Without considering its aim, RIOT may seem just a poor RTS. However, its ability to integrate gameplay’s limits in a dialogue between them and the game’s thesis made RIOT a really experimental and interesting game, unique in its own approach to the genre.

RIOT: Civil Unrest is a protest simulator, between the NO TAV movement, Indignados e Tahrir square, but it is also a very poor RTS.

Riot: Civil Unrest has the look and feel a good RTS with entertaining yet challenging gameplay sections, but it all feels a bit weird when considering a) these sections are based on real events, and b) that the gameplay is fun and entertaining, but really only when you play as the protesters.

The direction in art and story is the high point in RIOT – Civil Unrest for sure. It helps depict these events, and teach the player about them – most of them I’d never heard of, but now I feel like I’ve learnt a bit about each. It’s grim and effective in that regard, but its gameplay really lets it down. RIOT – Civil Unrest‘s captivating art style and audio design is worth paying a visit to, and the game has some great ideas, but poor UI design, buggy AI and gameplay glitches really dampen the experience.

After six long years of waiting, RIOT: Civil Unrest fails to tell riots. And that's not funny.

Riot: Civil Unrest attempts to depict complex socio-political upheavals in an extremely unengaging and unintuitive manner, to the point that these events lose their impact in video game form.

The only thing worthy of praise in Riot is the idea itself, but, as every sober-minded revolutionary knows, you won’t get far with just an idea.