Suzerain (video game)

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.

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.

Gameplay
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. "Kingdom of Rizia" was released as Suzerain's first downloadable content on 25 March 2024.

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

Suzerain received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Rock Paper Shotgun noted the game world as impressively detailed and overall it was called a superb game. PC Gamer noted it as a fascinating and unique game. Vice.com said the game has "sharp historical insight and commentary on the politics of today." 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. The Escapist said the game "[...] makes for an interesting and emotionally taxing experience". In 2024, PCGamesN listed Suzerain as one of the best political games on the PC.