Expansion - Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone - Buyer's Guide

Hearts of Iron IV’s latest expansion, By Blood Alone, introduces a rich tapestry of alternate histories and gameplay diversity for Italy, Ethiopia, and Switzerland. Players can experience the tumultuous journey of Mussolini’s Italy or venture into uncharted territories with new focus trees that include monarchy restoration, communism, and various contenders vying for leadership. Ethiopia’s narrative shines as they resist Italian invasion or build a Government in Exile to reclaim their nation. Switzerland’s unique position allows players to masterfully navigate neutrality amidst powerful neighbors. The expansion also brings novel peace conference options, aircraft designer capabilities for custom planes, unit medals recognizing division achievements, an embargo interaction affecting world trade dynamics, and stunning new models for both ground and air units.

Should I play Expansion - Hearts of Iron IV: By Blood Alone in 2024?

The good

Some users have praised the Italy and Ethiopia focus trees, describing them as very good additions to the game.

The bad

• The Switzerland focus tree seems to have received mixed reviews, described as “mid” by some.
• Gameplay issues such as unexpected civil wars and loss of states without warning have been voiced.
• One user expressed a strong sentiment against purchasing the DLC.
• There are some off-topic reviews, which makes it harder to gauge the overall sentiment accurately.

Verdict

Given the Mostly Negative overall review sentiment, it appears that this expansion might not live up to the expectations of many players. The Italy and Ethiopia focus trees are a highlight, but issues with gameplay mechanics and underwhelming content for Switzerland detract from the experience. If you’re a die-hard Hearts of Iron IV fan, you might find some enjoyment, but for most, it might be wise to spend your gaming budget elsewhere in 2024. 😕