A hit mobile game sees players assume the role of prime minister in a virtual Westminster. Benjamin Brewis's No 10: Full Confidence has topped Apple's paid games chart, with users navigating complex political scenarios to stay in power.
The game's success reflects recent political upheaval and growing interest in simulated governance, according to Dr Russell Foster from King’s College London. It even includes a storyline where a dog is let loose into the House of Lords by a lobbyist – who knew?
Despite staying in office for nearly 160 years, some users have crashed spectacularly. My own attempt saw Verity Grimshaw fall to a lack of press trust after a cabinet minister’s letter went viral.
Brewis was inspired by the rapid turnover of prime ministers since 2016 and the increasing role of social media in politics. Other games, like Fantasy Parliament and UK Politics Simulator, add layers of complexity with real-life data and AI responses.
This rise of political video games suggests a new form of engagement or perhaps just a more amusing way to mock the chaos of democracy.
