Tag Archives: Political Games

Political games encourage players to use their character’s authority to manipulate societal activities and policy. (source: BGG)

Evil Corp Game Review

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American business magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller said: “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” Which is to say, take risks to become exceptional. Good advice, but in this game, the CEOs you will play misinterpreted Mr. Rockefeller’s wisdom. They are most certainly giving up the good to become great, but by doing so, they are also – purposely – taking evil and selfish paths to obtain power and influence over the market and the world. Join in on the fun as you build your empire and rule the world from your comfy corner office. Continue reading →

Roil: Defy Fate Game Review

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King Louis XIV, also known as Louis the Great or the Sun King (le Roi Soleil), was King of France from 14 May 1643 until his death in 1715. He said, “The ministers of kings should learn to moderate their ambition. The higher they elevate themselves above their proper sphere, the greater the danger that they will fall.” Politics can be a tenuous game of cat and mouse, with continuous tactical moves and deep strategy. We certainly see that in today’s politics, but it was so much more dangerous in the past when played at the court of kings and queens. You don’t lose your position, you lose your life and possibly your entire family line. In this game, your ambition to gain power must be tempered with building a foundation that can withstand the attacks from your rivals. In the end, only one house will stand above all others. Will it be yours? Continue reading →

Filibuster Game Review (prepubished version)

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American author, politician, U.S. Ambassador and public conservative figure, Clare Boothe Luce, said “They say women talk too much. If you have worked in Congress you know that the filibuster was invented by men.” As a political tool, a filibuster can best be thought of as a blunt instrument, at best. Its single goal is to talk a political debate to death. In this game, there is a lot of killing…of political policies. Continue reading →

President Bigly Game Review

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Love him or hate him, our President has an interesting take on the English language. He has used the word “bigly” to suggest something of grand proportions. Believe it or not, “bigly” is a legit word, although it does sound like something a kindergartner would say when describing the size of the ice cream cone they want. In this game, the goal is to win “bigly”, but doing so requires you to backstab friends and family all the way to victory. Continue reading →

Mapmaker: The Gerrymandering Game Review (prepublished version)

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Ancient Roman statesman, orator, lawyer and philosopher, Marcus Tullius Cicero, said “Nothing is more unreliable than the populace, nothing more obscure than human intentions, nothing more deceptive than the whole electoral system.” He died, by the way, for political reasons, so we can properly assume he knew what he was talking about. In this game, physical death by sword is not a possibility, but a political death is only a vote away. Continue reading →

Cursed Court Game Review

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Retired United States Army general, Stanley A. McChrystal, said, “Anyone in a position of power is either corrupt or assumed to be corrupt, and the assumption of corruption is as bad as the reality of it.” Power can be held by one individual but wielded by another through deceit. After all, the corrupt can be easy to persuade if given the right leverage. Welcome to court, a den of backstabbing vipers. You’ll fit right in. Continue reading →

Commies! Game Review (prepublished version)

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American publisher, philanthropist, and diplomat, Walter Annenberg, said “The greatest power is not money power, but political power.” In this game, power is given to you, but you must share it. This will not do. With the help of others, you might be able to take it all, but you are not the only one with big ambitions. You must work with others to obtain your goals, while at the same time helping others obtain theirs, to a point… Continue reading →

Election: Road to the White House Game Review

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American syndicated columnist, pundit, author and radio commentator, Cal Thomas, said “One of the reasons people hate politics is that truth is rarely a politician’s objective. Election and power are.” Many share this point of view, but there are still many more who consider politics and politicians vitals gears in the democratic machine, for better or worse. In this game, players pit politicians from different time periods to debate universal concerns. Continue reading →

Noble Treachery: The Last Alliance Game Review

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Chinese Communist revolutionary and founding father of the People’s Republic of China, Mao Zedong, said “Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed.” In this game, the King has died without naming an heir. The war of succession is now fought openly among the noble houses, using both diplomacy and the sword. Continue reading →

Green Deal Game Review

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American political satirist, Stephen Colbert, said “Facts matter not at all. Perception is everything. It’s certainty.” This strongly suggests that obtainable and measurable factual information can be trumped by a well constructed PR campaign. Which, sadly, we know to be true. In this game, how your company is perceived by the world is very important to you and your stockholders as you attempt to cut costs, reduce overhead, neglect to follow some laws, and do all you can (within reason) to be profitable. Continue reading →

Democracy: Majority Rules Game Review

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Aristotle said, “Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.” Change often causes conflict and more times than not is fueled by the unrest of the populace. It’s the politician’s job to listen to their constituents and champion them, passing laws intended to better their lives. In theory. Most of the time, it’s about jockeying for political position, making deals, granting favors, and getting your way. In this game, power may come from the people, but it’s you who will wield it. Continue reading →

Kill the Overlord Game Review

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Milton Friedman once said, “Hell hath no fury like a bureaucrat scorned.” This game epitomizes Mr. Friedman’s sentiment. One player is the Overlord, an individual with absolute power, and they have but one goal: take out the trash. In this case, the “trash” if everyone in their court, from the lowliest servant to the most seemingly loyal patron. The only way to survive the mass execution is to ensure someone else gets “the chop” before you. Politics can be a deadly business. Continue reading →