Inspired by Paradox Interactive's Hearts of Iron IV and its mods Millennium Dawn and The Fire Rises.

Nation Simulator: On Thin Ice

"δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς ξυγχωροῦσιν" "The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." — Thucydides

The war in Ukraine is dragging on, the conflict involving Israel has expanded into the largest dispute in the Middle East since the Yom Kippur War, and Trump's expansionist policies are in decline amidst the upcoming November midterms. Other nations face their own unique crises, and recently, even Sweden and Finland have abandoned neutrality to join NATO, drawing all nations into the vortex of war.

In this climate, you must choose a nation and lead it. Guide your country to stability to face the coming storm, or turn the storm into an opportunity. But be careful; the storm is powerful. Acting without thorough preparation will lead to being swept away and disappearing.

There is only one goal: survive the storm. Prepare for it, or seize it. Make the best choices considering your nation's situation and international diplomatic relations.

Foolish decisions lead to ruin.

Nation Simulator: 2026 is a game where you choose and lead a nation in the chaotic world of 2026, either stabilizing it or conquering the globe.

WAR

هیچ کس جنگ را دوست ندارد. این یک وظیفه است. وقتی ملت قربانی تجاوز می‌شود، هیچ راه حلی جز مبارزه و دفاع از خود وجود ندارد. No one likes war. It is a duty. When a people become victims of aggression, there is no other way but to fight and defend oneself. — Ahmad Shah Massoud, "The Lion of Panjshir"

As in reality, there are matters that cannot be resolved through words alone. That is when War occurs. Just as two bullfrogs fight when they cannot harmonize their croaks, or chimpanzees battle other troops to expand their territory, the human race goes to war when opinions differ greatly, when desires clash, or simply due to a momentary choice you make.

Until just a few hundred years ago, humanity fought simply with swords and armor. Even in the pre-modern era after the invention of firearms, armies merely walked in groups and fired passively, with the concept of strategy barely established.

But now it is different. If you recklessly charge forward with a sword or gun today, not only individuals but squads and entire nations will vanish. The only way to win a war is through Strategic Doctrine. Assign tactics to divisions and fight systematically. Use flanking maneuvers, deception, intelligence warfare, and amphibious landings. In a war between two nations, the more strategic side will emerge victorious.

DIPLOMACY

Les traités, voyez-vous, sont comme les jeunes filles et les roses: ils durent ce qu'ils durent. Treaties, you see, are like girls and roses: they last while they last. — Charles de Gaulle

If matters difficult to solve with words lead to war, what about matters that can be solved with words? That is Diplomacy. In 993, during the first Goryeo-Khitan War, when General Xiao Sunning of the Khitan led a massive army to demand surrender, the Goryeo civil official Seo Hui saw through the Khitan supply system. With brilliant eloquence, he not only secured a peace treaty but also achieved the remarkable feat of gaining the territory of the six garrison settlements east of the river.

As proven by Seo Hui, who turned back an army of 800,000 and gained territory with a single speech, sophisticated diplomacy and intelligence in modern warfare can exert the firepower of dozens of divisions and achieve immense results. Judge the opponent's political and diplomatic situation through intelligence warfare. As the old truth goes, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend"—it is possible to disperse fronts or turn the tide by bringing in a third country that is hostile to your enemy.

Even a small nation facing aggression from a superpower need not give up! Apply pressure using the international community and military alliances like the UN, NATO, or CSTO as justification, and present clear reasons why they must intervene in your war.

Sometimes, a negotiation table without gunfire is more effective than war.

FORM

Roma uno die non est condita. Rome was not built in a day. — Miguel de Cervantes

In truth, the borders drawn on real-world maps are not eternal. Once sovereignty is established and territory is gained, it is time to renovate the nation into something grander. Form a new nation. Transcend historical limits to restore past glory or create an entirely new state.

Realize the history found in textbooks once more. Unify a divided Central Europe to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or bring back the British Empire, the land where the sun never sets, which once commanded the world's oceans. Or, proceed with dramatic political integration and territorial reorganization that seemed impossible in reality—unify the Arab world to form the United Arab Republic, or shake the dynamics of Northeast Asia as a Unified Korea.

The name? The territory? It is all up to you! Your strategy and imagination are the only limits. Become a great conqueror like Alexander, or a great unifier like Bismarck. Write your own great history upon the map.

SELECTABLE NATION LIST

Tier 1

• 🇺🇸 United States of America
• 🇨🇳 People's Republic of China
• 🇷🇺 Russian Federation
• 🇮🇳 Republic of India
• 🇰🇷 Republic of Korea
• 🇬🇧 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• 🇫🇷 French Republic
• 🇯🇵 Japan
• 🇵🇰 Islamic Republic of Pakistan
• 🇩🇪 Federal Republic of Germany
• 🇹🇷 Republic of Türkiye
• 🇮🇱 State of Israel

Tier 2

• 🇧🇷 Federative Republic of Brazil
• 🇮🇹 Italian Republic
• 🇵🇱 Republic of Poland
• 🇪🇸 Kingdom of Spain
• 🇲🇽 United Mexican States
• 🇦🇺 Commonwealth of Australia
• 🇦🇷 Argentine Republic
• 🇹🇼 Republic of China
• 🇬🇷 Hellenic Republic
• 🇮🇷 Islamic Republic of Iran
• 🇺🇦 Ukraine
• 🇪🇬 Arab Republic of Egypt

Minor Nations

• 🇳🇱 Kingdom of the Netherlands
• 🇧🇪 Kingdom of Belgium
• 🇱🇺 Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
• 🇭🇺 Hungary
• 🇦🇹 Republic of Austria
• 🇨🇭 Swiss Confederation
• 🇱🇮 Principality of Liechtenstein
• 🇵🇹 Portuguese Republic
• 🇷🇸 Republic of Serbia
• 🇭🇷 Republic of Croatia
• 🇧🇬 Republic of Bulgaria
• 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
• 🇷🇴 Romania
• 🇧🇦 Bosnia and Herzegovina
• 🇲🇪 Republic of Montenegro
• 🇽🇰 Republic of Kosovo
• 🇦🇱 Republic of Albania
• 🇻🇦 Vatican City State
• 🇧🇾 Republic of Belarus
• 🇦🇲 Republic of Armenia
• 🇬🇪 Georgia
• 🇲🇩 Republic of Moldova
• 🇱🇻 Republic of Latvia
• 🇱🇹 Republic of Lithuania
• 🇪🇪 Republic of Estonia
• 🇩🇰 Kingdom of Denmark
• 🇫🇮 Republic of Finland
• 🇸🇪 Kingdom of Sweden
• 🇳🇴 Kingdom of Norway
• 🇮🇸 Iceland
• 🇰🇵 Democratic People's Republic of Korea
• 🇻🇳 Socialist Republic of Vietnam
• 🇹🇭 Kingdom of Thailand
• 🇱🇦 Lao People's Democratic Republic
• 🇰🇭 Kingdom of Cambodia
• 🇮🇩 Republic of Indonesia
• 🇸🇬 Republic of Singapore
• 🇲🇾 Malaysia
• 🇵🇭 Republic of the Philippines
• 🇲🇲 Republic of the Union of Myanmar
• 🇰🇿 Republic of Kazakhstan
• 🇺🇿 Republic of Uzbekistan
• 🇹🇲 Turkmenistan
• 🇰🇬 Kyrgyz Republic
• 🇲🇳 Mongolia
• 🇧🇩 People's Republic of Bangladesh
• 🇳🇵 Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal
• 🇱🇰 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
• 🇮🇶 Republic of Iraq
• 🇸🇾 Syrian Arab Republic
• 🇸🇦 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
• 🇸🇾 Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria
• 🇱🇧 Lebanese Republic
• 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
• 🇯🇴 Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
• 🇴🇲 Sultanate of Oman
• 🇾🇪 Republic of Yemen
• 🇰🇼 State of Kuwait
• 🇨🇦 Canada
• 🇨🇺 Republic of Cuba
• 🇸🇻 Republic of El Salvador
• 🇵🇪 Republic of Peru
• 🇨🇱 Republic of Chile
• 🇻🇪 Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
• 🇨🇴 Republic of Colombia
• 🇿🇦 Republic of South Africa
• 🇪🇹 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
• 🇲🇱 Republic of Mali
• 🇩🇿 People's Democratic Republic of Algeria
• 🇲🇦 Kingdom of Morocco
• 🇳🇬 Federal Republic of Nigeria
• 🇬🇭 Republic of Ghana
• 🇰🇪 Republic of Kenya
• 🇹🇳 Republic of Tunisia
• 🇸🇩 Republic of the Sudan
• 🇸🇴 Federal Republic of Somalia
• 🇸🇴 Republic of Somaliland
• 🇳🇿 New Zealand
• 🇫🇯 Republic of Fiji

(Total 106 nations)