Darkest Hour would merit an award not only for its terrific value but also for the care put into its playability and historical accuracy. Historical events will generally always occur but sometimes at a different moment than anticipated depending on a number of factors. It is generally impossible to avoid having Stalin's purges as the Soviet player, or election results in France for instance. But in spite of this, outcomes may be very different from game to game because of all other factors that may come into play. It is a complex game that requires a lot of attention, but that is also very rewarding to play.

This game is a fabulous gem, mixing the right amount of grand strategy with historical facts and figures. It has almost infinite replayability, and for the price it costs, it represent a great buy! Now, if you can have it at a discount as may happen on, I believe, a yearly basis, it is a literal steal...

Of course, it is a WWII grand strategy game that provides you with the regular 1939-1945 campaign, but provides you with the option of playing extended campaign games starting in 1933 and ending in 1963... If you want to rewrite history and visit some bits of alternate history, here is your chance! As a bonus, WWI is also a separate scenario that is also highly enjoyable. One important thing here is that the amount of details is magnificent! Not only do you have to choose amongst different historical accurate ministers, generals and admirals, but each of them has unique characteristics. Bravo for the historical research put into that game at that level!

You play one of the major powers of the first half of the 20th century, and when I say major power, I am being generous as it extends even to what should be considered in reality minor players of the war on both sides (WWII = Axis and Allies, WWI = Central Powers and Allies). Not only can you play as France, the UK, Germany, Italy, the USSR, the US or Japan, but also as Hungary, Rumania, Finland, Brazil, Canada, Bulgaria, etc. Even some of the neutral powers can be played!

You will have to make numerous choices that will have long term consequences on your game while managing your country. The choice of the ministers in the game have an impact depending on their "expertise" or theoretical and ideological leanings. Technology will have to be carefully chosen in order to be able either to obtain the best possible output for your industry and war production, as well as making sure your armed forces are adequately equipped. Your military needs will have to be carefully ascertained in order to produce the right unit types in all three main branches of your forces (Navy, Air and Land units). Your industrial capacity can be increased, but resources employed there, while having a long term positive effect, may lack when needing in the shorter term to add units to your forces for the coming war that will arrive sooner or later...

You can play as a major power and if you wish it so, there is the possibility of taking military control of your allied countries forces too. The choice is, again, entirely yours. If you choose to play without bothering about the other countries in your alliance, it is fine. But, it is possible that the AI, while managing the other forces in your alliance, will make moves that will make little sense to you or play in a way that will be contrary to your interests... So beware!

Please note that history provides the frame of reference for this game, but it does not mean that all political or military events will happen at the historical dates seen in WWII history books. For instance, playing as Germany, I was hoping to be able to do the Anschluss (unification of Germany and Austria) at the beginning of 1938, while it really happened one year later in 1939. Annexation of Czechoslovakia also happened very late in 1939. This represent an upset as Germany benefits greatly by adding Austria's and Czechoslovakia's industrial base to its own, as well as adding various units to its armed forces. Being one year late means less resources to the Reich which means less military might... On the other hand, playing as the Soviet Union, I had the surprise of not being attacked in 1941, but rather later in 1943. While it was theoretically a good thing as the USSR is not necessarily ready in 1941 (in the best of cases barely) it came anyway as a bad surprise as I had come to assume I could be busy elsewhere without having to fear the German Army knocking all of a sudden at the door... I was in a much better shape than in 1941, but German forces came in the house with an almost overwhelming number of armoured divisions while I was busy in the privy...

In conclusion, this is a simultaneous turn based game. Each turn represents one day of the calendar. Which could mean if playing the 1933-1963 period 10,800 turns (in the game: 30 days per month x 12 months x 30 years). Massive joy!!! And I can tell you that no two games will be the same. Do you want to win the arms race? Get the A-bomb first with Nazi Germany or the UK? Transform Italy into a real naval competitor to Great Britain? Make Romania a major central European power? A lot of different outcomes are possible.

This game is not without defects, like the infamous warnings popping up all over the screen at various moments. This is one of the less palatable aspects of the game and it can be managed somehow, but for me it was not a deal breaker once I learned how to minimise it. Fact is, you need to be informed about what is happening to your troops and how your research is going and which units are ready to be deployed, how your diplomacy is doing, etc. But the way it is brought to you is a bit underwhelming.

I can confirm the game played in Windows 7 and Windows 10. It does not need much resources. I played it on an 8 years old portable computer with integrated graphics without a hitch.