Tropico 4

 PC
User Score
7.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 419 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 274 out of 419
  2. Mixed: 118 out of 419
  3. Negative: 27 out of 419
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  1. shirajzl
    Aug 28, 2011
    10
    This game is just what the fans of the series and the genre in general want and expect. A fun, relaxing game with decent graphics and gameplay complex enough to keep you occupied, but not frustrated. Tropico 3 was nigh on perfect and the developers just built a little bit on that foundation. Some will aruge it's the same old game, but why fix it if it's not broken? A major overhaul oftenThis game is just what the fans of the series and the genre in general want and expect. A fun, relaxing game with decent graphics and gameplay complex enough to keep you occupied, but not frustrated. Tropico 3 was nigh on perfect and the developers just built a little bit on that foundation. Some will aruge it's the same old game, but why fix it if it's not broken? A major overhaul often results in destroying what used to be an entertaining and fulfilling game...If you liked the previous versions of the game, you'll enjoy this one just as much.… Expand
  2. Lugash
    Mar 15, 2013
    10
    Quite simply the best simulation game around. Tropico 4 may not add much new content, but it polishes the *heck* out of the amazing Tropico 3. The Modern Times expansion adds tons of new content. I honestly have no complaints worth mentioning. 10/10
  3. tototototo
    Jan 7, 2012
    8
    Tropico 4 is an easy going and graphically beautiful game, keeping with the series. Most of the beauty is lost, though, if your computer can't handle high settings. The music is in the similar grain to 3 but arguably less tiring(tyhough that could be that I haven't yet played 4 long enough to get sick of the music as with 3)
  4. notizklotz
    Jan 9, 2012
    9
    I played Tropico 1 + 2 and really loved it, I left out Tropico 3 because it had mediocre critics but when Tropico 4 was released this was a clear buy for me. I think this game is fantastic, the missions are diversified and the good old Tropico feeling is back! Personally, I don't care if there are only minor updates to Tropico 3 because I never owned that.
  5. dardalen
    Dec 5, 2011
    8
    I think Tropico is good for what it is. It will never be the supreme strategy, economy builder, but the humor and ideas it does have make it a nice change of pace from many of the empire builder type games out there.
  6. zarg556
    Jul 23, 2012
    10
    OK... I am aware that tons of people hate this game due to the similarities it shares with it's predecessors - mainly because it is pretty much the same game but with a few upgrades. This however, is completely untrue in my opinion...

    Firstly, there are 20 new diverse, unique missions to explore and conquer while gaining the respect of the population of your island. Random events assist    OK... I am aware that tons of people hate this game due to the similarities it shares with it's predecessors - mainly because it is pretty much the same game but with a few upgrades. This however, is completely untrue in my opinion...

    Firstly, there are 20 new diverse, unique missions to explore and conquer while gaining the respect of the population of your island. Random events assist in making the game more interesting, while not being so common to disrupt the fun and immensity of the gameplay. The fun, exciting spokespeople for each nation are hilarious to listen to, each with their own personalities and voices (although at times these stereotypes may be considered slightly racist!).

    The graphics of Tropico 4 are roughly the same as those of Tropico 3, but seem more vivid and alive, making your island feel more real. For me, Tropico 4 runs much more smoothly on the same graphical settings (detail = medium) as Tropico 3. There are many things to do in Tropico 4 including the campaign, challenge mode (where you can create maps and play other people's!), and sandbox mode. Each of these playing styles are fun in their own way, but for me the campaign is the most enjoyable! Lastly, the actual gameplay of constructing and watching over your country is so great and satisfying (especially when you complete a mission!). The menus are greatly improved since Tropico 3, with ease of access in both finding specific buildings and navigating.

    I honestly cannot think of any downfalls to this games besides maybe the fact the missions usually last at least 1-2 hours, but this increases the overall playing time (so you get more for you money, no?).

    Overall, Tropico 4 is most certainly worth purchasing due to it's fun gameplay, exciting characters and endless playing time and fun factor...    … Expand
  7. SamuelB
    Jul 15, 2012
    9
    This is a really fun game. I have never played a Tropico game before and I really love it. I think it's stupid people rate this game so low just because it is similar to the previous one even though they love Tropico 3. I get that they are disappointed but it still remains a fun game.
  8. TheLugano
    Jan 6, 2013
    9
    Very good city builder. You can make many different choices as to from where you want to get your money (food, tourism, mining, industry, etc.), and many different choices as to how you want to treat your people. The graphics are absolutely decent as well. I can't comment on it being the same as Tropico 3 as I haven't played that but it feels like a must have for anyone who likes Sim CityVery good city builder. You can make many different choices as to from where you want to get your money (food, tourism, mining, industry, etc.), and many different choices as to how you want to treat your people. The graphics are absolutely decent as well. I can't comment on it being the same as Tropico 3 as I haven't played that but it feels like a must have for anyone who likes Sim City or the like.… Expand
  9. lzk222
    Jun 20, 2014
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Tropico 4 is a really good game. Not a great game but good enough to keep any one interested in city building, economic management and resource collection engaged for hours at a time. The biggest pros of Tropico 4 are its citizens, its political factions and the detailed economic system created by its developers.

    The complexity of the individual citizens that live on your island is quite impressive. Unlike other similar games such as Sim City or Anno, every citizen in Tropico 4 has a unique name, skill set, political inclination, age, home country, job experience, etc. I love the the richness and detail of this element of the game for it makes the micro level of Tropico 4 realistic and engaging. At the macro level the various political factions that must be navigated and addressed hinge upon the preferences and character of your citizens. The balance of this aspect of the game is well developed. For every action in the game, there is an equal an opposite reaction. This keeps the game fun and challenging, and makes it very goal driven which appeals to players such as myself. Perhaps the most important pro is the elaborate and diverse economic system that undergirds the game as a whole. It is refined and intuitive. If it were not the game would suffer greatly and likely be very frustrating to play. Although it is not as extraordinarily complex as some other virtual economies I have seen, it is intricate and realistic enough to suck you in and make you feel like you are accomplishing something meaningful. The resource diversity is exciting, the supply lines are challenging and the financial calculus that stems from all of this resource management is sensible and addictive.

    As a side note I must also compliment the humor of the game, which is apparently a legacy of the series, the unique premise of the game (which also harkens back to its legacy) and the graphics which are a little corny but detailed enough to make the game feel real. Admittedly, what really makes Tropico 4 a pleasure to play are the little things. E.g. the political quotes that pop up between screens, the ability to customize and control yourself as an avatar presidente within the game or to choose from historical characters towards the same ends; The graffiti that appears on the walls of your buildings or the snakes and tapirs that occasionally wander through your jungles, and the resource pallets that pile up at your industrial sites. All of these things give the game character.

    On the cons side of things I must admit that the same little things that make the game so great are also its main shortcoming. There are little things in Tropico 4 which I find very annoying that could be very easily addressed if the developers cared to do so. For instance, there is no North button which aligns the mini map with the onscreen view. This drives me crazy! I spend the first minute or so of every game just trying to line up my view with the mini map. Very frustrating. Also, many of the menus in the game are simple to the point of being primitive. The build menu is a good case in point. First off, accessing the build menu is somewhat counter intuitive for it only appears when you right-click. Then, once you are in the build menu, navigating to buildings is a total pain because the subsets don't have back buttons. If you click the wrong building subset or are trying to find a new building and don't know where it is then you have to exit and re-enter the menu every time! For those new to the game, such as myself, I wish there was an info box option for certain game features. Again, using buildings as an example, when a mission requests that you construct a certain building there is no hint as to where you can find it in your menu so you have to make lucky guesses and go through the whole process of entering and exiting the build menu as mentioned above. Perhaps I am just nitpicking at this point but I really wish there was a shift button option for certain actions such as late game management with air conditioning or upgrades to mines, ranches or manufacturing buildings. Instead of going to each building individually and upgrading it manually, it would be nice to hit the upgrade once while holding down a hot key so that the same action applies to all.

    Besides the little things, the two main cons of the game in my opinion are the campaign which lacks depth and is somewhat monotonous, and the music which although good in quality becomes very repetitive after a while. This is because it is catchy (seemingly a good thing in real life, but not for a computer game) and because it is on a short loop.

    All in all, although there are a lot of little things that I dislike about Tropico 4 because there is so much right with it as a whole that I have to give a favorable review. I give it an 8/10. Viva El Presidente!    … Expand
  10. ghos7bear
    Jan 14, 2012
    9
    Despite this game being exactly same as Tropico 3 it doesn't make this game worse. All steps forward and improvements that were done, were done for good. Best city building sim up to date. Beware, can be a bit difficult for complete newbies.
  11. Kluge
    Oct 7, 2011
    8
    For the most part, it's a goal-centric version of SimCity set in the Caribbean. The aesthetics and graphical improvements are beautiful. It doesn't have the same performance issues as Tropico 3, nor is the interface as clunky. The series really hasn't evolved since the original Tropico release however, but the improvements have been immense. For anyone who played SimCity Societies and wasFor the most part, it's a goal-centric version of SimCity set in the Caribbean. The aesthetics and graphical improvements are beautiful. It doesn't have the same performance issues as Tropico 3, nor is the interface as clunky. The series really hasn't evolved since the original Tropico release however, but the improvements have been immense. For anyone who played SimCity Societies and was justifiably outraged at the terrible gameplay, I think Tropico 4 is a great place to pick up after SimCity 4. The game is very polished, level design thoughtful, music enjoyable, appropriately absurd (while still encouraging some thought with fantastic quotes), and has fairly balanced mechanics. After essentially using the same formula for decade, I wouldn't expect any less. Managing building placement is particularly enjoyable, as efficiency can be dramatically reduced if you build too many intersections on your road or try to have a massive hub of activity in the center of the island. Producing an island which efficiently imports, exports, and shuffles around resources feels very rewarding. The only major complaint I have is the game's too easy. It's very time-consuming to complete missions, but generally never easy to fail at. You also don't often have to be at the computer after you've planned a huge list of building projects except to choose how to handle random events. The mechanics require some thought, but after you've experimented for a couple hours, it's difficult to continue improving strategy. There's also no end-game content I found enjoyable, which seems strange for a city management simulator.… Expand
  12. Yazah
    Sep 2, 2011
    8
    This game is much like Tropico 3, but with a few minor improvements. If you loved #3, you'll love #4 even more. They stayed very loyal to the original concept and added a few improvements and additional options, but in some ways it seems like they could have done a lot more and so it feel more like a really good expansion rather than a full-blooded sequel.
  13. Bosmoq
    Sep 2, 2011
    8
    There is some controversy over the quality of this title. Some enjoy the changes that have been made, and others wish there had been more. I'm going to lay out how I feel about some of the hot issues.

    Graphics: The graphics on this edition of Tropico are very similar to Tropico 3. If anything, I'd say the graphics are about the same, but they're optimized. The visuals are cleaner, and    There is some controversy over the quality of this title. Some enjoy the changes that have been made, and others wish there had been more. I'm going to lay out how I feel about some of the hot issues.

    Graphics:
    The graphics on this edition of Tropico are very similar to Tropico 3. If anything, I'd say the graphics are about the same, but they're optimized. The visuals are cleaner, and don't lag like they did in three. Most buildings got a new texture or two as well, even though buildings like tenements and apartments are still lackluster.

    Gameplay:
    There are new buildings with unique abilities, more ways to build your economy, and better defined consequences for your actions. New npc's will issue the will of their faction and will let you know how they will react if you decide to do one thing over the other. Buildings like the Academy of Science can clone you in case of a lethal incident, and weather stations can protect you from natural disasters. Yet despite the changes, it still feels like Tropico 3, and a major complaint many people share is that this game feels like Tropico 3.5. The game certainly does feel more fleshed out, and I wouldn't go so far as to call it Tropico 3.5, but it still feels like they could have done more. Sure crime is more visible, but it still feels as invisible as pollution. Having the npc criminals run around and actually rob someone would have been a nice touch, for example. It's the little things that Tropico 4 is still lacking.    … Expand
  14. Quasi
    Sep 3, 2011
    10
    Tropico 3 was good. This is even better. Even if there's little improvement since Tropico 3, it's not a reason to give this game a bad rating. There are a few new aspects to the game, which make it even more enjoyable to me. I will recommend this game to everyone who asks about it.
  15. gizm0steve
    Oct 5, 2011
    9
    This is an incremental sequel in the same vein of Civilization V and Sims 3. It adds some buildings, a little touch of graphics improvement, some gameplay additions and some new voice acting. People new to Tropico are encouraged to get #4 but if you've burned out on #3 you won't regret skipping this. It really stands on its own as a solid city simulator - it just has not innovated orThis is an incremental sequel in the same vein of Civilization V and Sims 3. It adds some buildings, a little touch of graphics improvement, some gameplay additions and some new voice acting. People new to Tropico are encouraged to get #4 but if you've burned out on #3 you won't regret skipping this. It really stands on its own as a solid city simulator - it just has not innovated or reinvented itself enough to get a perfect score.… Expand
  16. giskard
    Sep 2, 2011
    8
    There is no doubt that for the first couple of hours this game does look like Tropico 3, but once the game gets going you start to see a whole new level to the game that just blows away Tropico 3. Though do miss certain radio DJs, the new features more than make up for it. For example the new disasters are features you will definitely want to leave turned on, they are just so cool. TheThere is no doubt that for the first couple of hours this game does look like Tropico 3, but once the game gets going you start to see a whole new level to the game that just blows away Tropico 3. Though do miss certain radio DJs, the new features more than make up for it. For example the new disasters are features you will definitely want to leave turned on, they are just so cool. The fire station is not just eye candy, you actually need it, especially when the volcano erupts. Its never as bad as it sounds but looks pretty awesome in the game. The new features appear to work well and are best described as a nice think layer of coolness that lays over Tropico 3, taking Tropico 4 to a whole new level. I always thought Tropico 3 lacked the buildings to make it an island holiday resort, well there are lots to choose from now. I also thought the islands where a little small in Tropico 3, they are huge now. There is so much more to Tropico 4 than many here have made out, it is pretty clear to me that the reviews claiming it looks like Tropico 3 are from people who have not played it for more than 2 hours. When I get the chance I'll make a Youtube video of the game and prove my point to you all. In the mean time, this is worth getting even if you own Tropico 3 and Absolute power, trust me, its cool :)… Expand
  17. Digitalkid
    Sep 3, 2011
    8
    Really game looks like some addon, no buildings models changed, graphics just slightly improved. But gameplay still awesome, more buildings, tasks are much better organized, performance geatly improved, disasters, ministers. Same good old Tropico, but better and faster. Still I think it's not a NEW game. :)
  18. Tikigur
    Oct 27, 2011
    8
    I have enjoyed all the Tropico games. The additional resources, disasters, complexity, tweaks and great graphics have definitely improved the game, or at least kept it up to scratch. Currently at $40 (cheap for a new game of this depth), it will fall, look out for Steam deals!

    If you are new to sim games (where have you been?) this is a great society/economy sim, one of the most polished    I have enjoyed all the Tropico games. The additional resources, disasters, complexity, tweaks and great graphics have definitely improved the game, or at least kept it up to scratch. Currently at $40 (cheap for a new game of this depth), it will fall, look out for Steam deals!

    If you are new to sim games (where have you been?) this is a great society/economy sim, one of the most polished out there with Sims, SimCity and Roller Coaster Tycoon. It is essentially an upgrade (more of a complete overhaul and rebuild really) of Tropico 3 but for the price it is well worth it. Don't skimp on Tropico 3 unless you are too poor to care :P    … Expand
  19. marqpas
    Aug 31, 2011
    10
    The real score is 8.5 to 9.

    This game really is what Tropico 3 should have been in the first place.
    Great fun and good tutorial. Very recommendable for both starters and fans.
  20. Jimbob2k666
    Aug 30, 2011
    8
    For whatever reason, I couldn't get into Tropico 3. It's interface and tutorials weren't up to scratch and amidst a bazlillion other games that released areound the same time, I quickly forgot about it. I bought Tropico 4 because it looked a bit more intuitive. I was right, and I'm really enjoying the game. Another reviewer is probably correct that he feels there isn't much differenceFor whatever reason, I couldn't get into Tropico 3. It's interface and tutorials weren't up to scratch and amidst a bazlillion other games that released areound the same time, I quickly forgot about it. I bought Tropico 4 because it looked a bit more intuitive. I was right, and I'm really enjoying the game. Another reviewer is probably correct that he feels there isn't much difference between 3 and 4, and he may well be right, but if you haven't played 3 then get 4.… Expand
  21. Ashton2571
    Sep 16, 2011
    8
    Great game, for first 5 missions. Then when you begin to earn a load of money, spend a little bit and then your the same amount in debt, it adds up. The only thing that keeps you playing is your curiosity about what other things you can build. I enjoyed having a communist farming island nation, especially with a custom avatar resembling Che Guevara, but the game does unfortunately get oldGreat game, for first 5 missions. Then when you begin to earn a load of money, spend a little bit and then your the same amount in debt, it adds up. The only thing that keeps you playing is your curiosity about what other things you can build. I enjoyed having a communist farming island nation, especially with a custom avatar resembling Che Guevara, but the game does unfortunately get old quickly. Even though i played the demo over and over again, the game has limiting game-play. Still it was fun while it lasted.… Expand
  22. Reverz
    Jan 5, 2013
    9
    I already owned Tropico 3 but since this was only
  23. JSNB
    Sep 24, 2011
    8
    Well good game, they added more detail and little options you can do which is something that is really needed in games like this to keep my interest but i'm disappointed in amount they added, I think they could've done better by adding more, especially on the character screen, they pretty much copy-pasted that, which bugs me. In short, add more things, the more control you give me overWell good game, they added more detail and little options you can do which is something that is really needed in games like this to keep my interest but i'm disappointed in amount they added, I think they could've done better by adding more, especially on the character screen, they pretty much copy-pasted that, which bugs me. In short, add more things, the more control you give me over things that may even seem insignificant, the happier i'll be.… Expand
  24. LogantheRunner
    Sep 29, 2011
    9
    I finished Tropico 3, and Tropico 4 is an improved version. Playing Tropico 4 is like playing an updated, completed Tropico 3, so if you liked that game you should be satisfied with this one.
    Tropico 4 is the best game of its type since SimCity. I paid $40 and as a great fan, well I won't complain. I would recommend this game to Civ fans, Sim fans, but if FPS is your thing, it might not    I finished Tropico 3, and Tropico 4 is an improved version. Playing Tropico 4 is like playing an updated, completed Tropico 3, so if you liked that game you should be satisfied with this one.
    Tropico 4 is the best game of its type since SimCity. I paid $40 and as a great fan, well I won't complain. I would recommend this game to Civ fans, Sim fans, but if FPS is your thing, it might not be for you.
    Tropico 4 is funny, if you think politics is funny, you have a Swiss Bank Account and you can learn how to oppress or enlighten your people - can't wait to get home and play all night!    … Expand
  25. Plutarco
    Dec 6, 2013
    10
    Even better than Tropico 3, funnier and far more complex. This version also adds new interesting buildings and objectives. It is an excellent game, don't think it twice to purchase it because it is also a great and peaceful option among so many repetitive and bloody games out there.
  26. TheNikus
    Sep 2, 2013
    8
    Tropico 4 is a really motivating game. The campaign is really fun, all 20 missions of it. With tourism, trade, different factions and other aspects of your island to manage, you have a lot to do in this game. It really makes you feel like a dictator too, you can have people assassinated or simple shot in the streets by your soldiers. The voice messages you get from faction leaders andTropico 4 is a really motivating game. The campaign is really fun, all 20 missions of it. With tourism, trade, different factions and other aspects of your island to manage, you have a lot to do in this game. It really makes you feel like a dictator too, you can have people assassinated or simple shot in the streets by your soldiers. The voice messages you get from faction leaders and foreign representatives are really funny. While playing the campaign, I only encountered a single glitch (didn't let me finish the mission, had to use a cheat). Also weird: Religious people sometimes demand a cathedral on an island with three apartment buildings and two farms.… Expand
  27. pyradius
    Apr 21, 2012
    8
    Game is definitely a solid upgrade to its predecessor. Tutorial to teach you the basics. Campaign is much more coherent, and from my experience you have a lot more flexibility economically to build up your nation which should make it overall more accessible. That isn't to say you can't screw up. I don't consider myself an expert and have had a few missions where I spiraled into debt,Game is definitely a solid upgrade to its predecessor. Tutorial to teach you the basics. Campaign is much more coherent, and from my experience you have a lot more flexibility economically to build up your nation which should make it overall more accessible. That isn't to say you can't screw up. I don't consider myself an expert and have had a few missions where I spiraled into debt, but most of them I have been able to grow my nation as I had planned. I think I am around 14/20 through the campaign and have been enjoying this one much more than Tropico 3.… Expand
  28. gyrate
    Nov 24, 2011
    10
    This game is a true gem with endless replay value. There are so many paths that you can choose. On the surface it will trick a player that is not paying attention. The more you dig into things you begin to realize how much thought actually went into this. Tropico 3 is of course awesome and I would have been upset had they deviated too far from the original formula. A good example would beThis game is a true gem with endless replay value. There are so many paths that you can choose. On the surface it will trick a player that is not paying attention. The more you dig into things you begin to realize how much thought actually went into this. Tropico 3 is of course awesome and I would have been upset had they deviated too far from the original formula. A good example would be my love for Civ IV BTS. When Civ V came out using a new formula I was heart broken. My shock from that fallout led me to this diamond in the rough. Once you really get into this game you'll need a well built gaming machine. I'm here to tell you folks this game right here is hardcore it is not the candy coated shell that you might believe. The modding community is beginning to form, and El Presidente is taking over.… Expand
  29. Mathew952
    Dec 29, 2011
    10
    This is much more than a repack of Tropico 3, even if the graphics engine is more or less the same. This game makes minor changes to the GUI, but in terms of appearance, it's mostly the same as Tropico 3. However, the game-play has been improved dramatically in my opinion. The road system is much better implemented, the council of ministers works very well, the 20 added buildings are allThis is much more than a repack of Tropico 3, even if the graphics engine is more or less the same. This game makes minor changes to the GUI, but in terms of appearance, it's mostly the same as Tropico 3. However, the game-play has been improved dramatically in my opinion. The road system is much better implemented, the council of ministers works very well, the 20 added buildings are all good for the most part, and to top it off, the radio show in this game is FAR less annoying than Jaunito or Betty ever were. The humor is much improved, and the blandness of parts of Tropico 3 have been done away with; their is always something happening. The addition of advisers for each faction, each with unique personalities and decent advice is also a plus. The biggest addition, however, is the 20 mission campaign, which unlike the previous games, is a single cohesive narrative that is entertaining and quite funny. Overall, this game is a big step up from Tropico 3, even if it might look the same. The only real downside is that the El Presidente voice actor is very lame, and puts emphasis on the entirely wrong parts of sentences.… Expand
  30. sincity9669
    Nov 17, 2012
    10
    awesome game with tons of re playability and great political movements. The only reason this would not be a good game for and hardcore strategy city building fan is if you had played the very similar tropico 3. All in all and amazing game.
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Awards & Rankings

60
#60 Best PC Game of 2011
60
#60 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
58
#58 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Gamer.no
    Apr 18, 2013
    70
    Taking control over the fictitious banana republic Tropico is still very entertaining. The changes from Tropico 3 are not overwhelming, but for new players the learning curve is a bit steep. However Tropico 4 is an addictive title and a safe alternative to Theme - and Sim -games.
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  2. Games.cz
    Dec 29, 2011
    70
    A well-made instalment of the great game trying not to innovate itself, but pleasing its hardcore fans or newcomers nonetheless – by its new campaign with more assignments, an import option and by a several new buildings addition. One is just wondering why there are still some flaws in the game and why the Tropico 4 does not bear a title of an expansion pack?
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  3. Vandal
    Nov 22, 2011
    80
    The game expands and improves the series, making it more approachable than ever, but without losing depth, so it offers the same fun, but improved. However, it evolves little in comparison with the previous entry, so those who enjoyed Tropico 3 won't find many new things in this fourth installment.
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