Revamping Tabletop Strategy: The Potential of the Hearts of Iron Board Game

Paradox Interactive’s beloved World War II strategy game, Hearts of Iron, is taking on a new life as a board game, thanks to the talented folks at Steamforged Games. The eagerly awaited Hearts of Iron: The Board Game was announced on Friday, promising an engrossing three- to four-hour journey for two to five players. This tabletop adventure will feature “multi-layered gameplay, historical depth, and the liberty to explore alternative timelines.” Skeptics might dismiss it as another rendition of the same old strategy wheel, but I see an exciting opportunity for innovation, bringing grand historical strategy to the tabletop in thrilling ways.

Back when I chatted with Johan Andersson in 2016—he was then Paradox’s executive vice president of game development—our discussion centered around Hearts of Iron 4. He recounted his peculiar final interview with Paradox in 1998, which wrapped up with a game of Axis & Allies—a classic now published by Renegade Games.

The interview ended with the producer asking, “Okay, well the interview is finished. We’re going to play some Axis & Allies here in the office. You want to stay?” Andersson was in the heat of planning Britain’s air raids and Normandy’s landings when he was casually informed by the producer that he had the job.

Interestingly, when Hearts of Iron 4 launched just half a year later, on the fitting date of June 6, it was a far cry from the straightforward strategies of Axis & Allies. Andersson and his team at Paradox drew inspiration from Larry Harris Jr.’s creation, yet they expanded and refined it over the years into something much grander. Sure, you could have those classic tank skirmishes across Europe or dogfights in the Pacific, but Hearts of Iron 4 truly shone in crafting alternate histories, a feat most war games, including Axis & Allies, struggle to achieve.

Andersson shared with me, “I’ve seen a Berlin/Moscow Axis where everyone else fights against those two. I’ve seen the United States join the Axis. I’ve seen Britain and Japan ally. There’s all of this weird stuff that happens. And that makes the game—not completely unpredictable, but when a human starts doing it it’s extremely challenging and extremely fun.”

The recent announcement gives us a glimpse into how Steamforged is capturing the essence of Hearts of Iron. They’ve stated that their board game will showcase multiple playable nations that players can mold through various ideologies, either sticking to history or altering its course with political maneuvers and large-scale warfare, all of which means the map could be redrawn in unexpected ways. These different ideology and nation combinations promise endless replayability. It’s an ambitious undertaking, and I’m eager to see how they pull it off using just paper and plastic.

While I’m waiting with anticipation to see the final product, I think it’s wise to keep an eye out for playthrough videos and other details before diving into the crowdfunding campaign. Mark your calendars, because Hearts of Iron: The Board Game is gearing up for its release on Gamefound early next year. Don’t forget to sign up for notifications so you don’t miss out!