours but HOI4's latest update ruins your save game? You can always roll back your HOI4 version to continue your campaign. Check the mod pages on Steam or the Paradox forums on how to do this since it might be different for each mod and version of the game. If all else fails, ask in the comments threads for instructions!
• Check if the mods you've selected are compatible with the other mods you've downloaded. This information is usually found on each mod's page as they usually list which mods they are able to run with.
• Remember that most mods are not compatible with Ironman as they change game balance. If you're achievement hunting, you'll need to find those mods that will tell you in their descriptions that they're Ironman compatible.
• Finally, sometimes it takes a while for the HOI4 interface to properly load the mod's latest version. Check if you have auto-updates enabled for mods and then, if you're unsure, simply relaunch the HOI4 launcher to check if all of the mods are present and up to date.

Keep in mind that not all mods might be found on the Steam Workshop even if the vast majority are. Simply check the Paradox forum for their listed mods and follow their instructions on their respective threads to download them. While the kinds of mods people want to look for is up to them, let's go through some key categories that will help catalyse that modding experience that has become such a staple for Paradox games.

Hearts Of Iron Iv Wiki

Do you have any mod suggestions or personal favourites we can add to our list? Let us know in the comments!

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