Hearts of Iron III vs V Rising

A full spec-by-spec comparison of Hearts of Iron III vs V Rising — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.

Specification Hearts of Iron III Paradox Interactive V Rising Stunlock Studios
Overview
Release Date August 6, 2009 May 8, 2024
Availability Released Released
Developer Paradox Development Studio Stunlock Studios
Publisher Paradox Interactive Stunlock Studios
Official Site http://www.paradoxplaza.com/games/hearts-of-iron-iii https://playvrising.com/
Gameplay
Genre Strategy Action, Adventure, Massively Multiplayer
Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op, Online Co-op
Average Playtime 3 hours 7 hours
Platforms & Pricing
Platforms PC, Apple Macintosh PC
Available On Steam, GOG Steam
PC Requirements
Minimum Requirements Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® 2000/XP/Vista Processor: Intel Pentium IV 2.4 GHz or AMD 3500+ Memory: 2 GB of RAM Hard Disk Space: 2 GB Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 or ATI Radeon X1900 videocard Sound: Direct X-compatible sound card DirectX®: Direct X 9.0 Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-6600, 3.3 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, 3.5 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti, 2 GB or AMD Radeon R7 360, 2 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Minimum System Requirements might change in the future
Recommended Requirements Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K, 3.9 GHz or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 3.7 GHz Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, 8 GB or AMD Radeon RX 590, 8 GB DirectX: Version 11 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 7 GB available space Additional Notes: Recommended System Requirements might change in the future
Critic & Community Scores
Metacritic 77 / 100
Community Rating 3.5 / 5 (60 ratings) 3.7 / 5 (175 ratings)

Hearts of Iron III vs V Rising: which should you buy?

Hearts of Iron III and V Rising are fundamentally different games, so your choice depends entirely on your preferred genre and PC specs. Hearts of Iron III is a classic grand strategy title from 2009, ideal for deep World War II simulation fans who enjoy complex mechanics and modding. It has a Metacritic score of 77 and a community rating of 3.5/5, with an average playtime of 3 hours per session. It runs on very old hardware (Windows 2000/XP/Vista, 2GB RAM) and is available on Steam and GOG. V Rising is a modern action-survival MMO where you play as a vampire, released in 2024. It boasts a higher community rating (3.7/5) and longer average playtime (7 hours), suggesting more engagement. However, it requires a 64-bit OS, 12GB RAM, and a dedicated GPU (min. GTX 750 Ti). If you have a gaming PC built in the last 5 years, V Rising offers immersive multiplayer and co-op. For a Filipino buyer on a tight budget with an older machine, Hearts of Iron III is the practical choice. If you can afford a decent PC and prefer action gameplay with online features, go with V Rising. Both are available on Steam, but only Hearts of Iron III is on GOG. Note: Prices are not provided, so cost comparison isn't possible.

Frequently asked questions

Which game has a higher community rating?

V Rising has a community rating of 3.7 out of 5, slightly higher than Hearts of Iron III's 3.5 out of 5.

Which game requires a more powerful PC?

V Rising is much more demanding, requiring a 64-bit OS, 12GB RAM, and at least a GTX 750 Ti. Hearts of Iron III runs on old hardware with only 2GB RAM.

Which game has longer playtime per session?

V Rising has an average playtime of 7 hours, while Hearts of Iron III averages 3 hours.

Which game is better for single-player strategy fans?

Hearts of Iron III is a deep grand strategy game focused on single-player (though it has multiplayer and co-op), making it ideal for strategy enthusiasts.