The Political Machine 2024

Decent election sim, even if not the most realistic it is very fun.

guud

I've played this series in short bursts since the 2016 edition and this one is kind of "one step forward, one step back". There are some interesting changes and additions, but also some sorely missed features from prior editions. To start with the big one, they [i]finally[/i] added primary season! That's something I've been hoping for since I started playing [i]The Political Machine[/i] and a lot of people have been asking for it as well. It's essentially a four-player version of the game where you win certain buffs by doing well in the various caucuses before the final vote to become the party's candidate. It's a solid addition and if you win the primary it does let you roll into the general election [i]although[/i] I'm not sure if your performance in the primary has any sway on the starting map in the general or if it's the same as starting a new game. I do think it would be neat if there was at least a way to keep your headquarters on the map and play it as an ultra-long game with continuity from some AI campaign of the opposing party. The reworked ideology system is interesting. I enjoyed the [i]Plague Inc.[/i] style tree of the 2020 edition, in 2024 it's more like a deckbuilder card game where each political philosophy has it's own deck of operatives you can deploy. I like the in-the-moment tactical flexibility it gives you and it does give each ideology a distinct playstyle but it can sometimes be hard to tell if the card actually [i]deployed[/i]. It doesn't really have any animations or sound effects when you trigger a card and sometimes they seem to not trigger for some reason. Just feels a little buggy in places and the fact that many of the cards seem to have AI-generated "art" makes the presentation feel lazy. I don't remember exactly what the older versions did as the mechanic to hire operatives but I seem to recall there'd be a little model of that operative on the map. You can spend money to hire character other than what you're deck has but it can be hard to remember who or what you've deployed. I do like the results of a number of the cards though and if you enjoy games like [i]Dune Imperium[/i] you might feel a similar flair to how it works. I think my main issue with the game is just how devoid of [i]sauce[/i] it feels compared to the prior installments. Older versions had fun minigames where you could go on a talk show and try to promote yourself. This version still has the debates (though not in Primary mode) but random events don't have fun stuff like the talk shows and are typically an AI-generated image and some text. It doesn't really have the insane meme candidates like the Giant Meteor, and every time I see the AI art it kinda reaffirms that this was a fairly low effort version of the game. I think the caricatures of the candidates are also getting a bit harder to recognize and less stylized. I played a primary against Bill Clinton and I kept thinking "wait, who is that?" because he just looked like [i]some guy[/i]. The whole thing just feels a bit artless and devoid of flair compared to some of the older ones. Overall it's certainly not a bad game, I had fun killing an evening with it, but it also feels like it could be more though I do understand that to some extend this series is kind of a novelty they just roll out every four years as a cheeky spin on the election so you're not [i]reaaaally[/i] going to get the kind of long-term support [i]Civilization[/i] or a Paradox game would have. I remember seeing I think the 2008 version in a Best Buy many years ago and thinking it looked kind of cheesy, BUT it's also the foremost U.S. election themed game and there [i]are[/i] good bones to it. It's a series I enjoy but only for two weeks every four or so years and I feel like it coudl be a more than what it is

My computers fire wall or something keeps picking up dangerous stuff and won't let me play it unless I let my computer run the dangerous website or smth.

easy game

it's good

cant win ♥♥♥♥ to hard to get state popularaty even on the easyest mode

i prefer the older games 2016, 2020 is easier for beginners this game is way more advance it not easy but i like some new futures but other i don't the card decks are terrible idea. if it not broke do not replace it the 2016 and 2020 tactic is fine but decks just make it hard. if it on sell buy but do not at full price

trom

Every time I win a debate I lose percentages on the poles and my opponent gains. How does that even make sense? This game seems like it's designed to favor everything that isn't good for the country. Honestly it seemed like it was going to be fun but seeing how your opponent never runs out of stamina is crazy. Also, all the states that I should have won easily was a total no go no matter what I did. Funding needs to be better. You should also be prompted to accept donner money and not be forced to accept it. There are a few things that can be improved with this game as far as mechanics and the primary thing is control. Not having control over a few things really makes thins game almost annoying. It's not so cut and dry as it is in game.