Choose Hearts of Iron IV
Choose Hearts of Iron IV if you want a Simulation game with Co-op. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 91.1% positive across 120,833 reviews.
Hearts of Iron IV vs Age of History 2: Definitive Edition
Hearts of Iron IV and Age of History 2: Definitive Edition both land in Strategy on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are Strategy games on Steam. Hearts of Iron IV (2016) is 10 years older than Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (2026). Hearts of Iron IV scores higher on Steam reviews (91.1% positive) than Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (75.4% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Age of History 2: Definitive Edition
Choose Age of History 2: Definitive Edition if you want an Indie game with Shared/Split Screen, Shared/Split Screen PvP, and PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 80% cheaper on the Steam Store. Age of History 2: Definitive Edition launched in 2026.
Both Hearts of Iron IV and Age of History 2: Definitive Edition sit in Strategy on Steam and both list Multi-player, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Hearts of Iron IV |  Age of History 2: Definitive Edition | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2016 | 2026 |
| Genres | Strategy, Simulation | Strategy, Indie |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 49.99 USD | 9.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 91.1% positive (120,833 reviews) | 75.4% positive (309 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Co-op | Multi-player |
| Developers | Paradox Development Studio | Łukasz Jakowski |
Side by side
- Both are Strategy games on Steam.
- Hearts of Iron IV (2016) is 10 years older than Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (2026).
- Hearts of Iron IV scores higher on Steam reviews (91.1% positive) than Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (75.4% positive).
- Age of History 2: Definitive Edition is currently ~80% cheaper on Steam than Hearts of Iron IV (9.99 USD vs. 49.99 USD).
- Hearts of Iron IV has co-op; Age of History 2: Definitive Edition does not.
- Both are Deck Playable.
Hearts of Iron IV vs Age of History 2: Definitive Edition — FAQ
- Which is better, Hearts of Iron IV or Age of History 2: Definitive Edition?
- On Steam reviews Hearts of Iron IV scores higher (91.1% positive) than Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (75.4% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Hearts of Iron IV is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Hearts of Iron IV or Age of History 2: Definitive Edition first?
- If you want chronology, Hearts of Iron IV (2016) came out before Age of History 2: Definitive Edition (2026). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Hearts of Iron IV and Age of History 2: Definitive Edition similar?
- They overlap on Strategy on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.