Whether you want to make the world a better place or just engage in some underhanded manipulation, there’s no type of game better for it than the political simulator. It’s a genre that has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, going from strength to strength.
It’s still a relatively niche genre of games, but with more people playing video games than ever before, there’s still no shortage of people looking to dabble in digital politics.. So if you’re looking for a game to specifically scratch that political simulator itch, read below.
10Tropico 6
El Presidente
TheTropicoseries has been improving with every entry, starting with the first in 2001. Tropico 6, the latest game in the series, is amongthe best city buildersout there. But it’s also one of the best political simulators.
Focusing on a particular and easily identified political sphere, the Tropico games put you in charge of a nation that is very much like, but legally distinct from, Cuba. This focus helps give the game a clear identity, something other political sims often lack.
9Europa Universalis 4
A Great Game For A Heinous Period
Europa Universalis 4 has sometimes been given the unfortunate title of a “colonialism simulator” because of the time period it focuses on and also because, well, it’s a colonialism simulator. Make no mistake, colonialism was and is an awful part of human history, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth studying.
Europa Universalis 4 does an outstanding job with tight game systems, but also in replicating the ideas of the time within the player. Just a little more territory, if only you could get your neighbor’s resources - and before you know it, you’ve colonized Canada.
8Suzerain
A Narrative Political Experience
Most political sims are focused on the gameplay. Any narrative you find is usually crafted by the choices you make, which enemies and allies you make, rather than anything the game itself provides. Suzerain is a welcome exception.
A political game with a focus on story, it’s a different experience than what you might be used to, and that alone would make it worth checking out. The fact that it’s also fantastic is a welcome bonus, proving that new ideas can be more than just novelties.
7Democracy 4
Almost Too Real
When you first fire up Democracy 4, two things become clear fairly quickly. First, there’s going to be a learning curve. And second, the developers at Positech Games have done an incredible amount of research while developing this series.
The number of things you’re able to tweak, change, control, or outright ban in your chosen nation is staggering. The game enables and encourages you to be experimental, trying out odd policy decisions and creating unique scenarios. There’s no telling quite how things will play out until you try.
6Rogue State Revolution
Incredible Potential
Rogue State Revolution is a contender in the political simulator arena worth keeping your eye on. Not just because it’s a good time, which it is, but also because it has great potential. You oversee a Middle Eastern nation and must help it prosper or face harsh consequences if you lose the upcoming election.
It’s a good premise, and the systems are solid; it’s just all over a little too quickly. Still, one sign of a great game is that it leaves you wanting more, so it’s worth playing. How the developers, LRDGames, Inc. take the series forward could turn it into a major player in the genre.
5Twilight Struggle
Made For Two
Twilight Struggle is a board game, but Playdek, Inc. created a video game version released in 2016. Whether you play the board game or the video game version, you’re in for a unique political experience. It’s a two-player game, with each one taking a side in the Cold War, the US or the USSR.
you’re able to play against the computer, but it’s most fun when played with a friend. The back-and-forth political struggle makes for a great game night, unlike most other things you’re likely to haveplayed with your friends.
4We. The Revolution
A Unique Perspective
Most political simulators put you in charge of a nation, or at least a city, letting you dictate the politics from the top down. What we have here is something entirely different; you’re instead a judge in France during the revolution, deciding the fate of those brought before you.
What this allows is for a game where you influence rather than control, executing people from certain factions and sparing others. It’s a political simulator that views things from a different angle, making this a refreshing change of pace.
3Lawgivers 2
And The Law Won
Politics is a term that covers a lot, and not everyone is interested in the same parts. For some, they want the experience of running a nation on the international level, but others might be more interested in the national level. That’s where Lawgivers 2 comes in.
The focus is on being part of a national government, winning elections, and passing policy. The world as a whole is still at play. It still impacts your own country, but scaling back the scope of what a political simulator is just a little results in a completely different experience.
2Civilization 6
One More Turn
Nothing makes your time disappear quite like theCivilizationgames, they’re the origin of the idea of games you tell yourself you’ll stop playing after just one more turn… and then the sun is coming up and you realize it’s been nine hours.
Civilization 6is the latest in the series and, for many people, the best. It builds on everything that came before it to makethe best game in the series. Whether you’re a peaceful builder of wonders or a military-might-based conqueror, Civilization 6 lets you build the nation you want to see.
1Crusader Kings 3
The King
Crusader Kings 3can easily become the only game you ever play; that’s how good it is. The level of political depth is unmatched. You manage not only the usual aspects like taxes or your nation’s religion but also arranged marriages and even the genetics of your heirs.
A medieval political sim isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but the modding community is constantly churning out new gems for Crusader Kings 3. You could play with the political landscape and figures ofFire Emblem: Three Houses, immerse yourself in the intrigue of the realms ofThe Witcher, or sprinkle vampirism into your game. Crusader Kings 3 has it all, and when it doesn’t? The modders have you covered.
