Hearts of Iron 4 (HOI4) is not the cheapest strategy game out there, but it’s one of the greatest, for sure. One may argue one of the worst things about it is that it lacks quality free updates and add-ons. It almost feels incomplete if you are playing it without any DLCs. And the problem with most DLCs is that they’re priced at exactly $20, meaning HOI4 is a better experience if you have a lot of money.
But a few months ago, a new feature (Expansion Subscription) was added to the Steam store where you can now subscribe to Hearts of Iron 4, and with it you will get all DLCs and extra cosmetics. It’ll cost you $5 a month, and you can cancel at any time you want. Ahead of the upcoming DLC, Arms Against Tyranny, we are talking about the already available DLCs in hopes of helping you decide which, if any, you want to add to your base game.
Whether you may be buying some DLCs for HOI4, or just subscribing to them, this list will be a good read for you. Hence you will here have a small overview of the DLCs, and in the end you can decide which one suits your needs the best. You can click on the Title for each section to be redirected to the DLC itself!
Battle for the Bosporus – Mediterranean Mayhem
This DLC was added to the game in late 2020. It features new focus trees for the countries that are situated around the Bosporus and the Balkans.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – Battle for the Bosporus
It costs $10 at the Steam store, and its price is pretty reasonable. It doesn’t add that much to the main game and it’s only made for the irrelevant countries that lack any usage in multiplayer. It’s interesting in singleplayer and it can be fun for quite some time regardless.
You can decide between creating a new and improved Byzantine Empire, or you can just bring back the Ottoman Empire. The DLC is pretty fun, but those focus trees are easily replaceable by some mods that you can get for free on the Steam workshop.
Death or Dishonor – Eastern Europe Extravaganza
This DLC was added to the game in mid-2017. It provides more focus trees for countries that are in eastern Europe – it’s basically a country pack, like the previous one we mentioned.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – Death or Dishonor
The difference is that this one adds more replayability value to your singeplayer game, because the focus trees are more fun than in the last one.
Focus trees for Yugoslavia and Romania in the new 1.10 „Collie“ patch were reworked, which made this DLC even more exciting than before. Plus the new unique Romanian and Hungarian focus trees are also really important for multiplayer.
With Death or Dishonor, you can decide whether you will bring back Austria-Hungary, or whether you will counter Nazi aggression with Czechoslovakia, it’s completely up to you. The possibilities are endless. It’s a great DLC overall, for $20.
Waking the Tiger – Roar of the East
This DLC was added to the game in early 2018. It’s one of the important ones in Hearts of Iron 4, because it added a lot of new content, mostly for the East Asian countries. This DLC costs $20, which is pretty reasonable for the amount of content it gives.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – Waking the Tiger
You are now able to unify entire China, with any Chinese country, under one rule while holding a defensive war against Japan at the same time. Japan has got a new alternate history path along with Germany, with which you can bring back the Kaiser to the Third Reich or establish a Shogunate in Japan once again.
It’s a very fun mod to play in singleplayer and with friends. You will also get a new feature where you can apply special traits to certain generals, which will give that army certain benefits. The replayability value overall is great, and the DLC is certainly one of the betters.
Together for Victory – Tea & Crumpets Under the Union Jack!
This was the first DLC made for HOI4, added in late 2016. It is the oldest DLC and one of my favorites since it adds a very important mechanic and a variety of new focus trees.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – Together for Victory
It adds new focus trees for the British colonies, such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the British Raj (India). Plus it expands the entire puppet system, where now it’s much easier to manage a puppet state or to break free from someone else’s rule if you are playing as one – this DLC brings a special autonomy system.
Without this DLC, multiplayer games are not the most enjoyable. Its value is pretty significant, especially in multiplayer games. It costs $20 on the Steam market, and it’s a reasonable price for all content that you get.
By Blood Alone – Sparks of Abyssinia
This is one of the most recent HOI4 DLCs on this list, as it was released on the 27th of September in 2022. It brings some detrimental changes to the game, significantly impacting multiplayer gameplay.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – By Blood Alone
The main focus of this DLC is the Italo-Ethiopian war which takes place at the start of the game. Italy, Ethiopia and Switzerland got new focus trees where they can switch between all different kinds of gameplay options.
Bringing back the Roman Empire has never been easier and defending against Italy as Ethiopia is so much easier than before – it’s unbelievable.
Also, a whole new aircraft designer has been added to the game, along with new unit medals and peace conference options where you can now demilitarize certain zones and claim ownership of land or even ships of your enemy.
This kind of DLC was needed, so that’s the reason why it made it so far on this list. It’s expensive for most people, being 20€, but it can be worth it, especially if you love one of these three countries. You should definitely check our article on the By Blood Alone DLC, for a complete detailed review!
La Resistance – Embers of Defiance
This DLC was added to Hearts of Iron 4 in early 2020. It introduces us to the espionage system and new revamped occupation mechanics. You are now able to have your own intelligence agency which is completely customizable with its kind of objectives that you definitely should do.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – La Resistance
France’s focus tree has been changed, as Free and Vichy France are actually playable. The Spanish civil war now goes into so much depth, and the war is now more difficult than before, but also way more fun.
When you occupy a non-core territory you will now have to worry about resistance from the people you conquered. Since people are not going to be pleased with you stealing their land, you will not be able to use all of your manpower from that province, or you will get constant factory and infrastructure sabotages.
Starting coups in other countries is more complex, because you must infiltrate literal spies into other countries for them to work successfully. It’s a great DLC and it’s worth its price of $20 – one of the best out there.
No Step Back – Spirit of Resilience
This DLC was added two years ago, in late 2021. It is one of the biggest DLCs that Hearts Of Iron 4 got, it completely changes the supply system, army officer corps, tanks, and much more. It’s the second-best DLC in our opinion.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – No Step Back
The Soviet Union and Poland have finally got new focus trees. The internal politics of the Soviet Union are now expanded much more into depth. You will have a good overview of how bad Stalin’s paranoia was, as you will be required to make even more political decisions when dealing with the Great Purge.
You can defend yourself even better as Poland now, and for the Europa Universalis lovers, you can now even form the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth once again. Plus, all other Baltic states have received new focus trees and alternative history paths.
Army experience is now much more valued than before. It’s the only thing with which you can research army tactics. Do you know how you can in the DLC Man the Guns build your own custom ships? Now you can even do the same thing with your tanks, adding much more fun to that aspect of the game!
(Source: FeedBackGaming)
And the last important thing that was added in the DLC is the new supply system. Instead of building infrastructure, you now have to build railways that will deliver the supplies to the selected province, making your time in the HOI4 harder, yet more realistic, and more annoying.
It costs just $20 on Steam, which is great for the amount of content it provides.
Man the Guns – Conquer the High Seas!
This DLC was added to HOI4 in early 2019. It’s definitely a number one pick, and you probably can guess why – it completely revamped the naval combat system.
Hearts of Iron IV DLCs – Man the Guns
It is an update that the regular game needs, too bad you have to pay for it since the fuel mechanic that it comes with is really important and it makes the game more difficult. Mexico and Netherlands got completely new focus trees, while the USA and the UK have got new alternate history paths. Which are pretty fun to play and experiment with.
This DLC also implements a new resource, fuel, which is separate from the regular oil. It’s an important feature that will now require you to constantly save fuel so you can have better chances at winning a war. All your vehicles that would run on fuel in real life will also require fuel in the game. It’s now harder to just spam airplanes and tanks, making that part of the game seem more real.
The naval combat is significantly improved and simplified, making it not that difficult to operate it. New players will especially find this handy, as it simplifies everything, especially naval invasions.
The DLC costs $20, which is good for the number of features that you end up getting. It’s the most worth it DLC out there, and the one we recommend everyone buy!
By Blood Alone – Sky High Showdowns and Diplomatic Delights
Not the greatest DLC content-wise, as its score in Steam will tell you. It moves from “mixed” to “Negative” pretty easily depending on when you are looking at it. Released on September 2022, it offered some light changes all around, more like a patch, really.
Hearts of Iron DLCs – By Blood Alone
The most relevant aspects of this DLC are the Aircraft Designer, which will allow you to design and build your own planes, from the smallest to the heaviest, whatever you need to rain destruction on the enemy. Other than that the other most relevant aspect of this DLC is the Peace Conference Options that add some versatility to the game.
All in all, this is widely considered a DLC to get when on sale and after having spent a significant amount of hours in the game so you can appreciate the differences it brings.
