Political Arena News

When we set out to make Political Arena, we knew there would be a lot of interest in the first truly comprehensive and authentic political sim, however we were blown away by just how much excitement there has been.



Most amazingly, we were highlighted on NPR’s national flagship program, All Things Considered. You can also listen to the segment that aired.

“How the game unfolds from there… is up to the player — and of course, the voters that make up the game's simulated political world. But … players don't need to be top-tier gamers — or political junkies — to dive right in. ‘Now, if you want to dive in and be a sort of Machiavellian operator and be a Nancy Pelosi or Mitch McConnell, you absolutely can,’[game creator Eliot Nelson] said. ‘But if you're not familiar with politics, if you're not familiar video games, the game will very much hold your hand.’”



Political Arena creator Eliot Nelson appeared on Cheddar to discuss the game.



MarketWatch called us a political version of ‘SimCity.’

“Having politicos help craft the process does have its advantages, though. There’s a knowledge of the playbook that is sometimes used to get out of scandals. And there are plenty of those. The game’s artificial intelligence forces the player to deal with unexpected road blocks. For example, a political ally has said something stupid; how do you react? …’ The game offers a realm of possibilities for someone wanting to forge a traditional path, re-run old campaigns or go completely outside-the-box.”



Political Arena earned the “something worthy of your attention” spot in Axios’ highly curated gaming newsletter (not bad considering we were listed above news about Animal Crossing!).



We also nabbed a small shoutout in Playbook, Washington's most read email tips sheet.

Technically, everything that happens in Political Arena is fake news, but the buzz surrounding the game has been anything but. We were absolutely bowled over by the level of excitement surrounding our public unveiling of this first-ever top-to-bottom political sandbox. Here’s our first look back at some of the


The Washington Post took a close look at Political Arena:

As you climb up the political ladder, there will be lobbyists knocking on your door, pundits to win over and business leaders to appease while you pass legislation or campaign for your next elected office.

The Times of London keyed in on the excitement of politics:

In a video game market saturated by zombies, death matches and post-apocalyptic hell-scapes, it would be a tall order to offer something more cut-throat. Enter Political Arena, where, rather than chasing kill streaks and loot boxes (although, given the subject, those features might arrive in later updates), users are immersed into the world of US politics…

…President Biden may be ordering copies for the White House.

Mic examined some of the challenges in designing a game like Political Arena:

Players can schedule media appearances, wheel and deal with political power brokers, and plot their career paths however they choose. From lionhearted liberals to maverick conservatives to bombastic radicals, the game promises a unique experience for every player based on their own in-universe choices.​​..there’s no question that the mystique and, yes, circus-like atmosphere of American politics has created a very real audience primed for this type of entertainment.

Washingtonian interviewed Political Arena Creator Eliot Nelson:

If the problem with US politics is that people treat it like a game, could the answer be…turning US politics into an actual game? That’s the theory behind Political Arena, a strategy video game under development by former HuffPost reporter Eliot Nelson, which he hopes will ‘take that impulse to treat it like a game to try and beat the other side, and actually turn into something constructive.’ He pauses. ‘We hope.’