Hearts of Iron II: Doomsday

 PC
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 43 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 43
  3. Negative: 2 out of 43
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  1. PeterR.
    Sep 9, 2007
    10
    It took me a long time to warm up to this game, due to its steep learning curve and complicated mechanics, but the sheer level of historical accuracy and depth kept bringing me back. Now I consider it the best strategy game ever designed. To call it an advanced game of Risk scarcely does it justice; no game, WW2-themed or otherwise, has so accurately emulated the actual conditions of war It took me a long time to warm up to this game, due to its steep learning curve and complicated mechanics, but the sheer level of historical accuracy and depth kept bringing me back. Now I consider it the best strategy game ever designed. To call it an advanced game of Risk scarcely does it justice; no game, WW2-themed or otherwise, has so accurately emulated the actual conditions of war on this scale. So accurate are the mechanics that you will often find yourself in the same predicaments that faced the major powers: Germany running out of men and oil, the Soviets without good leadership after Stalin's officer purge, or the USA unable to intervene due to the isolationism of its citizens prior to Pearl Harbor. The game is set up so that events happen as they realistically should, though you can choose to diverge from history and create your own World War. You can also play as any nation in the world, and while many of them aren't very fun or interesting, it gives a great deal of variety and lets the player be creative. There is little I can think of to complain about this game, other than the fact that its complexity might prove to be too much for casual gamers. Most of the outstanding complaints I have of the original game have been addressed in this most recent version. (For those of you who do not already know, Doomsday is a standalone expansion and includes the original Hearts of Iron II.) Any fan of strategy, or any player with a lot of ambition, would do well to invest in the game, as it will give them hours and hours of fun and replay value.… Expand
  2. JohnD.
    Jun 5, 2006
    10
    Excellent GS game.
  3. Twelvefield
    May 17, 2006
    8
    A very deep, very engrossing political war game that happens to let you research and build pretty much every WWII weapon from a partisan with a pitch fork to an atom bomb, with everything in between. That, and it's half the price of the original game! Unimpressive, utilitarian graphics and sound, and a debateably enjoyable soundtrack based loosely on martial music from war movies and A very deep, very engrossing political war game that happens to let you research and build pretty much every WWII weapon from a partisan with a pitch fork to an atom bomb, with everything in between. That, and it's half the price of the original game! Unimpressive, utilitarian graphics and sound, and a debateably enjoyable soundtrack based loosely on martial music from war movies and classical music, are coupled with a very clever AI system and some very well-polished options for international diplomacy. Too bad the game gets a bit crashy at times, but you could do a lot worse for the money. Complicated and addictive, this game is a winner!… Expand
  4. J.S.
    Jul 30, 2007
    8
    Like the most complicated game of Risk ever. Or just a really good RTS. None of the goofy rock-paper-scissors gameplay that many others have and the pausable real-time engine is a great idea for this type of game.
  5. EliasO.
    Jan 14, 2008
    9
    It's a great game, and any History/strategy gamer will just love it.. And there are several superb mods for it too, in particular Hearts of Iron2: Doomsday Armageddon Fallout mod It's awesome.
  6. theFoss
    Aug 6, 2016
    5
    OK game, with a steep learning curve. Play balance can be difficult, in most games that I play as Allies (Usually US), the Soviets devour Europe, in it's entirety, well before I can deploy any force that they can't just crush should the WWIII option become active. Another problem I've encountered, if the US builds forces too quickly, the Japanese DO NOT declare war even into 1943, andOK game, with a steep learning curve. Play balance can be difficult, in most games that I play as Allies (Usually US), the Soviets devour Europe, in it's entirety, well before I can deploy any force that they can't just crush should the WWIII option become active. Another problem I've encountered, if the US builds forces too quickly, the Japanese DO NOT declare war even into 1943, and you have to have moved your intervention marker enough to allow "Join Alliance", just to advance from watching time click off .

    On my PC running Win7pro, game occasionally crashes. ,    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Best PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. GameZone
    86
    If you enjoyed any of the Hearts of Iron games then you will love this expansion pack. Just like the other games it has huge replay value and you definitely get a lot of "bang" for your buck.
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  2. GameSpot
    80
    It feels a bit too much like its big brother, but all of the speculative history, nuclear tension, and Cold War spice make it a great addition to Paradox's stable of strategy games. It's also a great bargain when you consider the sheer amount of game you get here for less than $20 and the extra hours you'll get out of what modders will undoubtedly create with the scenario editor.
    Read full review
  3. 1UP
    80
    But if you get your kicks closing howzatwork-gaps or scribbling 10-page After Action Reports (AARs) novellas on message boards, Doomsday's probably a $20 bargain-basement ticket.
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