The Political Machine 2016

About

Run for President of the United States as one of dozens of past or present presidential candidates or create your own ideal candidate. Give speeches, go on talk shows, hire unsavory operatives, and do whatever it takes to win on election day.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 544 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

monetization26 negative mentions

Fun and engaging gameplay that allows for a variety of strategies and character customization.
Humorous take on the political landscape, making it enjoyable for both casual gamers and political enthusiasts.
Easy to learn mechanics with a good balance of challenge, providing replayability through different candidates and scenarios.

Lacks depth and complexity compared to previous versions, feeling more like a reskin than a new game.
Bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, including issues with mouse controls and inconsistent polling results.
Absence of key features like debates and a primary election system, limiting the overall experience.

gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics that allow for strategic depth, making it enjoyable initially, but many players find it repetitive and lacking in variety over time. While the game effectively distills the complexities of an election campaign into manageable mechanics, some users feel that it fails to innovate or improve upon previous iterations, leading to a sense of redundancy. Overall, the mechanics are solid and fun, but the gameplay can become tedious, especially for those seeking a fast-paced experience.
- “It is a fun game with a lot of interesting gameplay.”
- “The mechanics are simple and easy to learn but can be used in a multitude of different ways, with a variety of candidates, to execute strategies and yield interesting results.”
- “Elections are amazingly complex things, but this game has managed to distill the election process down into a handful of mechanics.”
- “Gameplay is repetitive and boring.”
- “Gameplay is too repetitive for full price.”
- “The gameplay appears to be random and does not make much sense in the progress of the game.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The graphics of the game have been widely criticized for being outdated and subpar, with many reviewers noting that they are essentially the same as the 2012 version, if not worse. While some appreciate the consistent art style and find it charming, the overall consensus is that the visuals do not meet expectations for a modern game, especially given its price point. Despite these shortcomings, the game's engaging gameplay and features may still appeal to those who prioritize content over graphics.
- “Overall, I highly recommend it due to the parody/accuracy balance, the possibilities with custom candidates, and the graphics.”
- “Amazing graphics, in-depth campaigns, real-time problems, and much more!”
- “It has a very delightful and appealing graphical style to it.”
- “The graphics are atrocious, although this has been a problem since TPM 2008.”
- “This game puts 15-dollar graphics into a 10-dollar game.”
- “The tutorial felt unintuitive, the graphics were subpar for a $10 game, and the difficulty seems way too hard even when on easy.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game revolves around managing campaign resources through advertisements, speeches, and endorsements, with players needing to balance costs and stamina effectively. While speeches are inexpensive, they quickly deplete a candidate's stamina, making ads—especially costly TV spots—essential for long-term success. However, some players criticize the game's monetization mechanics as lacking depth and innovation, suggesting it feels like a cash grab rather than a fully developed experience.
- “The content is severely lacking; there's been no extra development to add to the previous games. It's a stupid cash grab.”
- “Tv ads are very useful, but very expensive.”
- “The only gameplay change is the consolidation of 'radio' and 'newspaper' ads into a single category called 'ground game,' which is the only option for advertising besides television.”
humor
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, particularly in its character creation and animations, which add a comedic touch to the political election simulation. Players find the blend of humor with real-world political issues enjoyable, though some feel that there were missed opportunities for deeper comedic elements. Overall, it delivers a fun and lighthearted experience, making players laugh while engaging with the political system.
- “This game is so funny it's even funnier when you look outside and see that this is not a game, but a reality - Markiplier”
- “The character creation is hilarious!”
- “Funny take on the political system of the U.S.”
stability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and persistent glitches that have plagued the series for years. While some players note improvements in the interface and fewer gameplay glitches, the overall consensus is that the game is too buggy and unstable for a full recommendation, especially given its price. Many users suggest waiting for further updates before purchasing.
- “But this game crashes/freezes far too much for what it is.”
- “Bottom line: glitches are fine and are to be expected, but not when the same glitches have been in your game series for over eight years.”
- “Do not buy this game just yet as the mouse is so buggy right now it makes the game unplayable and the game doesn't have fullscreen now.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting high potential due to features like randomizing political issues and facing historical figures, while others criticize it for being limited and repetitive due to a lack of diverse endorsements and organizations. Glitches and crashes further detract from the experience, leading to a consensus that while fun, the replay value is ultimately constrained.
- “Has high replayability.”
- “Able to randomize political issue importance, state wealth, voting power, etc. = great replayability.”
- “It featured a mode where you'd face former presidents (from Nixon and Kennedy to Lincoln and Washington) to unlock more playable characters.”
- “The small amount of organizations (and lack of politician or media endorsements) takes out much of the replay value of the game, where, essentially, each game you'll end up endorsed by the same people (because you get to choose who endorses you).”
- “It's very limited in its replayability.”
- “Limited replayability.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The music in the game features a mix of new tracks alongside many returning soundtracks, though some users noted issues with audio looping and overlapping tracks during certain screens. Overall, while the music adds to the experience, there are minor technical glitches that detract from its quality.
- “There is some new music added (and most of the old soundtracks are back.)”
- “This is a minor issue, but sometimes the music loops poorly or barely loops at all.”
- “After a campaign is over and I'm reviewing the map one final time, music from the 'results' screen and the 'map' screen play at the same time.”
- “Same music.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The story aspect of "The Political Machine 2016" is minimal, with players expressing disappointment over the lack of content outside the main story mode. While the game features a variety of political characters and strategic elements, it lacks depth in narrative, such as the absence of third-party candidates and the ability to create custom backstories for candidates. Overall, the focus is more on gameplay mechanics than a rich storytelling experience.
- “The game features a rich narrative that immerses players in the political landscape, with all top politicians of 2016 represented and a diverse selection of characters including presidential candidates, running mates, and political activists.”
- “The ability to gain support from various lobby groups adds depth to the story, allowing players to navigate complex political dynamics and make strategic decisions.”
- “While there are many amazing aspects of the game, the potential for creating a backstory for a custom candidate could enhance the storytelling experience even further.”
- “The political machine 2016 is a great game that I have gotten hours of enjoyment out of, but I am somewhat disappointed by the lack of content outside of the story mode.”
- “This is a nice game... there are certainly a lot of amazing things about it, but there are also many aspects to improve, like the inclusion of third parties, Scott Walker, the ability to create a backstory for a custom candidate, and debates.”
- “While the game has fun and addictive gameplay with detailed strategy, it lacks depth in its storytelling and character development.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment of time to achieve progress. While some may eventually adapt to the repetitive nature of grinding for experience points and achievements, many consider it unnecessary and a detractor from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's tedious and completely unnecessary.”
- “Overall, if you don't mind grinding XP and doing repetitive stuff, you'll get into this just like I have.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The game effectively captures a contemporary political atmosphere, presenting relevant issues that resonate with current events.
- “It seems to simulate the political atmosphere really well and offers relevant issues, just like today and right now.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
- “The haunting soundtrack and detailed environments create a captivating atmosphere that draws you in.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
- “Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere lacks any real tension or excitement.”
- “The overall ambiance is dull and fails to evoke any emotional response from the player.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to have excellent optimization, with no performance issues noted by users.
- “No performance problems at all.”