If you have been searching for the ultimate real-time geopolitical simulation based in a modern world with modern nations, then Supreme Ruler 2020 will be your best candidate in this relatively untouched genre of gaming.

Supreme Ruler 2020 offer players a unique chance to become the elected head of state of any desired nation in any continent. The concept is pretty simple; manage your nations economy, arrange treaties and trade with other world nations, embark on a campaign of colonization or decide instead to foster peaceful relations with neighbors.  These are all the minimum features we expect from a real time strategy game - only this time, Supreme Ruler 2020 goes far deeper than most government sim's out there, and does a cracking job of it.

The game is based in the year 2020. Different game modes are available. "Campaign" mode features various hypothetical world affairs such as World 2020 where Russia remains a hostile Communist nation and the USA is still swamped in debt. Global crisis is very similar to World 2020 but relations are much more fractious, with tempers flaring between France and Germany and Russia bracing itself for global domination. Another game mode in Campaign is Shattered world which depicts a hypothetical future of break-away regions such as East and West Germany, the collapse of the United Kingdom and the United States among many others. Scenario and multiplayer features are also available too, which allow users to control a nation in a predetermined scenario to achieve a set objective.

The game has been designed to take into account almost all the main factors a head of state would need to address during his time in office. Unlike most real-time strategy games, Supreme Ruler 2020 finds a perfect balance between economy and warfare, diplomacy and nation building, complimented with a user interface that allows the player to interact with the virtual globe and access categorically organized menu's to address problems by managing and manipulating the necessary values to help influence the state of the economy and the affairs of the region.

The user is able to interact with foreign countries directly by accessing trade/treaty menu's and engaging in diplomacy that have an impact on relations. Relations are built around three main factors; Causus Belli (a bar that represents the level of justification to go to war with that nation with various contributing world events), approval of the population towards the nation in question and approval of the government in the nation you are dealing with.

These factors help determine the threat individual nations represent to your own country (the greater Causus Belli they have against you, the more likely it is they will attack you) and how easy it is to conduct diplomacy with them.

Just like in real life, a nations diplomatic relations with others is determined by various factors such as economic policies (for example, huge military expenditure may threaten your neighbors) as well as foreign policy decisions (by going to war with a country you have very little Causus Belli against could result in an international backlash). Supreme Ruler 2020, just like modern day political affairs, is based in an environment that requires strategic leadership skills to help balance the needs of your nation with the needs and expectations of your partners and allies. This creates a unique gaming experience with endless challenges and a highly dynamic gaming environment which is determined by both the actions of the player and also by the actions of the AI.

The in-game economics is somewhat complex and requires users to manipulate the levels of expenditure and taxation of various sectors to maintain economic health and control inflation as well as employment levels. It requires users to have a basic understanding of economics if one aims to be successful, although the developers have also aimed for a more general audience by including ministers that, when assigned tasks according to your economic desires, will perform the bulk of the economic maintenance for you (hardcore users may prefer to take over the economy themselves and control every aspect of it). There is a minister for most nation-state affairs such as a trade minister which will help you achieve trade surpluses and a defence minister who will attempt to allocate military funds and maintain military development. Every aspect of the game falls perfectly in sync in determining the future course of your nation.

Unlike most real-time strategies, the player constantly faces obstacles that may obstruct the development of ones nation and there are many external influences in this virtual political world that may inhibit ones ability to steer your nation according to your ideological goals. The strength of neighbors may sway you from embarking on a campaign of colonization as well as the economic costs of invading a country comparatively poorer than your own. The United Nations play a dissapointingly inferior role in Supreme Ruler but getting kicked out from the club for hostile actions will cost you millions in annual subsidies from the UN. A small population or high employment rate may also pose a threat to your economic development as you seek to place workers into your factories. Your approval rating is also influenced by how well you handle conflicts and the economy. If you find yourself fighting too many nations at once and spending billions of dollars on the military at the expense of your citizens, you may not survive to see another term in office.

At first glance, Supreme Ruler 2020 might seem like a complex game to handle but the user interface has been designed to make for quick learning and players will eventually find themselves engaging in all sorts of challenging activities as head of state with relative ease. 

Despite the enormity of the game experience (such as the seemingly limitless list of military and technological units to research) and the huge array of economic and political tools at the players dispense, Supreme Ruler 2020 falls surprisingly short in areas that less successful games of the genre have implemented well. During conflict, it is not possible to occupy land and return it or even sell land. Instead, all land that is invaded (unless the player changes the rules of engagement so the land is not occupied) becomes a permanent part of your nation and cannot be taken away unless invaded by other powers. The list of diplomatic treaties available is fairly limited and the management of these treaties are fairly rigid when compared to what was offered in Super Power II where multiple nations where allowed to participate in treaties and apply pressure on other nations to accept them.

The game is also modd-able but must be done manually by manipulating game file values as no official construction set has been produced to date. Although the map has varying terrain that affects regional development and the movement of military equipment, the terrain is not 3D and no 3D models exist outside of the military units and infrastructure such as cities and villages (although this is set to change in Supreme Ruler: Cold War). Players who get kicked out of the UN cannot join again despite an in-game message saying otherwise and the UN cannot be used as a political medium like in Geopolitical Simulator. The EU also does not exist.

The biggest let down however has to be the complete lack of features to determine domestic policy. If it where not for the exceptional gaming experience and attention to detail in other areas, one might argue that a lack of this feature is completely intolerable.

Users on the BattleGoat's Studio Forums have also reported sluggish performance after 100 game years due to the increased volume of values that the engine must deal with, such as military units and population sizes.

All in all, Supreme Ruler 2020 raises the bar for strategy gaming and is a gem in its genre, a shining example of the potential of a small group of developers to set standards in the industry. We hope over the years we see greater attention to warfare, diplomacy and domestic policy in this game if the guys over at BattleGoat's Studio ever aim to create a product that makes a lasting name for itself.

7.5/10