The Westport Independent

 PC
The Westport Independent Image
Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critics What's this?

User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 5 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Westport Independent is a censorship simulator set in a post-war country, governed by the recently elected Loyalist Party. As the editor of one of the final remaining independent newspapers in the country, your task is to remove and edit the content of your paper, affecting the people’sThe Westport Independent is a censorship simulator set in a post-war country, governed by the recently elected Loyalist Party. As the editor of one of the final remaining independent newspapers in the country, your task is to remove and edit the content of your paper, affecting the people’s opinion of both the rebels and the Loyalist government. With an increase of rebel activity and an ever watching government breathing down your neck, whose truth will you print?… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. GameSpew
    Apr 3, 2016
    80
    A deceptively simple game, The Westport Independent is enjoyable, interesting, unique, and utterly immersive. I was thoroughly captivated playing it and I look forward to playing it again.
  2. Games Master UK
    Mar 19, 2016
    78
    The experience is a short one. [March 2016, p.81]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Softpedia
    Jan 22, 2016
    75
    The game is worth playing and represents a new sign that video games have the ability to deal with serious matters, including censorship and the way even small tweaks can allow the news to shift our perception of reality and influence our actions.
  4. 4Players.de
    Feb 2, 2016
    65
    It covers a fresh theme and delivers an interesting art design, but one run lasts merely 30 minutes. And the kind of similar “Papers, Please” shows more depth as well as emotional connection.
  5. Kill Screen
    Jan 28, 2016
    60
    The game does deliver scenes between levels that color some of your writers’ inner lives, but they are too minor to establish much empathy for, say, a writer disappearing by the regime’s hand in the post-game wrap up.
  6. COGconnected
    Feb 7, 2016
    55
    Unless you’re interested in the subject matter — and, really, I was — you’d be better off spending your money elsewhere.
  7. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Mar 22, 2016
    40
    Great idea wasted by a sterile execution, which removes the most important elements of the genre – fear, uncertainty and never-ending moral issues. [Issue # 261]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 3
  3. Negative: 1 out of 3
  1. Hadzi
    Jan 25, 2016
    8
    This game is about newspapers literally. The concept of this game is very interesting but the game itself is short. Theme of this game goingThis game is about newspapers literally. The concept of this game is very interesting but the game itself is short. Theme of this game going to make people aware how media can influence the public opinion in various causes like for elections to more sinister purposes. The game is retailed with a high price but it is very replay able. I would recommend this game to anyone one who loves more braver developers who like to try new mechanic or a new theme. This studio was creator of hit game Goat Simulator… Expand
  2. InfoGuy
    Apr 27, 2017
    7
    I agree with what others have said, I like the idea, but the actual gameplay could have been much better. First off, it's too short. There areI agree with what others have said, I like the idea, but the actual gameplay could have been much better. First off, it's too short. There are only 12 levels that might take 5 minutes to get through, or even less time later on when repeat articles start to show up at your desk.

    The characters' stories could use some work. Even though you only have 4 reporters at your disposal, I feel like I still barely know them, even after playing the whole game. The cutscenes in between levels could have been a good way to build their characters or comment on the player's decisions, but instead they never really discuss anything relevant to your progress.

    And speaking of progress, I never really felt that my decisions had any meaningful impact on the game. Aside from a few notes slipped onto my desk, or a staff member disappearing, the effects were fairly mild. There didn't seem to be any special events that stemmed from your editorial choices, such as disruption of delivery, or boycotts. But I did notice that some articles changed over time to reflect the effects of your choices, so credit for that.

    I wish there were more mechanics to the game. Edit articles, drag them onto the paper template, then drag the sliders for marketing, that's it? I feel like there were still many things to add: paper delivery, staff hiring, ad revenue, etc. If not, at least the current mechanics could have been more complex as time went on, like the increasing number of documents in Papers Please.

    Overall still enjoyable, but could have been much more thorough and engaging.    … Expand
  4. XPRMitch
    Feb 7, 2016
    2
    Good Concept, but poorly executed - lacking the punchy consequence of similar games circa papers, please. Also lacks length, with the gameGood Concept, but poorly executed - lacking the punchy consequence of similar games circa papers, please. Also lacks length, with the game lasting ~ 2hrs at the very most.… Expand

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