Top 25 Best Hearts Of Iron 4 Mods Worth Downloading

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In the grand strategy space, Hearts of Iron 4 might be as grand as it gets.

It’s basically a simulation of WWII, where the outcome isn’t dictated by what’s written in the history books.

And you learn pretty quickly that war isn’t only about shooting soldiers and manning tanks. The true depth of the game lies in how it gives you a bird’s eye view of everything that goes on during wartime –politics, diplomacy, and even economy.

But if you’ve already played through this so many times and really want some fresh campaigns, modding is here to help.

And with this massive list I think you’ll be itching to try out at least a few of these.

 

25. HOI4 – Texture Overhaul

HOI4 - Texture Overhaul Mod screenshot

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As with any game, one of the first things modders always improve is graphics.

Hearts Of Iron 4 is no different.

And as long as your setup can handle it, you’re going to want to download and install all 5 of AdamosTomatos’ texture packs.

The level of detail found in HOI4’s visuals is already amazing. But these just take everything up a notch.

The collection includes texture overhauls for terrain, water, borders, and citylights, as well as a shader pack to make everything look even more realistic.

 

24. Coloured Buttons

Coloured Buttons Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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While the first mod was purely cosmetic, this next one makes some visual changes as well… but to serve a different purpose.

Gundahar’s Coloured Buttons mod simply color-codes the most important buttons on the otherwise dull UI of the base game, making everything much easier to navigate through.

You might have noticed that everything looks alike in the default UI, which can make it difficult to find exactly what you’re looking for.

As advertised, the mod prevents miss clicks and vitalizes a somewhat plain UI.

 

23. Battlesound – Sound Modification

Battlesound - Sound Modification for Hearts Of Iron 4

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Graphics aren’t the only thing getting upgraded in HOI4.

The music and sounds can be altered with modding as well.

This next mod in particular might not seem like much, but you’d be surprised much more immersive the game can feel.

This Battlesounds mod pack changes nearly all animation sounds in HOI4. This way, in-game sounds will actually be interesting. Instead of the repetitive gunfire and explosions you’d normally hear in the background.

 

22. Hearts of Iron III Music Addon

Hearts of Iron III Music Addon for HOI4

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Wartime isn’t necessarily all gunfights all the time.

There will be some downtime, especially when carefully plotting political moves or managing funding for military resources.

And what better time to have a good soundtrack to keep you company?

The Hearts of Iron III Music Addon is a great option for additional music, as it doesn’t remove anything, but just adds all the music from HOI3 to the game.

Fans of the series, rejoice!

 

21. HOI4 Historical Flag Mod

HOI4 Historical Flag Mod screenshot

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Speaking of immersion, there are several smaller mods aimed directly at improving that.

They might not seem like much on their own, but trust me: when installed together these will make a huge difference. Especially if you’re at all familiar with history.

The first of these mods is the Historical Flag Mod, which simply replaces the flags for pretty every nation to an accurate depiction of what was actually used during the time.

 

20. Unique Infantry Equipment

Unique Infantry Equipment Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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Right alongside the previous mod you’re going to want Ulmont’s Unique Infrantry Equipment mod.

Like the previous entry, this one replaces all information and icons for infantry weapons in the game.

That’s right, all infantry equipment will now show accurate icons of what was actually used by each country, along with their proper names as well.

A definite must-have. Especially for history buffs.

 

19. Strategic View Adjustments

Strategic View Adjustments HOI4 Mod

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Another quality of life mod that further improves your UI?

I’ll take it!

Strategic View Adjustments makes several visual changes, all geared towards making things much more readable and easier to understand.

For one, counters are now collapsible. So they don’t obstruct your view at any time.

Several icons have also been colored and tweaked for easier visibility, along with several font adjustments and resizing to make everything much easier to read.

 

18. World News

World News Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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I have to admit, this next one doesn’t really do much. I personally think it’s really cool though, doing a great job at making the game more immersive as well.

Modders lemonporn and LordVarangian felt that HOI4 was lacking when it comes to flavor. Other than the few news and major events throughout a campaign, there isn’t much going on.

As a result, they created the World News mod.

It essentially gives you a weekly newspaper spread similar to Victoria II’s mechanic.

It’s a great flavor mod that adds a total of 165 weekly articles on different ads, historic events, and even everyday news relevant to the time.

 

17. Realistic Air Missions

Realistic Air Missions Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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If you’ve played through the campaign a few times before, you’re most likely already looking for ways to expand your next session to keep things interesting.

There are several mods that can help. Pne of which is Aerodil’s Realistic Air Missions.

As you probably guessed, the mod focuses on HOI4’s aircraft system, significantly expanding on the base game’s air tech tree.

The improved tech tree includes mission capabilities for fighters, heavy fighters, medium bombers and heavy bombers, new aircraft variants, and more historical researchable aircraft types.

If you enjoy maximizing your air force, you can’t go wrong with this one.

 

16. Expanded Technology + Industry + Equipment

Expanded Technology + Industry + Equipment HOI4 Mod

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If you want to take things even further, the Expanded Technology + Industry + Equipment mod is worth looking into

The mod enhances the game’s entire tech tree, even taking it into the early 1950’s.

There are so many added options for research here, which means you’ll have to be more careful about choosing what you get. Don’t worry too much though, as an additional research slot is also granted to make room for more technological advancement as well.

 

15. IR Sanguinem et Lacrimas

IR Sanguinem et Lacrimas Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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IR Sanguinem et Lacrimas is another fantastic mod if you’re looking to expand on HOI4’s research options.

Except this time, modder Araxiel did his best to stay as close to possible to the vanilla tech tree.

Instead of making large changes, he focuses on keeping it realistic and historically accurate so as not to break the game’s immersion.

It’s definitely similar to the previous mod. But does have a unique flavor to it.

This one covers everything from amphibious tanks all the way to chemical warfare – which should make for an interesting WWII campaign.

 

14. Hearts of Iron: New World Order

Hearts of Iron: New World Order Mod screenshot

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New World Order is another wonderful expansion option which offers its own unique approach to enhancing HOI4’s gameplay.

Modders Pearl and Protroid decided to place their focus on improving political systems instead of tech trees, with the ultimate goal of changing how you make decisions for your nation during your playthrough.

Manpower laws are heavily expanded here, as well as the introduction of press and women’s rights laws – making for a wider range of possibilities within the game’s politics system.

This should make for some interesting changes in how the war pans out for sure.

 

13. The Road to 56

The Road to 56 Mod for Hearts Of Iron 4

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The Road to 56 is widely considered to be the best HOI4 expansion mod available. And it takes it even further than tech tree enhancements.

While the mod does expand the tech tree, it also extends the entire game’s timeline all the way to 1956.

With that, The Road to 56 then classifies itself as an alternate history mod, as it also makes way for outcomes that wouldn’t be possible in vanilla.

That’s not all: as the mod features new units, a new troop experience system, and expanded difficulty modifiers, among other changes.

 

12. Expert AI 4.0

Expert AI 4.0 for Hearts Of Iron 4

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If you’re still enjoying vanilla HOI4, you might want to consider taking the difficulty level up a notch.

Expert AI 4.0 is the perfect way to do so, bringing a much more aggressive AI to your campaign experience.

You’ll find that the enemy AI is much less predictable with this installed, as they’ve been given enhanced decision-making skills covering everything from division designs, research, diplomacy, construction, and even combat strategy.

It won’t be an easy playthrough for sure.

But if you’re up for a challenge, go ahead and give this a shot.

 

11. Endsieg: Ultimate Victory

Endsieg: Ultimate Victory Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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There are always the mods for players who are looking for a much more extensive overhaul of the game.

We read you loud and clear.

And there are loads of options for HOI4, each having plenty to offer – which only means you’ll have lots of options for when you feel like the game you’re playing just isn’t as exciting as it used to be.

Endsieg: Ultimate Victory already gives you a number of options once you get this installed, allowing you to choose between 8 different starting points. But that’s just the beginning.

You’ll be able to start as early as 1910, just at the eve of WWI, or all the way up to 1945 as WWII is coming to an end.

 

10. Hearts of Iron IV: The Great War

Hearts of Iron IV: The Great War Mod screenshot

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Similar to Endsieg, Hearts of Iron IV: The Great War takes you all the way back to 1910.

The difference is mainly that this mod places all of its focus on the events of WWI.

With that, you get a much more detailed playthrough of the era.

This is achieved through overhauled focus trees for relevant nations as well as new weapons, doctrines, and technologies that are all relevant to the time period.

The mod looks great as well, as it includes custom 3D models for infantry and vehicles.

 

9. Führerreich: Legacy of The Great War

Führerreich: Legacy of The Great War HOI4 Mod

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Now that you’ve played through WWI, why not spice things up with another alternative history mod?

Führerreich: Legacy of The Great War takes you to the events directly following The Great War, where Germany has lost to the Allied powers.

While the next decade was relatively peaceful for most of the world, it appears as though another global conflict is brewing in the 1930’s.

Other than the alt-history scenario, the mod comes with a completely overhauled political system, a reworked map, and new ideologies, events, focus trees, and more. Check it out!

 

8. The New Order: Last Days of Europe

The New Order: Last Days of Europe HOI4 Mod

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While we’ve gone all the way back to the beginning of the first World War, The New Order: Last Days of Europe takes the opposite approach.

This time we’re thrown all the way to 1962, twenty years after the events of WWII.

The German Reich still reigns supreme. But Hitler is seeing his last days on his deathbed. Meanwhile, events across the United States, Asia, and Europe are struggling as well.

Tensions are high and the balance is about to be tipped – who knows what could happen next.

This mod contains tons of new content, including 10 years’ worth of content for the German campaign, and another 5 for England.

 

7. Equestria at War

Equestria at War Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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Equestria at War is surely the strangest entry you’re going to find on this list – or even on the entire Steam Workshop, for that matter.

As explained in the description:

“Equestria at War is a mod that tries to recreate the fantasy world of Equestria from My Little Pony franchise in a slightly darker setting with industrialization, corruption and political disagreements.”

Wait, what??

Don’t let the ppearance fool you. Many consider this to be one of the best mods you can get for Hearts Of Iron 4.

But it will not feel anything like a typical HOI4 playthrough, that’s for sure.

 

6. End of a New Beginning – Official Version

End of a New Beginning - Official Version HOI4 Mod

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Now here’s another unique one – End of a New Beginning.

The team features too many names to mention, which isn’t surprising considering how big this mod is.

As opposed to other mods who choose to focus on specific time periods of history, this one aims to cover a whole three centuries between the American Civil War and the modern era.

While the mod is still in its early stages, the mod team has loads of content planned for a future release. So it might be a good idea to keep an eye on this one.

 

5. Hearts of Oak

Hearts of Oak for Hearts Of Iron 4

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Hearts of Oak takes yet another approach, this time focusing on improving what Hearts Of Iron 4 already has to offer instead of expanding anything and everything…

We get these improvements mostly by touching up the tech trees, focus trees, designers, and advisors, among other changes to make for a more balanced HOI4 experience.

Another major change here is that the AI has been tweaked to keep your playthroughs as engaging as possible.

If you don’t want to change things up too much, but still want the feeling of fresh eyes, this is a great way to go.

 

4. BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod

BlackICE Historical Immersion Mod for Hearts Of Iron 4

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Many fans would argue that any HOI4 mods list isn’t complete without the mention of BlackICE.

Before we get into it though, BlackICE is mainly targeted towards the more seasoned HOI4 players. As it offers a difficulty level that beginners probably won’t enjoy.

With that, the mod is a complete overhaul that adds in tons of new units, equipment types, and vehicles.

Beyond that, focus trees and the political system have been enhanced as well to provide players with more options when it comes to managing their nation during wartime.

The mod team warns that the amount of content available here will demand dedication and attention from any player, so be sure you’re ready before heading into a game of BlackICE.

 

3. Old World Blues

Old World Blues Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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Old World Blues is another mainstay towards the top of most HOI4 mod lists. It aims to merge the game with another popular video game series: Fallout.

While you might be thinking that that would make for a pretty strange combination, it actually works out pretty well.

The mod takes us way forward to year 2275, and places us directly into the Fallout universe.

As expected, the world is in a post-apocalyptic state. But the conflict is far from over.

You’re given a completely reworked map of North America as your setting, along with a couple new unit types, an overhauled tech tree, and tons of new gameplay mechanics to explore.

If you’re a Fallout fan, or a fan of anything with a post-apocalyptic theme for that matter, you should definitely give this one a go.

 

2. Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod

Millennium Dawn: Modern Day Mod for Hearts Of Iron 4

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We get yet another unique experience here with Millennium Dawn: Modern Day.

It aims to combine all of the best modern mods for Hearts Of Iron 4 into one complete package. And I’d say it succeeds!

This is probably the best modern HOI4 experience you’re going to get, with completely new tech trees, economic and political systems, and mechanics to match the timeframe.

You’ll have to worry about things like national taxation and debt, as well as international influence. This all adds depth to the game that’s hard to find elsewhere.

All in all, if you’re looking for a modern HOI4 experience to get you playing again, this is where to start.

 

1. Kaiserreich

Kaiserreich Hearts Of Iron 4 Mod

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And taking the top of our list we have Kaiserreich.

There’s no question that Kaiserreich is one of the most well-loved mods in the HOI community, and with good reason.

Kaiserreich has been around since Hearts Of Iron II, each time posing the exact same question: what if Germany had won World War 1?

This mod is packed with content. It offers a rich alternate history with tons of possible outcomes that you probably can’t even begin to imagine.

Finding out what might happen next is already so interesting… but the mod features lots of other changes to discover, including a new political system, focus trees, and even unique graphics upgrades.

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