Hearts of Iron IV vs Rise of the Tomb Raider

A full spec-by-spec comparison of Hearts of Iron IV vs Rise of the Tomb Raider — engine, performance, dimensions, features and price, with the differences highlighted to help you decide.

Specification Hearts of Iron IV Paradox Interactive Rise of the Tomb Raider Square Enix, Microsoft Studios, Feral Interactive
Overview
Release Date June 6, 2016 November 10, 2015
Availability Released Released
Developer Paradox Development Studio Feral Interactive, Crystal Dynamics, Nixxes
Publisher Paradox Interactive Square Enix, Microsoft Studios, Feral Interactive
Official Site http://www.heartsofiron4.com/ http://www.tombraider.com/us/
Gameplay
Genre Strategy, Simulation Action
Game Modes Single-player, Multiplayer, Co-op Single-player
Average Playtime 8 hours 14 hours
Perspective Third-person
Platforms & Pricing
Platforms PC, Apple Macintosh, Linux PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple Macintosh
Available On Steam Xbox Store, Steam, Xbox 360 Store, App Store, Epic Games Store
PC Requirements
Minimum Requirements OS: Windows 7 64-bit or newer Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 @ 2.66 GHz / AMD Athlon II X4 650 @ 3.20 GHz Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 5850 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX470 with 1GB VRAM DirectX: Version 9.0c Storage: 2 GB available space Sound Card: Direct X- compatible soundcard. Additional Notes: Mouse and keyboard are required. / Latest available WHQL drivers from both manufacturers/ Internet Connection or LAN for multiplayer, Up to 32 other players in multiplayer mode. OS: Windows 7 64bit Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD equivalent Memory: 6 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 650 2GB or AMD HD7770 2GB DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 25 GB available space
Recommended Requirements OS: Windows 7 64-bit or newer Processor: Intel Core i5 750 @ 2.66 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 955 @ 3.20 GHz Memory: 4 GB RAM Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 6950 or NVIDIA GeForce GTX570 with 2GB VRAM DirectX: Version 9.0c Storage: 2 GB available space Sound Card: Direct X- compatible soundcard. Additional Notes: Mouse and keyboard are required. / Latest available WHQL drivers from both manufacturers. / Internet Connection or LAN for multiplayer, Up to 32 other players in multiplayer mode. OS: Windows 10 64 bit Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 980Ti 2560x1440 or NVIDIA GTX 970 1920x1080 DirectX: Version 11 Storage: 25 GB available space
Critic & Community Scores
Metacritic 83 / 100 86 / 100
Community Rating 4.1 / 5 (382 ratings) 4.0 / 5 (2,808 ratings)

Hearts of Iron IV vs Rise of the Tomb Raider: which should you buy?

For Filipino buyers, the choice between Hearts of Iron IV and Rise of the Tomb Raider depends entirely on your preferred genre and hardware. Hearts of Iron IV is a deep strategy/simulation game with high replayability, supporting single-player, multiplayer, and co-op. It has lower system requirements (4GB RAM, 2GB VRAM) and a smaller install size (2GB), making it accessible on older PCs. Its average playtime is 8 hours, but strategy fans often invest hundreds of hours. Rise of the Tomb Raider is a single-player action-adventure with a third-person perspective, offering a cinematic 14-hour campaign. It demands more powerful hardware (6GB RAM, 2GB VRAM minimum, 25GB storage) and is available on multiple platforms including PlayStation and Xbox. Metacritic scores are close (83 vs 86), but Rise of the Tomb Raider has a larger community rating base. Price-wise, Hearts of Iron IV is typically cheaper on Steam sales, while Rise of the Tomb Raider often goes on sale for around ₱200-300. If you have a mid-range PC and enjoy strategy, go with Hearts of Iron IV. For a polished action-adventure with better graphics and story, choose Rise of the Tomb Raider.

Frequently asked questions

Which game is cheaper in the Philippines?

Both games are available on Steam with frequent sales. Hearts of Iron IV typically costs around ₱200-300 during sales, while Rise of the Tomb Raider can be found for ₱200-400. Exact prices vary, but Hearts of Iron IV is often slightly cheaper.

Which game has lower system requirements?

Hearts of Iron IV has much lower requirements: 4GB RAM, 2GB VRAM, and only 2GB storage. Rise of the Tomb Raider needs 6GB RAM, 2GB VRAM, and 25GB storage, making it more demanding.

Which game is better for multiplayer?

Hearts of Iron IV supports multiplayer and co-op for up to 32 players. Rise of the Tomb Raider is single-player only, so Hearts of Iron IV is the clear choice for multiplayer.

Which game has longer playtime?

Rise of the Tomb Raider has an average playtime of 14 hours for the main story. Hearts of Iron IV averages 8 hours, but its replayability is much higher due to strategy depth and multiple factions.