Tropico (Series)

Tropico (Series): City-Building Simulation

Learn about Tropico city-building simulation video game series, its developers and publishers, and gameplay mechanics involving managing a Caribbean island nation as the dictator El Presidente.

What is Tropico (Series)?

Tropico is a long-running series of city-builder simulation video games developed by PopTop Software and later by Haemimont Games and Realmforge Studios. The games focus on managing an island nation in the Caribbean during various historical eras. The player assumes the role of 'El Presidente', the dictator of the island, and tries to balance various competing factions and interests while maintaining power and popularity.

The first game in the series, Tropico, was released in 2001 and focused on the Cold War era. It was acclaimed for its politically-themed humor and challenging economic simulation. It spawned four sequels - Tropico 2: Pirate Cove (2003), Tropico 3 (2009), Tropico 4 (2011) and Tropico 5 (2014), with each sequel introducing updated visuals and new gameplay mechanics. Tropico 6 was released in 2019 by new developer Limbic Entertainment, and Tropico 7 is in development.

The games allow broad customization of the island as well as El Presidente's appearance and policies. Balancing factions like capitalists, religious groups, nationalists, environmentalists, and even the island's superpower sponsors requires shrewd political dealings. Players issue decrees and edicts, monitor global events and trade deals, and sway public opinion through construction projects, national addresses, and resource management in order to remain in power for as long as possible.

Tropico (Series) Features

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