Citizen of Rome - Dynasty Ascendant

Debt-Spiral Simulator. I love the history of this game, it's a great way of ingratiating you into the day-to-day lives of Roman citizens. I've learned loads about Roman festivals that I'd never have heard of before. It also firmly enforces the social structure and hierarchy in Roman lives. Yet I think I've quit every gaming session in frustration. The only way to make profit is to volunteer for RNG events that can maim or bankrupt your character with no way of getting back. Despite plenty of feedback for income and outgoing money you ALWAYS end up in the red for some reason. As you increase in stature the cost of attending festivals and the like to receive buffs rises exponentially as well, so if you're just scraping by you can bankrupt yourself having a small Christmas party! Most of the "endgame" content of running for political office or entering Patrician status is only accessible by extreme luck in the gambling event or RNG market options. Which, hey, might be pretty accurate to real life but I don't play a video game to play Living Paycheck to Paycheck Simulator

I'd give this a solid middle thumb, in modern usage, if I could. It's an interesting idea that needs a few tweaks. When I play a similar title, like Reign, I may have only two options per event, but both choices feel like real consequences will go towards my family's successes or failures. A fun idea to differentiate itself from the other decision making games, some that play even more on 'automatic' than this, would be if it included more historical events inside of the real Roman timeline. I'd love to manage a patrician family name from the start of the Republic, to Rome's establishment as it conquered and pacified the local Latin colonies, gained hegemonic control in the Punic Wars, and eventually fought to survive the social upheaval that lead to the Empire. Each play through could feel a little more rogue-like to see how far and how prosperous each family could get through the social order over the centuries!