Ugh. Let me preface this by saying what a massive fan I am of this series. I've played at least several dozen games in the previous versions and dozens of hours. This was a day 1 purchase for me no question. Sadly I regret to say that this newest edition is really quite bad, easily the worst of the series.

First of all it is extremely stripped down in terms of features. Gone are the three main currencies of the previous game, now there's just the one, cash. Staff are now bought with cash, and there are only 5 staff options available (was it 9 or 12 in the previous game?). Endorsements are gone completely. There are far fewer campaign issues to discuss, only one form of advertising, and one type of campaign building you can build.

But the worst thing by far is the pacing. There is only one game length option, 21 weeks. It's nowhere near enough time for a proper campaign. Whereas previously a good strategy would involve building your awareness and infrastructure across the country before going in for the kill, now you simply can't do that. It's all just one mad scramble for points.

The game just generally feels cheaper and gamier than its predecessors. The lack of options, small number of candidates, no animations (candidates just stand still, statue-like in campaign images whereas previously they were at least animated like bobble heads). Gone is the strategy aspect that made the previous games so compelling. I hate to say it as a huge fan of the series, but this is just a mess.

It's your standard political machine game.

You'd think that they would make this game a little bit more in-depth considering the rising competition in the political simulator market (The Political Process is running away with it). I think they need to put a little more effort into their game like adding primaries (literally everyone else has), more candidates (5 Republicans? Really?), and more in-depth numbers.

I get that it's meant to be a simplistic simulator for fun, quick elections. But I would argue that at one point, you would have considered The Political Machine to be THE election game.

It's no longer that. They've fallen behind.

Once again I'll allude to The Political Process.

It's being developed by one single dude and it literally has 9 political offices that you can run for, accurate demographic stats all the way down to individual school districts, full elections with primaries included, polling data, government data, etc.

My point is, if one guy can do all that and build a loyal community, how come Stardock (a decent sized developer) can't at least add primaries and have 10 playable candidates for each party? (5 Republicans???)

It's disappointing to say the least.

They took out a lot of the features that were in The Political Machine 2016. It is boring in comparison.

Found out who win tomorrow

It's another Political Machine game. That's all I can really say. I was expecting a little more, I guess? The ideology system is a nice touch, but I wish they'd gone a step further and allowed us to create our own, since a lot of them are tied to the specific personal ideologies of existing candidates and part of the game's draw is meant to be creating your own funny little political man and seeing how he does. Besides that, there's seemingly fewer stock candidates to pick from, no new customization options, no fundamental mechanical changes besides the ideology system, and generally very little that's new. It's a fun game at its core, which is why I'm recommending it, but it's not a unique or new experience compared to the previous instalment. Set your expectations accordingly.

I have played every TPM since 2008 and this one is by far the worst. I do not recommend anyone to buy it. The game has been stripped to the bone.

Cons:
- different campaign length is gone, 21 weeks is the only option
- no scenario or campaign game mode with historical presidents like in the past versions
- very few candidates; in the year where Democrats have record number of candidates you don't even get half of them, people like Harris, Booker, Castro and others missing; Republicans completely barren, just Trump and Pence, people who haven't really mattered in politics for years and a literal rock
- one type of ad
- only one type of HQ, because all other in-game currency beside money is gone
- you have to buy operatives with money now, so you won't even use them, because the amount of money you get is pretty much the same as it has always been, so the operatives are practically gone as well, even though they are still in the game
- other minor things, but everything above is enough for me

Pros:
- the new ideology system seems interesting, but it seems that the rest of the game was laid on its altar
- AI vs AI game mode, good for simulations, but in the end not really worth much

I haven't tested the multiplayer, but beware that the previous versions had an issue where the host would see the real state of the game, while the other person would see completely different polling numbers and therefore couldn't act properly and strategically and always lost. And I have doubts they fixed it, because they didn't fix it before, even though it was reported by multiple people including me.

As a Democrat, I promised the people a Nuclear War and the End of Humanity which promtly resulted in California throwing their full support behind me. 10/10 Realistic Game, would euthanize again.

I have played this game for a long time. I believe the first one that i played was the 2004 version. That version was GREAT! There was some type of campaign. You had to beat historically great politicians in an election. When you would beat them then you would unlock that person. Then i played the 2008 version and it was good. This version i think should bring back the campaign for each party and add an independent category for the popular independents in history. Until they change the game and give me a reason to play longer than 10 minutes it will have a thumbs down for me.

I love this game. but i think it should be a bit more complex. such as
the down ballot elections and the special elections such as Maine's and Nebraska's districts.
as well as other parties being involved.
id also like to see debates between each candidate and have 3 news networks hosting each debate with 2 favoring one of each and one neutral.
as well a system where you have to be chosen by your party to be the nomination for president. same the opposing side.
When you win the election, thats it you dont change the country to however you want it. or defend yourself for the next election such as keeping or not keeping promises.

That stuff would be pretty cool in a separate mode. where the mode we have is now you just skip to the election is fun and quick, but im hungering for that long game and in depth. there is political process but that game just isnt fun.

So I played the either the 2008 version of this game and liked it a lot. A cutesy political game. However this version is 12 years newer and yet somehow less fun to play with less features.

They dropped the single player campaign, where you play against increasingly better politicians from the other party.

Save your money that are plenty of other better political games.