Patrician IV is a trading game with elements of city building. For fans of this kind of gameplay it's a real treat. History takes place during the bloom of trade in Europe. We begin as a young inexperienced merchant and in the game, we have the chance to become a very wealthy citizen owning countless numbers of ships and goods. The trading mechanism was taken over and expanded from the previous part of the game. You can buy and sell goods in ports or even build a production plant. There is also the possibility of trade automation, however, it requires a lot of experience as this may be tricky process. Anyway, game is fun but requires a lot of calculations and strategic thinking.

Well, the title pretty much wraps up this short review of sort. But to get in depth. You are put in a roll as a trader in a middle ages area and you must start from scratch, expand, gain influence and beat the competition of other traders that are pretty much doing the same. Its strong point is the gameplay mechanics. You trade by ships but also gain influence in the towns that you trade in, with missions, trading resources that are needed or even helping the town grow by building housing for the people or other beneficial buildings. The graphics and sound assets are not that special but really, if you play these kinds of games the micro management and the mechanics are all that you need.

Patrician IV is a lot of fun. While it is probably targeted at a smaller audience than some blockbuster video games, people who like this sort of game will probably love Patrician IV. Its economic algorithms realistically simulate the effects of supply and demand and reward you for shrewd planning and opportunistic business decisions. Although the visuals are not the sort of thing that would likely end up on the cover of a gaming magazine, they are warm, satisfying, and very pleasant to look at. They also render very well on all sorts of hardware. Where Patrician IV suffers most is its niche appeal; it is harder to market a game like this than a first-person shooter. Even so, Patrician IV has a lot going for it, and it’s definitely worth checking out.