5 RTS games like Hearts of Iron IV that you should try

It shares the essentials of what Hearts of Iron IV does: open world exploration, tactical combat and historical setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and PvP competition. They part company on progression and setting: this one brings a medieval setting and base building.

It comes from the same genre as Hearts of Iron IV and shares a sandbox world, tactical combat and historical setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on progression and game mode: this one brings a sci-fi setting and base building.

It shares the essentials of what Hearts of Iron IV does: tactical combat, historical setting and single-player focus. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and an isometric view. The distance is in tone and progression — its own ground is punishing difficulty and base building.

On paper it is what Hearts of Iron IV is — open world exploration, tactical combat and historical setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds multiplayer gameplay and an isometric view. They part company on tone and progression: this one brings punishing difficulty and resource management.

It shares the essentials of what Hearts of Iron IV does: tactical combat, historical setting and single-player focus. The common ground extends to an isometric view. Where the two diverge is progression and combat: ranged combat and base building.