China: Mao's legacy

About

"China: Mao's Legacy" is a simulation game that lets you lead the People's Republic of China from 1976 to 1985. Make crucial decisions on the country's economic and political future, from restoring relations with the USSR or aligning with the USA, to implementing market reforms or adhering to communist ideals. Your actions will determine China's role in the Cold War and its influence in the world. Maintain party control and navigate political intrigue to secure your legacy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 256 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game offers a deep and complex political simulation of China during a pivotal historical period, allowing players to explore various political paths and outcomes.
It has improved mechanics and a more user-friendly interface compared to previous titles from the same developer, making it more accessible while still challenging.
The developers are actively updating the game and addressing issues, showing commitment to improving the player experience and adding content.

The tutorial is poorly designed and lacks comprehensive guidance, leaving players confused about game mechanics and how to progress effectively.
There are frequent translation errors and unclear UI elements, which can make it difficult for players to understand the implications of their decisions.
The game can feel unbalanced and punishing, with many players experiencing sudden failures without clear reasons, leading to frustration.

gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
80%
8%
The gameplay is a significant improvement over previous titles, featuring a more intuitive UI and real-time mechanics that enhance engagement. However, players often find the mechanics opaque and challenging to grasp, requiring extensive trial and error, community support, and patience to fully understand the game's intricacies. While the game offers a rich political simulation experience, it could benefit from clearer tutorials and better explanations of its mechanics to enhance accessibility for newcomers.
- “This game is much less cryptic; you see the effects of increasing or decreasing the budget, unlike in Crisis in the Kremlin where you just had to guess. The UI is much better, and I love the new real-time mechanics instead of just pressing on a book to progress the game.”
- “The gameplay is an upgraded version of Ostalgie, so if you like Kremlin games, just buy this one! Its UI is more intuitive, and its mechanics are more polished and constantly being improved. Everything just works how it should, and you are given enough freedom to do what you want without breaking history.”
- “It builds upon the foundation laid by the previous titles and expands the scope and depth of the gameplay, offering a unique challenge that is both engaging and rewarding.”
- “If you are going to play this game, expect confusion to be a pretty regular feeling, as a lot of game mechanics will be explained through a mix of trial and error, looking for Steam community threads that don't actually answer your question, and intuition-based guesses.”
- “I really wanted to like this game, but my main complaint with it is that the gameplay is very 'opaque', in the sense that the player doesn't really understand the repercussions of their actions or what is going on with the modifiers.”
- “Though, I suppose I should offer a warning to players unfamiliar with Kremlingames: the tutorial only explains so much, the tooltips are not in-depth like Paradox games, and a lot of the game mechanics are hidden in a 'black-box' style of gameplay where you have to puzzle out and discuss with others what exactly does what and why a game-over came so suddenly when I played one time vs. smooth sailing to a victory the next.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's music features a rich selection of historical soundtracks from socialist China, evoking nostalgia for players familiar with the era's melodies. While the original compositions enhance the gaming experience, some users noted a lack of guidance on gameplay mechanics and song management. Overall, the inclusion of more songs than previous titles is appreciated, though some iconic tracks were missed.
- “This game also has amazing soundtracks consisting of popular melodies from Mao's time.”
- “It sort of brings me back to the days when I've rehearsed many of the songs in the school choir and sang some others weekly in flag-raising ceremonies.”
- “The original soundtracks are also thrilling when played in the correct scenarios.”
- “However, there is absolutely zero help on how the game works, what you're supposed to do, heck even how to get the songs on shuffle.”
- “If there's one thing, I do hope Kremlingames can revamp their GUI, provide a tutorial, and the overall aesthetic other than just period music and gameplay.”
- “They have all these Chinese propaganda music but they didn't include 'Red Sun in the Sky.'”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The graphics have received mixed reviews, with many describing them as mediocre or unpolished, particularly in the GUI, which can appear cartoonish. However, some players appreciate the unique time period and engaging gameplay, suggesting that the graphics do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “While the map graphics from Ostalgie are nice, some elements of the GUI can still appear a bit unpolished and cartoonish.”
- “Whilst the graphics are an immediate turn-off for most, the time period and gameplay is unique in offering tons of replayability if you're into the late Cold War era.”
- “You aren't going to impress anyone with the graphics, either.”
- “Pretty decent - graphics are meh, but that's fine because the gameplay elements are pretty cool.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability, particularly for fans of the late Cold War era, despite its short length and some repetitive mechanics. Players appreciate the challenge and variability in outcomes, which encourages multiple playthroughs. However, the graphics may deter some players from fully engaging with the game.
- “The time period and gameplay are unique, offering tons of replayability if you're into the late Cold War era.”
- “The game is quite difficult - the party or popular opinion can throw you out of office quickly if you displease them - but has strong replay value despite the repetitive event mechanic.”
- “Pretty short and with a lot of replay value.”
- “1.3 billion/10 for replayability value.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with some suggesting it requires an unrealistic time commitment. While historical events are appreciated, their presentation contributes to the overall grindiness of the experience.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “Way too tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I do enjoy the historical events, but the way they are presented is tedious.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's storytelling format limits player agency, resulting in a lack of meaningful involvement in the narrative. Additionally, some users noted the absence of a compelling story altogether.
- “The storytelling-type game configuration prevents players from playing a leading role in the game.”
- “No story.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report that while there are some glitches present in the game, these issues can occasionally provide unintended benefits, allowing players to experiment and explore without immediate consequences.
- “There are also a few glitches I've found, which have actually been kind of helpful as exploiting them gave me a safety net to explore how things work without dying immediately.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing hours of work.”
- “I've encountered numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, causing me to restart levels multiple times.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game emotionally impactful as it prompts them to reflect on personal and historical grief from 1976, a year marked by tragedy and loss. The narrative challenges players to confront their own values and decisions, ultimately influencing the nation's future and evoking a deep sense of responsibility and introspection.
- “While they recall their heartbreaking lives and fading faith in 1976—a year of grief, news, and natural disaster—this game reveals the scheme behind that pivotal year and pushes the player into the position to decide the nation's future: shall we reform?”
- “The emotional depth of the characters is truly remarkable; their struggles resonate with real-life experiences, making every decision feel weighty and impactful.”
- “This game masterfully intertwines personal stories with historical events, evoking a profound sense of empathy and reflection on the choices we make.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game, developed by the "krisis in the kremlin" team, is viewed positively by users, with some finding the poor English endearing and enhancing their overall enjoyment.