Hearts of Iron Board Game: A New Era for Tabletop Strategy Evolution

Hearts of Iron, the iconic World War II strategy game from Paradox Interactive, is getting a fresh twist with a board game adaptation by Steamforged Games. Announced on Friday, Hearts of Iron: The Board Game promises a gaming session lasting three to four hours, accommodating two to five players. The game boasts “multi-layered gameplay, historical depth, and the freedom to explore alternative timelines,” offering a fresh take on grand strategy for the tabletop. Skeptics might see this as a simple rehash, but I see it as an exciting evolution—a chance to bring historical grand strategy into a new dimension.

Back in 2016, I had the opportunity to chat with Johan Andersson, who was then Paradox’s executive vice president of game development. During our conversation about Hearts of Iron 4, he shared an intriguing story about his last job interview back in 1998. It involved a session of the classic board game, Axis & Allies, now published by Renegade Games.

“The producer at the time wrapped up the interview with, ‘Alright, we’re done here. We’re playing some Axis & Allies in the office. Want to join?’” Andersson recalled. He was in the midst of strategizing Britain’s next big moves—air assaults and landing at Normandy—when the producer gave him the news that he got the job.

Fast forward to the launch of Hearts of Iron 4, released on June 6, about six months after our interview, it was clear that Paradox had taken inspiration from Axis & Allies. Yet, what they created was so much more than a reimagined version of Larry Harris Jr.’s work. While players could still engage in battles between American, British, and German forces across Europe and witness fighter planes contend over the Pacific, the real charm lay in the game’s ability to craft alternate histories—a feature most war games, including Axis & Allies, still lack even today.

Andersson noted, “I’ve seen scenarios where Berlin and Moscow team up, making everyone else their adversary. The United States joining the Axis and the peculiar alliances of Britain and Japan are all part of the unexpected yet thrilling alternate plots that arise. It makes for unpredictable gameplay; it’s exhilarating and challenging when real players take the reins.”

Steamforged’s announcement hints that they grasp what truly sets Hearts of Iron apart. According to their release, the board game showcases multiple nations that players can shape through their chosen ideologies, either following history or altering its path. Players will engage in political scheming and grand-scale warfare, altering maps and potentially giving the game significant replay value. This is ambitious, and I’m eager to see how they translate such a concept using just paper and plastic.

While I’m intrigued about the final product’s outcome, I suggest keeping an eye on various playthrough videos and updates before investing in the crowdfunding campaign. Hearts of Iron: The Board Game is slated to launch on Gamefound early next year, and you can register for updates ahead of its release.