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Tropico 5

Tropico 5 does a fine job of walking you through things, with the game happily offering suggestions of what to build next or a set of missions to ease you into the various methods of success.
Tropico 5 Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
77% User Score Based on 6,551 reviews
Critic Score 74%Based on 20 reviews

Platforms

LinuxXbox 360Xbox Series X|SPCEpic GamesPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Tropico 5 Game Cover

About

Tropico 5 is a single player and multiplayer economy role playing game with comedy, economy and historical themes. It was developed by Haemimont Games and was released on May 24, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Tropico 5 - Penultimate Edition" is a strategy game for 2-players that features multiplayer and co-op modes. Return to the island nation of Tropico and expand your reign across different eras, from colonial times to beyond the 21st century. Build your dynasty, research new technologies, and trade resources, all while managing your extended family and facing new challenges in this 'dictator sim' series."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
Tropico 5 screenshot
+12
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77%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,551 reviews
story134 positive mentions
stability84 negative mentions
  • Tropico 5 offers a fun and humorous take on city-building, allowing players to experience the challenges of being a dictator while managing resources and citizen happiness.
  • The game features a unique era system that adds depth to gameplay, allowing players to progress from colonial times to modern eras, each with distinct challenges and buildings.
  • The vibrant graphics and engaging soundtrack enhance the overall experience, making it enjoyable to play for extended periods.
  • The campaign can feel repetitive and frustrating, as players are forced to switch between two islands, which can lead to confusion and difficulty in managing progress.
  • Many players find the game mechanics overly simplified compared to previous installments, with less control over aspects like salaries and housing, leading to issues with citizen satisfaction.
  • Frequent rebel uprisings and military coups can occur even with high approval ratings, making it difficult to maintain stability and enjoyment in the game.
  • story
    833 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in Tropico 5 is characterized by a humorous and whimsical narrative that spans multiple eras, allowing players to build and manage their islands while facing various challenges. However, the campaign structure, which requires players to alternate between two islands and carry over progress, can lead to frustrating scenarios where earlier mistakes impact later missions, often resulting in a need to restart the entire campaign. While the writing and character interactions are generally entertaining, many players feel that the missions can become repetitive and lack the depth and creativity found in previous installments.

    • “The storyline weaves through different eras, from colonial times to the modern age, and each period brings unique challenges and opportunities.”
    • “The campaign keeps you engaged for the whole time with various side quests during the missions, providing you with a bit of complexity which is always a good thing.”
    • “The one single continuous story with the added plot twist that allows the player to take control of four continuously evolving islands, having all the elements blend well to the narrative and still have a different theme for each level in the game is a masterstroke of genius.”
    • “However, the missions can be terrible.”
    • “The storyline shares some mirrors to that game, ultimately, but is enjoyable despite this fact.”
    • “The campaign is more engaging than it ever has been, I felt motivated to complete the story and was not disappointed by how it plays out.”
  • gameplay
    800 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in Tropico 5 has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the introduction of new mechanics such as the era system and dynasty features, which add depth and variety to the city-building experience. However, some critics argue that the game has simplified or removed beloved mechanics from previous installments, leading to a less engaging and more linear gameplay experience. While the graphics and humor are praised, the overall execution of new features and the learning curve for newcomers have been points of contention, with some players feeling that the game lacks the complexity and charm of its predecessors.

    • “As the latest entry in the beloved Tropico series by Haemimont Games, it expands on its predecessors by introducing new mechanics, a deeper campaign structure, and a broader range of gameplay options that keep both longtime fans and newcomers thoroughly entertained.”
    • “The era system adds depth and variety to the gameplay, preventing stagnation and encouraging players to adapt their strategies as circumstances evolve.”
    • “City-building mechanics remain the heart of the game, offering an intricate simulation where players design and manage everything from infrastructure and agriculture to industry and tourism.”
    • “The game's complexity can be overwhelming for newcomers, with a steep learning curve that requires time to master the various systems and mechanics.”
    • “Unfortunately, Tropico 5 introduces a bunch of new mechanics that are very half-baked and don't really improve on old ones, in some areas even making them worse.”
    • “The gameplay is streamlined and simplistic, even more so than its predecessors, and this somewhat detracts from its depth of gameplay.”
  • graphics
    608 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in Tropico 5 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are an improvement over Tropico 4, they still feel dated and not particularly revolutionary. The vibrant and stylized aesthetic captures the Caribbean vibe well, but some users feel the visuals lack depth and detail compared to more modern titles. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered pleasant and colorful, they are often described as a step back in terms of innovation and polish, leading to a perception that the game relies heavily on its visual appeal rather than substantial gameplay advancements.

    • “The vibrant visuals and catchy soundtrack pull you right into the Caribbean vibe.”
    • “Graphically, Tropico 5 is a feast for the eyes with its beautifully rendered environments that encapsulate the tropical paradise vibe.”
    • “Its combination of strategic depth, humorous storytelling, and stunning visuals provides an experience that's not only rewarding but also immensely fun.”
    • “Tropico 5 is starting to show its age, and the graphics are no longer exactly state of the art.”
    • “The charm is there, but everything from logistics to visuals just feels stiff and limited now.”
    • “The graphics are something out of a high-end 2006 game.”
  • humor
    517 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in Tropico 5 is a defining feature, blending biting political satire with light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek commentary that often elicits genuine laughter. While many players appreciate the game's quirky characters and humorous dialogue, some feel that the humor has been toned down compared to previous installments, particularly in terms of voice acting and the variety of comedic scenarios. Overall, the game maintains a fun and engaging atmosphere, making it a standout in the city-building genre despite some criticisms regarding its comedic depth.

    • “The campaign is engaging, with a fun mix of humor and strategy as you navigate through different eras, from colonial times to the modern age.”
    • “Tropico 5 offers a rich and engaging city-building experience that combines political strategy, economic management, and island development with a distinctively humorous and satirical tone.”
    • “You'll be laughing at the over-the-top political satire while secretly admiring how clever the mechanics are.”
    • “The fifth installment of Kalypso's banana republic simulator has little to offer in strategic depth and an occasional amusing but generally unfunny, hyperbolic sense of humor.”
    • “The radio announcer is not funny in the least nor clever.”
    • “Tropico 5, however, is dull (dare I say embarrassingly unfunny), lacks all the charm infused into its predecessors, and all the clever political satire that kicked in every which direction has been stripped away.”
  • music
    419 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the Tropico series is widely praised for its vibrant, catchy soundtracks that effectively capture the Caribbean atmosphere, with many players expressing a strong affinity for the Latin-inspired tracks. While some reviews note that the music can become repetitive over time, the overall sentiment is that it enhances the game's humor and immersive experience. However, a few players feel that the latest installment's soundtrack lacks the charm and variety of earlier games, particularly Tropico 4, leading to mixed opinions on its quality.

    • “The sound design and soundtrack complement the game’s atmosphere perfectly, blending Caribbean-inspired music with ambient sounds that bring the island to life.”
    • “The music is absolutely brilliant, and I love the gameplay and hilarious writing.”
    • “The music gives you the best holiday feeling ever.”
    • “Easily the worst music in the whole series.”
    • “The music felt boring and repetitive.”
    • “The soundtrack doesn't have nearly the oomph that Tropico 4 did; I find myself muting it and going back to the 3rd and 4th soundtracks to keep the vibe.”
  • stability
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes affecting gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players have experienced smoother performance after updates, many still encounter significant issues that hinder their overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is considered too buggy for a full recommendation, with persistent problems that detract from the experience.

    • “No glitches, no frustrating game mechanics, no annoying publishing decisions or microtransactions, just a good old-fashioned solid game.”
    • “The power you wield is satisfying, and the game looks gorgeous and runs great.”
    • “Great game and runs great on Xubuntu Linux.”
    • “The game is ridiculously buggy for me though (crashes every hour), but I still played 50 hours of it so I'm either insane, patient, or the game is good.”
    • “The game is broken with some pretty serious glitches such as trade, vehicles getting stuck, shacks everywhere even dirtying up the beautification, the battles are seriously stupid with issues added to it.”
    • “Simply too buggy to recommend at this point.”
  • replayability
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its charm, humor, and depth, particularly in multiplayer modes, which enhance the experience. However, some reviews highlight limitations due to repetitive gameplay and a lack of diverse strategic options, leading to a more formulaic experience that can diminish long-term engagement. While some players find it highly replayable, others feel it lacks the depth needed for extensive replay value.

    • “While the core experience remains single-player focused, the multiplayer component enhances replayability and introduces unpredictable challenges, making each game session unique.”
    • “Adding eras gives the game a lot more depth and replay value, some quirks and balance issues of previous games have been fixed, while everything that has always been great about the series - the humor, the relaxing-but-engaging pace, and surprisingly realistic depiction of politics and management - doesn't disappoint at all.”
    • “It provides many hours of fun gameplay and has tons of replay value.”
    • “Ultimately, the lack of numerically viable strategic options for achieving tropical dominance limits replayability somewhat: hundreds of hours, but not the thousands of hours you might rack up playing an FPS, RTS, or even a TBS like Civilization that was better balanced.”
    • “Got it cheap when it was on sale, but after only about 10 hours I've done just about everything and don't have much in the way of replay value.”
    • “Shallow to the point where the replay value is non-existent and unfulfilling.”
  • grinding
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players expressing that the micromanagement required for building upgrades, resource management, and handling missions becomes overwhelming and repetitive. While the graphics and item variety are praised, many feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. Overall, the game is seen as requiring excessive grinding, which can diminish enjoyment and lead to player fatigue.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's incredibly tedious and has as much depth as a baby pool.”
    • “Having to click on every building and set managers and do upgrades is so tedious.”
    • “This is unforgivably tedious and by itself makes the micromanagement of Tropico 5 unbearable beyond words, especially considering that buildings freshly built or destroyed in disasters revert to the default settings, necessitating constant micromanagement of every single building on the island.”
  • optimization
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, "Tropico 5" demonstrates a mixed bag in terms of optimization. While many players report smooth performance and stability, particularly on higher-end systems, others experience issues such as sluggish graphics, poor optimization for lower-end hardware, and multiplayer challenges. The game has made strides in performance compared to its predecessor, but some users still encounter bugs and limitations that detract from the experience.

    • “It works flawlessly on my Debian 9 and it feels pretty well optimized even for an aged video card.”
    • “They've improved performance, the hard 2000 pop limit is now adjustable (up to 10k pop) and with all the DLC it finally feels like a complete game.”
    • “In conclusion, Tropico 5 runs smoothly and is fun to play.”
    • “You are perpetually stuck in this vicious cycle of poor performance and computer bugs.”
    • “They optimized the game for console play - not PC - thus turning their backs on what made this game great.”
    • “Overall, the game's performance issues despite having way more than the recommended settings, removal of key character voice acting, terrible pathing of the military (they seemingly walk past rebels in the way to get to their destination), the money solves everything mentality, and much more ruined the game for me.”
  • atmosphere
    35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant Caribbean-inspired music and sound design, which effectively brings the island setting to life. While many players appreciate the lighthearted humor and engaging storytelling that enhance the overall experience, some feel that recent installments have lost the charm and immersive qualities of earlier titles. Despite mixed opinions on gameplay mechanics, the game's unique atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates with fans of the Tropico series.

    • “The sound design and soundtrack complement the game’s atmosphere perfectly, blending Caribbean-inspired music with ambient sounds that bring the island to life.”
    • “The graphics and music are great and really create the atmosphere, and the story and element of history make it interesting.”
    • “The atmosphere and soundtrack are amazing.”
    • “Tries to lure you with its special atmosphere and jokes but it all gets old fast.”
    • “The 'NPCs' like Penultimo and the radio lady do not add atmosphere to the game...”
    • “Tropico 5 has simplified and changed all of those design elements: the placement grid is less granular, the color scheme is built for cartoonish appeal instead of atmosphere, and the building designs are lower fidelity and stereotypical.”
  • monetization
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of the latest Tropico game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the reliance on microtransactions and DLC that feels essential yet is locked behind additional payments. Players feel that the game has sacrificed quality and playability for profit, leading to a negative perception of the franchise's direction. Overall, the sentiment suggests that potential buyers should wait for significant discounts or avoid the game altogether in favor of earlier, more complete versions.

    • “No glitches, no frustrating game mechanics, no annoying publishing decisions or microtransactions, just a good old-fashioned solid game.”
    • “The horrid monetization model just makes it worse.”
    • “This game seems like a cash grab from the company.”
    • “Sadly it appears to have been carved up and rushed out for a rather shameless DLC cash grab.”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mix of feelings, from humor and nostalgia to frustration and disappointment. Players express deep emotional connections, particularly through the absurdity of the storyline involving a kidnapped teddy bear, while also feeling let down by the lack of impactful moments and nuanced characters. Overall, the game offers a sense of achievement in building and managing a settlement, but its emotional depth is undermined by design choices that detract from player immersion and engagement.

    • “You are el presidente – stylish, feared, slightly drunk, and emotionally devastated because your teddy bear got kidnapped during a coup attempt.”
    • “10/10 game with patriotic elements and occasionally a touching one.”
    • “For the most part this game made me feel like I could actually achieve something by building a settlement and attempting to set it up right and in the most efficient way possible, something that SimCity 5 couldn't really achieve, or at least not very well.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers note a significant decline in both character development and voice acting quality, suggesting that these aspects have not met expectations compared to previous installments.

    • “The character development and voice acting have definitely taken a big step down.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack meaningful growth throughout the game.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any interesting ways.”
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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 20 critic reviews
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21h Median play time
60h Average play time
21h Main story
103h Completionist
7-75h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 28 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Tropico 5 is a economy role playing game with comedy, economy and historical themes.

Tropico 5 is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Mac OS and others.

The main story can be completed in around 21 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 103 hours to finish. On average players spend around 60 hours playing Tropico 5.

Tropico 5 was released on May 24, 2016.

Tropico 5 was developed by Haemimont Games.

Tropico 5 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Tropico 5 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Tropico 6, Tropico 4, Galactic Civilizations III, Anno 2205, Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth and others.