Games

Best of 2009 | 08 |07 | 06 | 05
Advanced Search

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

Tropico 3

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.2 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 43 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 36 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >

Game Info

Publisher: Kalypso Media

Developer: Haemimont Games

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, City-Building, Simulation

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 20, 2009

Summary

As in the original Tropico, the player again is able to play the role of "El Presidente" taking over the control of a tropical island. You decide whether you want to use your army to secure your power base in the best traditions of corrupt, unscrupulous tyrants everywhere, or alternatively to lead your people to prosperity in your role as generous elder statesman. Danger lurks on every corner. There are militant rebels planning a Coup d'Etat for a communistic Junta, while in the background there are two lurking superpowers, the USA and the Soviet Union, who would perhaps prefer a more pliable president in the strategically important island of Tropico! [Kalypso]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Tropico Tropico 2: Pirate Cove Tropico: Paradise Island

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameShark

Beyond that, Tropico 3 is a fantastically addictive single player game that will have you up until the wee hours of the morning — who knew a Castro sim could be so much fun?

Read Full Review >

AtomicGamer

With a reasonable $40 price tag and some solid visuals to go along, this one crosses genres nicely to appeal to both RTS fans and city management-types alike.

Read Full Review >

Game Informer

The expected sandbox mode complements Tropico's excellent campaign, and it's exactly what you'd expect. [Nov 2009, p.112]

Read Full Review >

GamingTrend

With the game available from retailers now for $10-$15 less than most newer releases, it’s definitely a great way to unleash your inner dictator.

Read Full Review >

Play Magazine

Tropico 3 is a well-designed sim with just the right balance of complexity and micromanagement. It looks good, it sounds good and playing it just might teach you something. How many games can you say that about?

Read Full Review >

GamingXP

Tropico 3 is what the second part of the series wanted to be: a great game! Good graphics and the nice music plus the trade and political system make it to an amazing experience!

Read Full Review >

Gamer Limit

Whether you have played the prior Tropico titles or not, the blend of politics, construction and economy make this a fantastic game if you can stick with the learning curve.

Read Full Review >

Vandal Online

Good looking and well played, fun and very hilarious, Tropic 3 has almost every ingredient to be considered a classic within its genre.

Read Full Review >

GameZone

Tropico 3 has all the depth you could want, but presents itself in a fresh light that emphasizes fun without coddling the player. If you have any interest in playing out a dictatorship fantasy, this is as good as it gets.

Read Full Review >

IGN

Tropico 3 combines a very good city building game with an intriguing political game.

Read Full Review >

Cheat Code Central

Gamers should find that Tropico 3 is one of the better city-building RTS games to come out in a while, and although it may not be much different from its predecessors and its online "features" don't amount to more than social media "lite," what it does offer is simply solid and polished gameplay.

Read Full Review >

PC Games (Germany)

A successful and faithful relaunch of the series. Tropico 3 delivers nice graphics, entangling music and a gameplay that makes you feel El President-ish at once! Go buy, or else…!

Read Full Review >

Gaming Nexus

A good-looking, surprisingly deep, charming city-builder. Lots of good ideas that make intuitive sense. More than worth the price of admission.

Read Full Review >

3DJuegos

Tropico 3 is a great city builder and at the same time an enjoyable and very good-looking RTS.

Read Full Review >

PC Format

A great sense of humor. [Christmas 2009, p.94]

Absolute Games

The makers of Tropico 3 managed to update the original game while preserving its spirit.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer Spain

It's difficult to imagine a better way to adapt this special kind of game in a better way than what Haemimont has done with Tropico 3.

Read Full Review >

SpazioGames

Tropico 3 is a good game even though similar to the first episode (played eight years ago). There are some improvements, but is very similar than the first episode. Despite it, Tropico 3 is an exciting game that requires you a good dedication.

Read Full Review >

Everyeye.it

By putting away the lessons of the creepy second chapter, Tropico returns to its origin, and entertain the player with deep strategy and a hilarious social parody.

Read Full Review >

2404.org

Tropico 3 is not only a faithful adaptation of a classic idea, it’s also the best game Haemimont has ever made.

Read Full Review >

Strategy Informer

The lack of a competitive online mode also reduces the replay value, although you can compete indirectly by getting high scores, and you can even visit other player’s islands.

Read Full Review >

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

Nothing but a copycat of the original Tropico game comes with small arrangements like a road building system or 3D visuals. Yet it is a catchy and reliable “dictatorship” game. [Nov 2009]

Meristation

Tropico goes back to its roots with a new developer which has reproduced the most noticeable and fun elements of the first Tropico, merging the typical city management options with politics and social planning, which makes this a very interesting and engaging game.

Read Full Review >

Eurogamer

And, of course, there's the music. Which, as we've already is discussed, is awesome. The fight to have this music piped through every PA, loudspeaker and radio station in Britain begins now. Viva la revolution.

Read Full Review >

9Lives

Tropico 3 has turned out to be a nice management sim that fans of the genre will love. The gameplay mechanics are elaborate, the economic and political systems are well done and it looks like a charm. The micromanagement can be annoying due to lack of information, but luckily it's never entirely frustrating. Looking for a good sim? Tropico 3 is definitely not a bad choice.

Read Full Review >

InsideGamer.nl

Tropico 3 is a difficult, but never an unfair game. Is your financial plan in order, then the political problems will rise on the table, and vice verse. You can never rest and stay on guard for new problems to solve. Before you can solve every problem in the right way you might be a couple of games further. That’s also because of misplaced buttons and options. It is a little downfall on the ‘build your paradise’ game that despite of those small problems, shines like a tropical sun on a usually bright day in paradise.

Read Full Review >

GameSpy

Tropico 3 is an enjoyable city simulator that offers the same sort of replayability that others of its kind do; this one just emphasizes experimentation with moral behavior rather than perfecting a building grid. Outside of the refined graphics and Latin soundtrack, it doesn't reach too far beyond the original Tropico. But that's fine with me, as it was the best of its kind since the original SimCity.

Read Full Review >

Multiplayer.it

Tropico 3 goes back to the origin of the series, offering the same mechanics of the first episode with a full 3D engine, a 15 mission campaign and a lot of things to do.

Read Full Review >

Gamer.nl

Brings the political and economical facets of running your own little island to life with vivid colors and tropical music. The game also adds a lot of humor and stays true to the original game.

Read Full Review >

Total PC Gaming

It's manifestly amusing and downright fun, and that's its real strength. [Issue#26, p.46]

GameSpot

Playing a banana republic dictator in Tropico 3 might not be easy, but it certainly is rewarding.

Read Full Review >

Gamers.at

Those who have already played the first one should not expect anything new in Tropico 3 - the gameplay is almost identical. This is good news for fans, because the original is still a great game, but we would rather have liked to see more innovations.

Read Full Review >

GameStar

Despite the 3D graphics, Tropico 3 is basically the same game like the first version eight years ago. A lot of things are not up to date, but the mix of politics, economy, development and black humor is ageless. If you liked the first Tropico, you will love the new one.

Read Full Review >

GamingExcellence

Overall, Tropico 3 is enjoyable for those that thrive on simulator city management games.

Read Full Review >

GamesNation

Tropico 3’s gameplay hasn’t changed much since the first iteration thus making it difficult for the players to decide whether the new graphics is enough to make want to be El Presidente once again… But if you’ve never played at it before, this is a great chance!

Read Full Review >

1UP

Tropico 3 beats the hell out of history books, and strangely, most games of its kind. I only wish that the soundtrack had more tunes. And that I could have the DJ shot. God, I can't stand that guy.

Read Full Review >

PC Zone UK

A really involving little sim. [Christmas 2009, p.78]

Read Full Review >

PC Gamer UK

As much fun as a day at the beach, but Tropico 3 misses a big boat by not showing you the results of your presidential labours. [Dec 2009, p.108]

Teletext GameCentral

One of the few successful attempts to mix politics and gaming is far more entertaining than you'd think.

Read Full Review >

Edge Magazine

Tropico is as vibrant and capricious as the setting, and never dry or formulaic in the way that other management games can tend to be. [Christmas 2009, p.106]

PC PowerPlay

Surprisingly deep city-building sim with lots of neat quirks. [Christmas 2009, p.62]

Armchair Empire

The tongue-in-cheek tone of the game almost seems to mock you as much as it mocks the real life despots of the Cold War. If you can shrug that off, you'll find a decent little sim.

Read Full Review >

games(TM)

The tongue-in-cheek Cold War-era humour is preferable to Cities XL's hard-faced exterior, but Haemimont's skill in masking the behind-the-scenes mechanisms pales in comparison to Mote Cristo's effort. [Dec 2009, p.118]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 36 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

jack M gave it a0:
Kalypso screwed everyone that pre purchased the game on Steam by moving the release date 3 times and by giving a bogus discount that continued after the release...and they are still discounting it (permanent discount). The game is not all that bad, but to easy so I got bored with it after only 15 hours of playing. There are also multiple onnoying bugs and regular crashes. All in all i give it a big fat zero for how they treated (played) me. Its an over rated game that brings nothing new. Do not buy tropico 3 and boycot all games from Kalypso!

Kyle J gave it a9:
Definitely a incredible leap from the first game with a lot of technological improvements. A true comical approach to government matters!

Jason L. gave it an8:
I was a HUGE fan of Tropico 1, and have spent many hours of our long Canadian winter happily absorbed in the sunny Latin American atmosphere of Tropico. This game brings me right back. It is essentially the same game with new music (I think I like the tropico 1 music slightly better - it was more varied) and MUCH better graphics. The new camera control and 3D detail really add to feeling of living in a warm and wonderful world - even if it is a constant battle to keep the place from unraveling, what with all the challenging gameplay which must be attended to. The addition of the Presidente avatar is actually a useful tool and a GREAT idea that is well implemented. How many times did I just sit there *glaring* at the screen like a mad man trying desperately to *will* the little Tropicans into focusing on a particular construction project or production activity!?!? Now I can actually send them the message, and they get it! Brilliant. Something I don't see much talk about in the reviews, but has a big effect on gameplay is the addition of roads with actual VEHICLES! It is also well implemented in that typically low-maintenance way that the rest of the game has going for it. The thing is that the development of the island can be organized around resources almost right from the beginning of play! In the old tropico, it seems you had to develop an economic base around the town center for a few years before you could even consider developing a choice resource on the other side of the island. This adds to the overall flexibility in a big way and puts more design choices and power where it belongs - in the hands of El Presidente! ;) Things I don't like - the voice-overs have gotten more harshly ridiculous and intrusive. Some of the building and production processes have become less realistic - but at the same time more convenient. It's nice to have roads and park installations appear instantly, but it feels like I'm kind of cheating when in Tropico 1 there were no such breaks. Minor stuff really. The game is still as challenging as you want it to be. I think I like the old interface better too when checking in on buildings, etc. It seems to me like it was a little more 'visual' before, where now it's more about numbers. I'm used to it now - again pretty minor. Overall, it still feels like an upgrade, so I give it an 8!

Stian H gave it a10:
Best game ever is back - better, prettier, and even more fun. It looks and feels very refreshing with beautiful graphics and full 3d, and at the bottom it's still good old tropico, I was still playing tropico 1 and 2 until this came out. If you are familiar with those, then you will find much the same mechanics here. To me its the best city building/management game ever :) My only issue is when I get to 500+ citizens, the game is choking my 3.16ghz core 2 duo, at 600-700 it cries out for a quad. It does come to mind that the previous tropico games were exactly like this too, they would get really cpu intensive with a large population, I assume due to all the micromanagement involved. I was getting that quad core anyway ;)

John N gave it an8:
This game is loads of fun for those who like any type of city builder game. So far it's proven to be a very stable game and a relatively well optimized one too. The scenarios are great but not always the most challenging. Sandbox mode is funt too for those who want to have full control over how they shape their island but it seems to be lacking something... namely a point (but that's why they made campaign mode right?). The variety of pain and suffering you can inflict as dictator of your island could keep one occupied for hours. Users will get the most out of this game if they select a president and then govern with some role playing, as they probably would govern. The game has its flaws (reliance on XL parking garages, dead slow construction workers, limited map editing, needs more building variety & late game buildings) but it presents an incredible value at its current price and hours of entertainment. Additional content packages should make this game a 9 or 9.5 out of 10.

b00tsy gave it a10:
I normaly only buy the "top" games available, but especialy the last years the so called top games such as the new batman game and call of duty game turned out to be a huge disapointment, as in short linear single player mode lame story line, bad AI etc just packed in nice graphics and advert campains. This game gets a clean 10 stars from me, because for me this is how a good game supose to be like. The game is good old fashion fun! Finaly a game where i don't feel i am being milked by the game developers. They really put an effort in creating this game to give you a long lasting fun game. The graphics are not wow (still good), but that does not bother me one bit. I prefer this game over almost any top game releast in the last years. I'm sure if i really look for it i would find some flaws, so far i'm having to much fun to even notice any. Thats a good sign :) ..I recommend this game to all the true gamers out there!

Paul B gave it a9:
Havent put this game down for days. Great fun playing the campaign with plenty of depth to the scenarios, politics and gameplay

Games

Sony

Microsoft

Nintendo

Other Platforms

Upcoming &Recent Releases

Tropico 3

Game Info

Summary

Also On Metacritic

What The Critics Said

What Our Users Said

Upcoming &
Recent Releases