head to head

Defenders of Ardania cover artvsHearts of Iron IV cover art

Defenders of ArdaniavsHearts of Iron IV

Defenders of Ardania leans Optimization (Pure Optimization); Hearts of Iron IV leans Optimization (Pure Optimization).

EXECUTION2 /10READS4 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION8 /10
Defenders of ArdaniaHearts of Iron IV

Axis by axis

Execution2 vs 2

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads4 vs 4

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance3 vs 3

Even - both lean on variance about the same.

Optimization8 vs 9

Hearts of Iron IV leans harder on optimization: division templates and production solved

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Defenders of Ardania

full breakdown

Hearts of Iron IV