States of Power Review Summary

A simpler Hearts of Iron IV with excellent scenario customization and solid quality, but map inaccuracies, problematic multiplayer, and flawed war mechanics hold it back.

Good overall game quality: A substantial number of positive reviews simply state that the game is good, fun, and well-designed. This general satisfaction spans gameplay, strategy elements, and overall presentation.

Simpler than Hearts of Iron 4: Many reviewers highlight the game's simplified mechanics compared to Hearts of Iron 4, making it more accessible and less stressful. It is praised as a perfect entry point for those who find HOI4 too complicated.

Great scenario editor: The built-in scenario editor is frequently praised for allowing players to create custom scenarios, countries, and events. Reviewers find it easy to use and a source of many hours of fun.

Fun for casual and multiplayer: The game is suitable for casual play, with many enjoying it with friends or in multiplayer sessions. Features like pause and resume and diplomatic shenanigans add to the fun.

Simple yet challenging: The game strikes a balance between simplicity and depth, offering a challenge without requiring hundreds of hours to master. It is simple but not too simple, keeping the experience engaging.

Map inaccuracies and limitations: The map has incorrect province names, missing islands like Malta and the Falklands, and inaccurate historical borders. Players cannot create custom tiles, and the map is too small for large wars, lacking map modes.

Multiplayer sessions are problematic: Multiplayer is laggy, players cannot join rooms or get stuck on loading screens, and games often end prematurely when players leave. There is no finish line for multiplayer matches, causing frustration.

War mechanics are flawed: War is sometimes too fast and unclear, with devastating AI bomber raids that destroy factories, and naval combat is difficult with ships helplessly targeted by planes. Leaving provinces unoccupied allows enemies to walk through.

AI is unrealistic and aggressive: AI behavior is criticized for being too aggressive, with unrealistic conquests like Japan taking Russia and Canada taking the USA in days. AI also dogpiles on nations without reason and refuses to surrender even when defeated.

Diplomacy lacks depth: Several clusters highlight that the diplomacy system is basic and lacks nuance, with limited casus belli options and no meaningful peace conferences. This leads to unrealistic behaviors like allies instantly attacking and AI dogpiling without consequences.

Core grand strategy gameplay: The game is fundamentally a grand strategy game with provinces, wars, AI-controlled conquests, and customizable countries and scenarios. It is often compared to titles like Hearts of Iron 4 and Age of History, but with a smaller scope and faster pace, as noted in clusters 3, 12, 24, 66, and 8.

Scenario editor and customization: The game includes a built-in scenario editor and browser, allowing players to create custom scenarios and countries without modifying files. This feature is highlighted as a key positive in clusters 2 and 47.

Multiplayer with diplomacy and alliances: The game offers multiplayer modes where players can form alliances with each other, declare war, and pause/resume games. This is mentioned across clusters 6, 28, 44, 52, and 56.

World War II setting and scenarios: The game offers WW2 and modern scenarios, allowing players to choose any country, including major and non-major powers. Historical events like Japan-China war are modeled, as noted in clusters 17, 35, 36, 45, 54, and 55.

Casual and fast-paced experience: The game is described as a fast-paced, casual sandbox experience, sitting between simple Risk-like games and complex ones like HOI4. It avoids heavy micromanagement and is lightweight, making it approachable for quick sessions, as seen in clusters 11, 25, 26, 42, and 43.

Runs well on weak hardware: Players report that the game performs smoothly even on low-end processors and hardware, including during the late game. This indicates good optimization and accessibility for players with modest systems.

Worth the price: Multiple reviews emphasize the game's value for money, especially compared to expensive Paradox titles like HOI4. It is described as affordable and worth buying.

Needs more development: Several reviews indicate the game currently lacks polish and requires more development time. Some advise waiting for future updates before purchasing.

Not recommended currently: A few players explicitly warn against buying the game in its current state, citing shortcomings and a need for further refinement.

Multiplayer highly recommended: Playing online is strongly encouraged, as alliances and diplomacy enhance the experience. FFA maps with small countries between big ones are favored.

Good for casual play: The game suits casual sessions, providing a relaxed experience compared to deeper strategy titles. It is recommended for players seeking lighter gameplay.

Community fair range: $9.99 - $14.99.

Session length: 2.0h.

Players consistently report immediate enjoyment and easy entry, with no early friction or delayed fun point.

Casual Strategy Fan: Relaxed single-player or multiplayer sessions, focusing on simple mechanics and avoiding complex micromanagement. Motivation: To enjoy a less stressful, streamlined grand strategy experience without the depth of traditional Paradox games. Stance: buy.

Multiplayer Socializer: Online multiplayer sessions with friends, leveraging pause/resume and server features for flexible, socially-driven play. Motivation: To engage in cooperative or diplomatic shenanigans with other players, compensating for the basic AI diplomacy. Stance: buy.

Skeptical Veteran: Analytical, likely single-player focused; scrutinizes mechanics like diplomacy, unit variety, and depth against Paradox standards. Motivation: To find a competent grand strategy game, but currently disappointed by lack of content and polish; hopes for future updates. Stance: deep sale.

Lighter, more accessible HOI4: Multiple reviews describe the game as a streamlined, more casual version of Hearts of Iron 4, emphasizing its reduced complexity and less stressful gameplay. This makes it appealing to players with limited time or those new to grand strategy.

Looking forward to community scenarios: Players express anticipation for community-made scenarios and hope the developer adds more official scenarios in the future. This indicates a desire for expanded content and long-term engagement.

Good price for content: The game is considered well-priced, with reviews noting it offers good value for the amount of content provided. This makes it an attractive purchase for strategy game enthusiasts.

Supports multiplayer and avoids Discord: The game supports multiplayer and offers server options that eliminate the need for Discord or private hosting. This convenience is praised by players looking for direct multiplayer experiences.

Requests for Steam Workshop support: Some reviewers request Steam Workshop support to simplify mod installation and discovery. This would improve the modding experience compared to the current in-game browser.