Suzerain (video game)

Last updated
Suzerain
Suzerain video game poster.jpg
Developer(s) Torpor Games
Publisher(s) Fellow Traveller
Composer(s) James Spence [1]
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
ReleasemacOS, Switch, Windows
4 December 2020 [2]
Android, iOS
8 December 2022 [3]
Genre(s) Government simulation, turn-based strategy
Mode(s) Single-player

Suzerain is a narrative government simulation game developed by Torpor Games and published by Fellow Traveller. It was released for Windows, macOS, on 4 December 2020 and Nintendo Switch, on 23 September 2021, and for Android and iOS on 8 December 2022.

Contents

Plot

Suzerain places the player in the role of the president of the fictitious Republic of Sordland, which emerged from a civil war and twenty years of authoritarianism under the Sollist regime. Anton Rayne, who is elected as its new president in 1953, must decide how to lead the country in his first term and work to fix the various structural problems and crises that have affected the country for years, and navigate an increasingly tense geopolitical world to win a second term. The player must make various policy decisions and prevent the nation from collapsing or being threatened by powerful foreign nations on the continent of Merkopa and abroad, such as the superpowers of the Republic of Arcasia or the Federal Socialist Republic of United Contana, and major powers such as the Kingdom of Rumburg, Republic of Lespia and Democratic Republic of Valgsland. [4] [5]

Gameplay

In-game screenshot Suzerain screenshot.png
In-game screenshot

The player guides the country through an economic crisis and may choose to resolve the crisis by either continuing Soll's autarkic economic nationalist policy, pursuing a socialist planned economy that nationalizes large sections of Sordish industry, a mixed economy, or continuing a policy of laissez-faire capitalism. In addition, mass protests and demands for change sweep the country. This can be resolved by reforming the country's constitution to either limit or increase the powers of the president or halt reforms all together and declare a state of emergency backed by the Sollist old guard.

Other interactions include reforming and investing in national education, healthcare, and other social welfare services, removing political corruption and inefficiency from Sordland's governing institutions and law enforcement, and preparing the military for a possible conflict with Rumburg, an expansionist and militarist monarchist empire to Sordland's north. As a consequence of the player's potential failure, the country can suffer nationwide protests, economic depression, a military coup d'état, conquest by a major foreign power, or an outright world war, and the player must also deal with internal factionalism within the ruling United Sordland Party to push through their constitution.

Updates and downloadable content

A major update, titled "Amendment", was released 31 July 2023. It added content and lore in the form of a number of scenes, several bills, and several hundred news events. The update was accompanied by information surrounding an upcoming DLC for the in-game country of Rizia. [6] "Kingdom of Rizia" was released as Suzerain's first downloadable content on 25 March 2024. [7]

Reception

Suzerain was awarded the Deutscher Computerspielpreis Bestes Expertenspiel (Best Expert Game), [9] as well as the 2021 Games for Change People's Choice Award and was recognized as a Most Innovative Nominee. [10] [11] Unfold Games Awards also awarded the game with an honorable mention. [4]

Suzerain received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [5] Rock Paper Shotgun noted the game world as impressively detailed and overall it was called a superb game. [12] PC Gamer noted it as a fascinating and unique game. [13] Vice.com said the game has "sharp historical insight and commentary on the politics of today." [14] Oyungezer gave the game a positive review and praised the world building, character designs, and the high replayability. They thought the tutorial and user interface could be better, and called the music repetitive. [8] The Escapist said the game "[...] makes for an interesting and emotionally taxing experience". [15] In 2024, PCGamesN listed Suzerain as one of the best political games on the PC. [16]

Related Research Articles

<i>Star Control II</i> 1992 video game

Star Control II: The Ur-Quan Masters is a 1992 video game, the sequel to Star Control. It was developed by Toys for Bob and originally published by Accolade in 1992 for MS-DOS. The game includes exoplanet-abundant star systems, hyperspace travel, extraterrestrial life, and interstellar diplomacy. There are 25 alien races with which communication is possible.

<i>Crusader Kings II</i> 2012 video game

Crusader Kings II is a grand strategy game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. Set in the Middle Ages, the game was released on February 14, 2012, as a sequel to 2004's Crusader Kings. On October 18, 2019, the video game became free to play. A sequel, Crusader Kings III, was released on September 1, 2020. Crusader Kings II stood out from earlier Paradox games in that it attracted a more widespread audience, contributing to the growth of the company.

<i>Europa Universalis IV</i> 2013 video game

Europa Universalis IV is a 2013 grand strategy video game in the Europa Universalis series, developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive as a sequel to Europa Universalis III (2007). The game was released on 13 August 2013 for Windows, OS X, and Linux. It is a strategy game where players can control a nation leading up to and during the early modern period - from the Late Middle Ages following the Battle of Varna (1444), the final crusade, to the Napoleonic era with the timeline finishing on 2 January 1821 to coincide with the death of Napoleon on 5 May 1821. Players navigate their nations with conducting trade, administration, diplomacy, colonization, and warfare.

<i>The Sims 4</i> 2014 video game

The Sims 4 is a social simulation game developed by Maxis and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in North America on September 2, 2014, for Windows; a macOS version was released in February 2015, and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions were released in November 2017. It is the fourth major title in The Sims series, following The Sims 3 (2009). The game was moved to a free-to-play model on October 18, 2022, monetized by the purchase of various paid downloadable content packs that have been developed since its release.

<i>Hearts of Iron IV</i> 2016 video game

Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy computer wargame developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. It was released worldwide on 6 June 2016. It is the sequel to 2009's Hearts of Iron III and the fourth main installment in the Hearts of Iron series. Like previous games in the series, Hearts of Iron IV is a grand strategy wargame that focuses on World War II. The player can control any country in the world, starting either in 1936 or 1939. Players have the option of following a nation's historical path, or leading various non-historical paths.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motion Twin</span> Video game developer

Motion Twin is an independent video game development studio, that initially specialized in online video games and has most recently worked on roguelite games. Founded in 2001, the company is a worker cooperative enterprise based in Bordeaux, France.

<i>Cities: Skylines</i> 2015 city-building video game

Cities: Skylines is a 2015 city-building game developed by Colossal Order and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is a single-player open-ended city-building simulation. Players engage in urban planning by controlling zoning, road placement, taxation, public services, and public transportation of an area. They also work to manage various elements of the city, including its budget, health, employment, traffic, and pollution levels. It is also possible to maintain a city in a sandbox mode, which provides more creative freedom for the player.

RimWorld is a construction and management simulation video game developed by Canadian game designer Tynan Sylvester and published by Ludeon Studios. Originally called Eclipse Colony, it was initially released as a Kickstarter crowdfunding project in early access for Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux in November 2013, and was released on October 17, 2018. The game was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as RimWorld Console Edition on July 29, 2022, with development and publishing being handled by Double Eleven. Rather than a test of skill or a challenge, the game is intended to serve as an AI-powered "story generator", where the game is used as the medium for players to experience narrative adventures.

<i>Stellaris</i> (video game) 2016 video game

Stellaris is a 4X grand strategy video game developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. The game is highly inspired by the works of Stanisław Lem and contains numerous references to his works.

<i>West of Loathing</i> 2017 video game

West of Loathing is a comedy adventure role-playing video game developed and released by Asymmetric Publications on August 10, 2017.

<i>Crusader Kings III</i> 2020 video game

Crusader Kings III is a grand strategy role-playing video game set in the Middle Ages, developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive as a sequel to Crusader Kings (2004) and Crusader Kings II (2012). The game was released on PC on 1 September 2020 and on the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 on 29 March 2022 in most regions. The game received generally positive reviews on release, and has sold over 3 million copies as of September 2023.

<i>Teardown</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Teardown is a 2022 sandbox–puzzle video game developed and published by Tuxedo Labs. The game revolves around the owner of a financially stricken demolition company, who is caught undertaking a questionable job and becomes entangled between helping police investigations and taking on further dubious assignments. Teardown features levels made of destructible voxels, and the player follows the campaign through consecutive missions. In most missions, the player must collect or destroy objects connected to a security alarm that triggers a timer. The player has unlimited time to prepare and is given upgradable tools, vehicles, and explosives to create a path within the level that allows them to complete the objectives and reach a getaway vehicle before the timer runs out.

<i>Solasta: Crown of the Magister</i> 2021 video game

Solasta: Crown of the Magister is a role-playing video game developed by Tactical Adventures and released in 2021. It is based on the 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons rules, which it uses via the System Reference Document.

<i>Star Traders: Frontiers</i> 2018 video game

Star Traders: Frontiers is a hybrid space trading and tactical role-playing game designed by Trese Brothers, a two-man independent video game studio. Players control a spaceship captain in an open world setting.

<i>KeyWe</i> 2021 video game

KeyWe is a 2021 puzzle-platform video game developed by Stonewheat & Sons and published by Sold Out. The game was released for Windows and Nintendo Switch on August 31, later releasing on September 28 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S ports were released on December 16. KeyWe follows Jeff and Debra, two kiwis working at the Bungalow Basin Telepost Office. KeyWe was prototyped during the 2018 Global Game Jam. Grant Gessel, the technical artist, took inspiration from Going Postal, a story by Terry Pratchett. Rare games such as Banjo-Kazooie and Conker's Bad Fur Day inspired KeyWe's art style. KeyWe received mixed reviews from critics.

<i>Battle Brothers</i> 2017 video game

Battle Brothers is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Overhype Studios. It was released on the PC in 2017, and console versions were released in 2021 and 2022.

<i>Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is an isometric role-playing video game developed and published by Owlcat Games set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. The game was released for Windows PC, macOS, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S in December 2023.

References

  1. ↑ "Suzerain (Original Soundtrack)". Bandcamp . 2020-12-01.
  2. ↑ Malindy Hetfeld (2020-11-30). "Political management RPG Suzerain gets a December 4 release date". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  3. ↑ Dellosa, Catherine (2022-11-18). "Suzerain, the award-winning political text-based RPG, is coming to mobile on December 8th". www.pocketgamer.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  4. 1 2 "2021 Winners". Unfold Games Awards. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  5. 1 2 3 "Suzerain". Metacritic . Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  6. ↑ Serin, Kaan (August 2023). "Suzerain's 2.0 update is a "massive overhaul" to the already-excellent political RPG". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  7. ↑ Burdette, David (25 March 2024). "Rule regally in Suzerain's Kingdom of Rizia DLC, available now!" . Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  8. 1 2 Vural, Engin (22 December 2020). "Suzerain - İnceleme". Oyungezer (in Turkish). Seti Publishing. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  9. ↑ "Suzerain". Deutscher Computerspielpreis (in German). Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  10. ↑ "Games for Change Unveils 2021 "Best of" Video Game & XR Winners". Gamasutra . Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  11. ↑ "Festival Awards". Games for Change Festival . 2017-04-09. Archived from the original on 2021-09-03. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
  12. ↑ Vega, Sin (31 December 2020). "The best game you missed in December 2020: Suzerain". Rock Paper Shotgun . Gamer Network . Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ↑ Hafer, Len (19 April 2021). "I tried to be a good leader in Suzerain and was sentenced to life in prison". PC Gamer . Future plc . Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  14. ↑ Zacny, Rob (8 February 2021). "'Suzerain' Is a Political Strategy Game that Shows Why 'Unity' Is a Trap". Vice.com . Vice Media. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  15. ↑ Galena, Jesse (11 December 2020). "Suzerain Is an Effective Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Political Simulator – Review in 3 Minutes". The Escapist . Gamurs Group. Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  16. ↑ Robinson, Joe; Irwin, Dave (15 February 2024). "The best political games on PC 2024". PCGamesN . Network N. Archived from the original on 22 February 2024. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.