HoI4 is often studied for how it "curates" history through its mechanics.
A critical point for any paper is the game’s deliberate erasure of civilian casualties and war crimes. Roughly three civilians died for every soldier in WWII, yet the game treats the war largely as a bloodless map-painting exercise. heart of iron IV
Papers often analyze the game’s "laws" (conscription, trade, and economy) which act as modifiers for factory output, dockyard production, and research speed. HoI4 is often studied for how it "curates"