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The Westport Independent

PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Android, Linux • 2016

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Quick resume

The Westport Independent is a censorship simulator taking place in a post-war country, governed by the recently elected Loyalist Party. As the editor of one of the last independent newspapers in the country, your job is to remove and edit the content of your paper, affecting the people’s opinion of both the rebels and the Loyalist...

Global score

76/100

Genres

Indie, Simulator, Turn-based strategy (TBS)

Similar games

    Pros

    • Thought-provoking moral dilemmas
    • Multiple endings and replayability
    • Unique newspaper editing mechanics
    • Engaging dystopian atmosphere
    • Free or low cost

    Cons

    • Short playtime
    • Limited variety in articles
    • Some unclear mechanics
    • Minimal graphics and animation
    • Lack of deep character development

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fantasy, Violence, Story, Thrill. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Leadership, Cooperation.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have freedom to choose articles, headlines, and assign writers, balancing loyalty and rebellion."

    • Competence
      3

      "Requires balancing political leanings, suspicion meters, and marketing to influence districts."

    • Competition
      -3

      "Focus is on personal decision-making and managing newspaper influence, no direct player-vs-player competition."

    • Continuation
      -2

      "Short playthroughs (~30-60 minutes), multiple endings encourage replay but limited long sessions."

    • Cooperation
      2

      "Managing relationships with employees who have their own political views and suspicion levels."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Players edit articles, change headlines, and decide layout and marketing, customizing newspaper content."

    • Domination
      -4

      "Interactions emphasize balancing power rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    • Escapism
      3

      "Players immerse in a dystopian setting to explore moral dilemmas and censorship, escaping real life."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Engagement driven by intrinsic interest in media ethics and political themes, not obligation."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Multiple endings and strategies encourage trying different approaches to influence districts."

    • Exploration
      -2

      "Game world is fixed with limited new areas; focus is on narrative and decision outcomes."

    • Expression
      3

      "Players express themselves through article editing, headline choices, and marketing decisions."

    • Fantasy
      2

      "Fictional dystopian setting with imaginative political scenarios and moral conflicts."

    • Fellowship
      1

      "Some social interaction with employees, but mostly a solitary experience managing the paper."

    • Growth
      2

      "Players learn to balance political pressures and employee management through repeated play."

    • Health
      -5

      "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention on article editing and decision making, not suited for idle play."

    • Intimacy
      -2

      "Limited emotional connection mainly through employee dialogues; no deep relationships formed."

    • Leadership
      3

      "Players lead a team of journalists, assigning tasks and managing their political leanings."

    • Progression
      2

      "Progression through influencing districts and unlocking multiple endings over 12 weeks."

    • Relaxation
      2

      "Pace is slower and contemplative, though some tension arises from balancing risks."

    • Sensation
      -1

      "Minimal sensory stimulation; simple graphics and music create a subdued atmosphere."

    • Status
      -3

      "Focus is on personal and narrative outcomes rather than social recognition or popularity."

    • Story
      4

      "Strong narrative immersion with multiple endings and moral dilemmas about censorship."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Requires strategic planning to balance political influence, employee loyalty, and government suspicion."

    • Thrill
      1

      "Some suspense from risk of government crackdown, but overall controlled and predictable."

    • Value
      1

      "Mixed reviews on price; good value when free or discounted, less so at full price."

    • Violence
      -5

      "No combat or destruction; gameplay focuses on editorial decisions and influence."

    • Survival
      3

      "Players must avoid government shutdown and employee arrests by managing suspicion carefully."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026