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 becoming prolonged, conflicts involving Israel have expanded into the largest scale in the Middle East since the Yom Kippur War, and Trump's expansionist policies are in decline amidst the upcoming November midterm elections. Other nations face their own crises, and recently, even Sweden and Finland have abandoned neutrality to join NATO, drawing all nations into the vortex of war.

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

There is only one goal: survive the storm. Prepare for it, or make it your opportunity. 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 a nation in the chaotic world of 2026 and lead it to stabilization or global conquest.

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 nation becomes a victim of aggression, there is no other way but to fight and defend oneself. —"The Lion of Panjshir" Ahmad Shah Massoud

As in reality, there are matters that are difficult to resolve with words alone. That is when war occurs. Just as two bullfrogs fight if they cannot harmonize their croaks, or chimpanzees fight other groups to expand their territory, the human species goes to war when there are large differences in opinion, many desires, or simply due to your momentary choice.

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 even nations will disappear. 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 landings—use everything. In a war between two nations, the more strategic side will prevail.

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 resolve with words lead to war, what about matters that can be resolved with words? That is Diplomacy. In 993, during the first Goryeo-Khitan War, when General Xiao Sunning of the Khitan led a large army to invade and demand surrender, Goryeo civil official Seo Hui saw through the Khitan army's supply system. With brilliant eloquence, he not only concluded a peace treaty but also achieved the amazing feat of gaining the territory of the six garrison settlements east of the river.

As proven by Seo Hui, who repelled an army of 800,000 and gained territory with a single word, sophisticated diplomacy and intelligence in modern warfare can exert firepower exceeding dozens of divisions and achieve tremendous results. Judge the opponent's political and diplomatic situation through intelligence warfare. Like the old truth that "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 on bad terms with the enemy nation.

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

Sometimes, a negotiation table without gunfire produces more results than war.

FORM

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

In fact, the borders drawn on reality's maps are not eternal. If the conditions are met and territory is gained, it is time to give your nation a grand makeover. Form a new nation. Transcend the limits of history to restore past glory or create a new nation entirely.

Realize our history from the history books once again. Unify a divided Central Europe to form the Austro-Hungarian Empire, or bring back the British Empire, the country 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, unifying the Arab world to form the United Arab Republic, or shake the situation in Northeast Asia as a Unified Korea.

Name? Territory? All are at your discretion! Only your strategy and imagination are the limits. Become a great conqueror like Alexander, or a great unifier like Bismarck. Write your own great history on 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
• 🇵🇰 Republic of Pakistan
• 🇩🇪 Federal Republic of Germany
• 🇹🇷 Republic of Turkey
• 🇮🇱 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
• 🇭🇺 Republic of 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)