This niche series of real-time, grand strategy games has long been popular with its dedicated and necessarily diligent fans. I can distract myself with the thought that Paradox itself is also in a historically interesting position. My name is Hitler and I like long walks on the beach. It makes sense for a preview build, as it puts players in a position that is, shall we say, historically interesting, though in saying that I feel like I'm coughing up the most uncomfortable of euphemisms.

The early build of Hearts of Iron 4 that Paradox Development Studio present at its annual convention has journalists playing through the mid 1930s as an emboldened and ambitious Germany. With them, I'm a better leader, the head of a more productive economy and also a happier, smarter army. My attitude is tempered somewhat by my cabinet, a slowly-growing circle of advisors whose skills fill the cracks in my fractured personality. A quick look at my stats tells me I'm a rather grumpy person, a sore loser, bitter about the First World War, and this has a negative impact on my behaviour. I've never been Hitler before and I've never had a particular desire to be Hitler.

Hearts of iron 4 switch country