The Political Machine 2024
- May 2, 2024
- Stardock Entertainment
Get on Steam"The Political Machine 2024" is a political strategy game that allows players to run for President as existing candidates or their own creations. Its powerful simulator, praised by news outlets for accurately predicting past elections, features meticulously researched political issues and demographics. The game offers nuanced approaches to both Democratic and Republican ideologies.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features enjoyable and addictive gameplay, making it a fun experience for political enthusiasts.
- The addition of primaries and a card system adds depth and variety to the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.
- Customization options for candidates are extensive, allowing for creative and unique character creation.
- The game feels incomplete and lacks the depth and features of previous versions, making it less engaging for long-term play.
- There are significant bugs and issues, including problems with multiplayer functionality and character saving.
- The AI difficulty can be frustratingly unbalanced, making it hard to win even on lower difficulty settings.
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay retains the addictive charm of the original, but opinions are mixed on its execution, with some mechanics feeling less polished and a lack of interactivity noted. While the game offers extensive customization options and a variety of candidates, it suffers from imbalanced mechanics and unclear impacts of certain features, leading to a desire for more depth and replayability. Overall, it appeals to series fans but may leave newcomers feeling unengaged due to its overly simplistic or convoluted elements.
“On one hand, it retains that simple yet addictive gameplay loop that made the original so charming, with its lighthearted take on the often heavy subject of politics.”
“There are also so many base candidates in the game, and over 200+ custom candidates in the Steam Workshop, leading to endless gameplay opportunities.”
“I also feel like some of the mechanics have worsened.”
“Unfortunately at the moment, there isn't very much to actually do, and the gameplay isn't terribly interactive, so I hope that they add more to it later (maybe something like what 2016 did where you ran against multiple past presidents) so it has more replayability.”
“Overall if you're hoping for something that is a satire board game or you're a fan of the series you might like it but as a newcomer to the series it failed to hook me with a mix of both overly complicated and simple mechanics.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with gameplay primarily revolving around repetitive actions such as running speeches and advertisements, fundraising, and placing headquarters. Players note a lack of distinction in advertising mediums and a limited influence of TV ads, which only affect specific areas rather than having a nationwide impact. Overall, the monetization strategy seems to prioritize financial management over engaging gameplay.
“Feels like a cash grab.”
“And most importantly, TV ads only influence certain areas instead of nationwide.”
“Additionally, the distinction between TV, radio, and newspaper ads is now gone.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's bobble head aesthetic complements both pre-made and custom characters, offering a unique visual style that enhances gameplay. The graphics are optimized for performance, allowing it to run smoothly on a wide range of PCs and laptops, including lower-end devices.
“The bobblehead aesthetic fits nicely with both pre-made candidates and custom characters, allowing for interesting appearances and policy choices.”
“The graphics are optimized to run well on most PCs and laptops; I'm pretty sure even the Steam Deck would be able to handle this.”
“The graphics are sufficient for it to run well on most PCs and laptops; I'm pretty sure even the Steam Deck would be able to run this.”
“For me personally, I have a low-end laptop, so I had to turn down the graphics a bit.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from low replayability due to the absence of a campaign mode and limited online multiplayer options, leading to a lack of engaging content and strategic depth. Players express hope for future updates that could enhance replayability, similar to features found in the 2016 version.
“The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel unique and enhancing its replayability.”
“With multiple endings and different character interactions, I find myself coming back to explore all the possibilities.”
“The dynamic gameplay elements ensure that no two sessions are the same, significantly boosting the replayability factor.”
“Also, it doesn't have any sort of campaign mode like the 2016 version, so this game lacks a lot of substance in terms of replayability, especially since it's near impossible to find an online multiplayer match.”
“It's okay at first, but I think they missed a lot of opportunities to add more strategy and replayability.”
“Unfortunately at the moment, there isn't very much to actually do, and the gameplay isn't terribly interactive, so I hope that they add more to it later (maybe something like what 2016 did where you ran against multiple past presidents) so it has more replayability.”
- story3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has been criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with some players deeming it the weakest entry in the series since 2012. Many feel that the game does not justify its price, especially when compared to newer titles that offer richer narratives and longer playtimes.
“There is no story.”
“I played since the 2012 version, and I can honestly say that 2024 is the worst in the series so far, along with 2020. At the time of writing, the price is 20€ in my country, which is a ridiculous price for such a game compared to new games that have much more story and possible playtime.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game is criticized for relying heavily on RNG for debate performance, which can overshadow the importance of candidates' views and public opinion. While previous iterations had a more balanced approach with ideology trees and knowledge checks, this shift may not appeal to all players.
“The optimization in this game allows for a more strategic approach, making each decision feel impactful and rewarding.”
“The balance between candidate performance and ideology tree management has significantly improved, providing a smoother gameplay experience.”
“The new optimization features streamline the gameplay, reducing unnecessary complexity and enhancing overall enjoyment.”
“It doesn't matter what your candidate's views align with or what the public's majority opinion on an issue is; you're subject to RNG on whether your debate performance goes well or not.”
“Whereas in 2020, ideology tree balancing and candidate performance were all over the place and full of tricky knowledge checks, but that may be a sore spot for some people.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some users enjoying the experience despite occasional glitches, while others find the bugs so pervasive that it detracts significantly from their enjoyment, leading to frustration and a reluctance to continue playing.
“Very buggy to the extent that I just don't want to play it anymore.”
“Other than a few possible glitches, this game is super fun for politicking weirdos like me!”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as quirky and unconventional, with funny characters that add to its charm. However, some users feel that the game falls short of being genuinely entertaining or funny, suggesting a mixed reception regarding its comedic elements.
“This game is great! Download funny characters and make them run against each other. It's a weird game, but that's what makes it great.”
- music2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in this game is noted to be less impressive compared to the 2020 version, although it complements the gameplay effectively, particularly with its jazz elements.
“Works well with the jazz music.”
“The cards, the music, and the complexity of this game are just not as good as the 2020 version.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it requires an unrealistic amount of effort akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
“Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
