- Publisher: Kalypso
- Release Date: Sep 25, 2020
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
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Sep 25, 2020Port Royale 4's gameplay consists almost entirely of all of the bits in other strategy games that you'd normally set to "Automate" because they're fiddly and boring. It's a game set in the era of pirates with nary a hint of swashing nor buckling. It's like if Pirates of the Caribbean 6 was just three hours of Captain Jack Sparrow filing his tax returns. Yes, we know that somebody, somewhere, must have been filling in the paperwork back in those days, but we just don't want it to be us.
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Sep 25, 2020Overall, fans of Port Royale 3 will enjoy the new strategic combat, larger map, and various tweaks and improvements. Those on the fence, or really starved for anything to do with pirates, could be swayed by the new entry but might grow tired after a while, but anyone skeptical that they would be entertained by a merchant simulator likely wouldn't find this game to be an exception. In the end, Port Royale 4 isn't the world's greatest strategy game, but it builds upon a solid foundation to cement its role as the flagship merchant simulator.
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Oct 31, 2020The complex systems at Port Royale 4’s core never flourish under the weight of its uninspired moment-to-moment gameplay and lack of structural balance.
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Sep 29, 2020Port Royale 4 starts off strong, but its solid trading and management gameplay just become repetitive over time, eventually turning into a waiting game as numbers slowly get bigger. Managing cities and trade routes also never really overcome the somewhat awkward controls on console, and combat never becomes interesting. Still, if you absolutely love trading and seeing your empire grow is all the reward you need, Port Royale 4 might be for you.