Darkest Hour is a stand-alone Hearts of Iron strategy game spanning the Great War through the onset of the Cold War. Its short and grand campaigns frame the era through different historical starting points, from the 1914 Great War to the 1945 Battle of the Bulge. Grand campaigns let players choose any nation involved, while battle scenarios focus on particular conflicts and offer a smaller selection of nations.
The design puts diplomacy and strategic decision-making alongside its historical scenarios. A dynamic diplomatic system is intended to give players greater influence over events, and the game describes its artificial intelligence as able to react to hundreds of situations at once. A redesigned map adds detail and strategic and tactical opportunities, supporting a broad view of conflict as well as choices tied to particular battles.
The listing establishes those play categories, but does not specify how multiplayer works.
