there are some very telling neoliberal assumptions about what will result from certain policies, but nonetheless, I really enjoy treating this like a sandbox and crafting some hyper-specific dystopia or utopia. also trying to get assassinated by a specific group first is fun

Good, but a bit too easy and lacks replayability.

Way to easy. Managed to get my ideal state in the second play through.

Virtually the exact same game as its prequel but with more content. I dig a lot of its expansions and modding also improves the overall experience. It's fun to do dumb shit like turning India into a police state utopia or ridding the age limit on alcohol. The game is missing out on foreign policy as a mechanic, though. It seems so odd to have so much control over your state but never have to worry about foreign affairs.