Two Must-Play Games for Political and Media Junkies in 2025
If you're a Hakivo user who loves diving deep into politics and media, 2025 has delivered two exceptional games that put you right in the heart of American democracy and journalism. News Tower and Political Arena aren't just games – they're immersive simulations that mirror the real challenges facing journalists and politicians today.
News Tower: Build Your Media Empire in 1930s New York
Imagine running a newspaper during the Great Depression, navigating between the Mafia, the Mayor, and High Society while trying to keep your journalists fed and your presses running. That's News Tower – a management tycoon that puts you in charge of building a media empire from a single floor in 1930s New York.
What Makes News Tower Special
Released fully on November 18, 2025 after two years in Early Access, News Tower has earned an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating with 95% approval from over 2,400 reviews. Forbes called it "a delightful and fast-paced management simulator," while PC Gamer noted it's "one of those few tycoon games that just seem to get everything right."
Key Features:
• Editorial Decision-Making: Choose story angles that balance "respect versus reach" – do you publish the scandal that sells papers or maintain journalistic integrity?
• Political Intrigue: Navigate four power factions (Mayor, Mafia, Military, High Society) while dealing with boycotts, lawsuits, and unwanted "visits"
• Team Management: Lead 30+ unique job roles from reporters to janitors, managing their morale, hunger, and even bathroom breaks
• District Strategy: Tailor coverage from Harlem to Wall Street, competing against rival papers while meeting local reader preferences
Why Hakivo Users Will Love It
News Tower captures the essence of what Hakivo is about – understanding how information shapes democracy. You'll experience firsthand how editorial choices influence public perception, how political pressure affects journalism, and how the economics of media impacts what stories get told. It's like stepping into the shoes of the journalists whose work you analyze on Hakivo every day.
Available on: Windows and macOS via Steam for $19.99 (currently 20% off)
Political Arena: Master the Art of Legislative Strategy
While News Tower puts you in the newsroom, Political Arena drops you directly into the halls of Congress. Launched in Early Access on September 2, 2025, this "one-of-a-kind strategy/sim sandbox" lets you create your own politician and navigate the complex world of American politics.
What Makes Political Arena Unique
This isn't your typical political game where you just click buttons to pass laws. Political Arena features a richly simulated political world where NPCs develop their own agendas, form alliances and grudges, and evolve their reputations over time.
Key Features:
• Deep Customization: Create politicians with tailored appearance, personality, ideology, skills, and agenda
• Legislative System: Draft bills affecting dozens of policies, secure votes through negotiation and lobbying
• Dynamic Relationships: Build alliances, manage grudges, and watch as relationships evolve naturally
• Staff Management: Hire five key staffers who boost different statistics, requiring strategic budget allocation
• White House Influence: Work to get your bills featured in the State of the Union address
Perfect for Understanding Congressional Dynamics
For Hakivo users who track legislation and representatives, Political Arena offers an inside look at why bills succeed or fail. You'll understand the backroom deals, the importance of committee assignments, and how personal relationships shape policy outcomes. It's the perfect complement to Hakivo's legislative tracking – now you can experience the political maneuvering behind the bills you follow.
Available on: Windows and macOS via Steam for $14.99 (Early Access)
Why These Games Matter for Civic Engagement
Both games offer something crucial that traditional news consumption can't: experiential learning. While Hakivo helps you understand what's happening in Congress and why it matters, these games let you feel the pressures and trade-offs that shape those decisions.
In News Tower, you'll wrestle with the same dilemmas facing modern journalism: How do you balance profit with public service? When do you push back against political pressure? How do you serve diverse communities with different information needs?
In Political Arena, you'll discover why seemingly popular bills die in committee, why politicians vote against their stated beliefs, and how the sausage of legislation really gets made. It's one thing to read about congressional gridlock – it's another to experience it firsthand.
The Perfect Complement to Hakivo
These games aren't just entertainment – they're educational tools that deepen your understanding of the systems Hakivo helps you navigate. After playing News Tower, you'll read news differently, understanding the economic and political pressures behind editorial decisions. After Political Arena, you'll better appreciate the complex dynamics behind the legislative updates in your Hakivo briefs.
Both games are available now on Steam, with News Tower offering a polished, complete experience and Political Arena actively evolving through Early Access with regular updates planned throughout 2025 and beyond.
Whether you're a political junkie, media enthusiast, or just someone who wants to understand how democracy and journalism really work, these games offer insights you won't find anywhere else. Fire up Steam, pick your battlefield – newsroom or Congress – and discover what it really takes to shape public opinion and policy in America.
Get the games: