Politics is a game—both literally and figuratively. Politricks 2.0 attempts to refine its predecessor’s concept, bringing political maneuvering to the tabletop once again. Unfortunately, while it introduces a few tweaks, the execution leaves much to be desired.

Gameplay and Mechanics

At its core, Politricks 2.0 is a card-based strategy game where players act as politicians vying for influence. The premise remains solid: deception, backstabbing, and deal-making drive the experience. However, rather than an upgrade, Politricks 2.0 is mostly a reprint of the original game. It adds 20 new cards, bringing the total to 104, but does little to change the gameplay (GamingLib).

• Player Roles and Objectives: Players take on the roles of politicians aiming to win elections by collecting votes. The game keeps its satirical style, reflecting Philippine politics. However, the new cards don’t add much variety to the original structure.
• Action Cards and Manipulation: Players can bribe opponents (“giving merienda”) or attack them (“low blows”). The new cards introduce small tweaks, but they don’t shift the game’s core strategy.
• Power Shifts and Balance: The unpredictability that made Politricks engaging remains, but 2.0 doesn’t fix previous issues. Balance problems persist, and some mechanics still feel underdeveloped.

What’s New in Politricks 2.0? (And Why It Falls Short)

For those familiar with the original, the changes in Politricks 2.0 may be underwhelming:

• Minimal Mechanical Changes: The 20 new cards don’t introduce significant innovations. The game still plays the same way.
• Same Core Mechanics: Bluffing and negotiation remain unchanged. Players hoping for a deeper strategy will be disappointed.
• No Fixes to Previous Issues: If you found flaws in the original Politricks, 2.0 doesn’t address them. It’s essentially the same game with minor adjustments.
• Missed Opportunity for More Players: Despite adding new cards, Politricks 2.0 still limits the number of players. As a party game, increasing the player count could have made it more chaotic and fun.
• Lack of Expansions or New Mechanics: The creators had a chance to introduce new characters, abilities, and mechanics. Unfortunately, they didn’t take it, leaving the game feeling stale.
• Lower Card Quality: One of the biggest disappointments is the reduced card quality. The first edition had sturdier, more durable cards. In contrast, this edition feels cheaper.
• A Cash Grab Rather Than a New Experience: Ultimately, Politricks 2.0 feels more like a cash grab than a meaningful update. The minor changes and reduced card quality make it hard to justify buying it, especially for those who own the original.

Final Thoughts

While Politricks 2.0 tried to refine the original’s chaotic fun, it mostly feels like a rebranded reprint. The few new cards don’t change the game in a meaningful way, making it hard to recommend if you already own the first version.

If you’re new to the game, it can still be an amusing political satire. However, if you were expecting a major improvement, Politricks 2.0 doesn’t bring much to the table. The unchanged player count, lack of expansions, and lower card quality make this version a missed opportunity. In the end, politics is still a game—but Politricks 2.0 may not be one worth replaying.