(Digitally) Rule your own country

Most of us will never know what it’s like to be the leader of a country. However, video games can allow us to get close to this fantasy. Over the years, there have been many releases that give you the experience of ruling a nation. Below are just a few great examples of games that can allow you to be king for a day. 

Civilization V 

Civilization is a classic turn-based strategy game series that challenges players to build an empire that will stand the test of time. Players get to control famous historical figures from history ranging from Napoleon to Gandhi and can choose from a range of factions.

The series has produced six games to date. The game that tends to get the most praise is Civilization V. It’s a more streamlined version of IV that gets the right balance of complexity and simplicity.

Medieval: Total War

The Total War series is another classic strategy series. There are different Total War games available with time settings throughout different periods of history. Medieval: Total War is set in medieval Europe and allows you to choose from factions ranging from the English to the Byzantine Empire. If you’re interested in medieval history, it’s definitely worth trying.

Europa Universalis IV

Europa Universalis IV allows you to control one of 200 nations from around the world. Over the centuries, you get to manage every aspect of the country from controlling trade to developing technologies. The game aims to be historically accurate, so you’ll also have to negotiate various real events from throughout history. It’s a vast and immersive game.

Hearts of Iron IV

Hearts of Iron IV surrounds the timeline of World War II. You are able to take command of any nation and guide them through the war. It’s also an incredible game of great detail that is certain to appeal to WWII history buffs.

Politics & War

Politics & War is a free massive-multiplayer online strategy game in which players get to create a nation. You control every aspect of your nation (including the name of your country and the flag), fighting to maintain peace in your nations, while also having to negotiate diplomacy with other nations. The game has thousands of players. This means there are thousands of nations out there to interact with.

Tropico 6

Tropico 6 is a political simulation game in which you play the president of a banana republic. You get to choose between being a ruthless dictator or a slightly more liberal leader as you build up your nation and deal with political unrest.

Additionally, it has some interesting features including the choice to fix elections and set up a Swiss bank account. 

Democracy 4

Many games that allow you to rule a country are based largely on war, whereas Democracy 4 focuses purely on the politics of running a country.

You play as your own political party taking the reins of a country in which you must build a strong economy and keep your citizens happy. Furthermore, random events like financial crises and terrorism are scenarios with the intent to keep you on your toes.