Video Game

This is the President

Video game2021Fair TierPCStrategy, Simulation
67
Critic Score

Critic Scores

OpenCritic
67/100
Top Critic Score
Recommended
33%
Critics recommend
Reviews
9
Critic reviews

About

This Is the President is a story driven management game. In the year 2020 you are elected to be the President of the United States of America. To escape justice for your past crimes as a shady multi-millionaire businessman, you need to ratify Amendment 28 which would grant lifetime immunity to any President. Manage your official and unofficial staff like a real mafioso in order to deal with all the old problems you’ve had in the past, as well as the shiny new problems that come with the office. You’ll battle with your competitors, the establishment, the media and even foreign leaders. In this political thriller-satire mix, the player's actions will inescapably lead to situations that escalate into absurd, terrifying, tragic and even ridiculous situations. But the road to lifelong immunity is full of pitfalls, and you’ll need to remember to clean up the daily messes that arise. Some might even call these distractions “presidential duties”. Score some easy points by price capping video games and banning online advertising. But why limit yourself to ads alone? Regulate the whole Internet -- your friends in China could use some help with censorship anyway. Or how about rescuing Russia’s president who’s been overthrown by his opponent? Sending a hamster into space is one of the more “reasonable” choices, right next to helping a serial killer escape prison. Of course your team members may dislike some of your decisions, but it doesn't always hurt to remind them who’s helping cover up their dirty little secrets. Things like gambling, alcohol and domestic violence, just to name a few. Thugs, hackers, journalists, lawyers: You’ll need a variety of talents, and no matter how differently they may feel about the nature of their work, there is no moral dilemma that cannot be solved with a juicy Christmas bonus from our charity fund. Americans can put their faith in their cute little "separation of powers" all they want, but no-one can resist your methods of persuasion. Deep down they already know: Nothing can separate power from you. There’s only one way out. Change the fabric of the Constitution of the United States by persuading, blackmailing, bribing, and bullying a large part of the political system into granting you lifelong immunity. Manage your approval rating, cash and crew unlike any US President before – stay on top of your presidency by any means necessary Hold speeches, draft executive orders, manage daily crises, hold press conferences, and tweet better than any President before Hire a team of assassins, hackers, lobbyists, and other specialists. Send them on dangerous missions that can be solved by legal means. If that doesn’t work, send them on dangerous missions that can be solved by illegal means Experience a compelling interactive narrative with a wide variety of choices and story branches. Will you end your term on your terms, or are you just a pawn in a bigger game? Rule the country as a true mobster would with a shadow cabinet that is feared and respected on a global scale

Top critic reviews

GamingTrend 80/100

"If you enjoy Choose Your Own Adventure type games, you'll love This is the President. It scratches a Schadenfreude itch for the dystopian hellscape we currently live in, and it's equal parts fun, funny, and quite disturbing along the way, even with the odd choice baked in.."

Read full review →
Softpedia 8/10

"This Is the President has a good premise and some fun moments and choices. Playing as a scumbag who’s willing to do almost anything to get complete immunity while screwing or manipulating everyone else can be a hoot. But the concept clashes with the tone of some of the events and decisions in weird ways. You can think about being a good president but the need to get the amendment through overwrites any attempt at actual politics."

Read full review →
Hey Poor Player 4/5

"This is the President is a perfectly patriotic blend of This is the Police, Suzerain, and We. The Revolution, presenting players with scandal after scandal after scandal to wriggle their way out of. Although there are a small handful of choices that corral you into picking the “right” option, the way you cope with the consequences is largely up to you. If you enjoy a novel’s worth of deranged narrative gameplay where choices matter like your life depends on them (and they do), This is the President will command enough mystery, intrigue, and excitement for even the highest of offices."

Read full review →
GameGrin 7/10

"This is The President won't deliver much in terms of strategy, but will provide great writing that should pull you through an entire term of virtual presidency."

Read full review →
Nexus Hub 7/10

"This is the President is an engaging take on the typical management sim genre, with a strong focus on story-driven elements that manages to charm and frustrate in equal measure. The story-driven elements serve to both elevate and detract from the overall experience."

Read full review →

Recently scanned games

Browse all recently scanned titles →

Scan any screen with InstaCritic

Point your phone at Netflix, the App Store, or a game shelf — see scores for every title instantly.

Try the web app