How do I get into HOI4?

[DeprEmu]

I haven't ever been into grand strategy games, being more into smaller RTS titles like Age of Empires and Halo Wars, but the game just has so much thrown at me that I can't ever really do much. I get bogged down by the menus and find it hard to focus on so much at once even at slower game speeds. The tutorial isn't much of a help and every single tutorial on youtube is hours long.

And even then my retention isn't high either since I often find myself bored out because the game takes a while to unfold fully. I've only really even bought HOI4 because "Funny TNO sh*tposts" and such but I'm sure I'll be at a loss playing TNO when I can barely play the base game. Any helpful tips or videos is appreciated.

[HappySack]

Refer to the many tutorials on Youtube as a guide to help you get started or the wiki for anything more specific because the in-game tutorial teaches you nothing, after that all you need is a bit of patience and a willingness to learn new things.

If a 1 hour tutorial is too long then try this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EB8TLvkZAM

[HerrBlitz]

dont the game really isnt good at all

[♠Gamer3106♠]

Become overweight, grow a neck beard, break up with your girlfriend, become either a nazi or a communist and never touch grass.

These are the primary steps

[Sledge Hammer]

Follow this guy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMSLt3_dqfs&t=3202s

Its a really good entry into the game.
Its less a tutorial and more a playthrough where you can play along.
I played along on medium difficulty so a few things played out very different, but the learnings are the same.

[Resident NATO Freedom Enjoyer]

Honestly I know you were looking for genuine advice but this game is ass and I don't really know why I keep trying to like it. It's just bloated with poorly implemented features, horrible AI behavior, expensive DLC habits, ♥♥♥♥♥♥ community, and subpar or straight cancerous youtubers. (Save for the few people who aren't all 'LOIK AND SUBSCROIBE FOR MORE EH???')

[wildlifeluvr]

Suggestion:

A) Read the Paradox WIKI, not any other HOI4 WIKI,
go thru all the chapters in the Paradox WIKI.

B) Get in the mindset it will take a good amount of time to Learn the game.

C) You said " I get bogged down by the menus".

That indicates you have not taken the time to learn the basics. Learn each item of each menu. Find clickable buttons in every graphic presented.

Don't just read the tool tips, STUDY the tool tips until you understand what that tool tip is telling you.

Understand first -- it will take time. Impatient people will never learn the game.

Your payoff will be an Awesome game that is fun and challenging.

[trackday]

I'm at 1400 hrs and I still spend half my time watching how-to videos and rankings. The last one I watched was rankings of division medals. But I'm a slow boy, and a nerd at heart. I generally watch FeedbackIRL for explanations and rankings, and Bitt3rsteel for *country* play throughs.

[thats crazy]

do not try TNO before you have a good grasp on base game

and a fair warning, if you REALLY want to get into the games you are gonna want to buy the DLCs, which is a heavy investment

as to learning the game, i recommend watching tut videos on nations, like germany and playing the game along with the video

[Hellmasker86]

You could trying starting with HoI 2 or 3 instead, they're a bit less feature-heavy than 4, might be easier to learn the game's systems that way then move up to 4 once you're comfortable.

[55zanaris99]

if you value your sanity: you don't

[Trash Badicoot]

dont buy the DLC ew. rent that stuff so the uninstall is less costly

[yoshi]

No need to force yourself to play, people have hundreds of hours in this game cuz they find it fun and addicting. Getting better in this game like anything else just requires time investment.

[IPWIW]

i never did,i got into modding it just to make cheats for my own use

[Dafader]

... but before you embark on 40 hours of video training on the mechanics of the economy, politics, secret service, diplomacy, army - air force and naval structure,
apart from the small mechanics of warfare, be it unit size, railway logistics or fleet replenishment...

... keep in mind that everything will change again with the next DLC.

[ferengi]

I started with the video that is linked in the first reply as well, it's easy to figure almost everything else out during playing. Only exception was changing supply hubs to use trucks, this is essential and I found that one out way too late.