The once great German subgenre of business simulations is brought back to old glory with Patrician 4. This game delivers the same enthralling and challenging experience as its predecessors and tops them with up-to-date graphics and modern-day-improvements such as a drag-and-drop-interface. Patrician 4 has a few design flaws and the campaign is far too easy. But the dynamic trade system, the manifold possibilities of commerce and politics and the detailed depiction of medieval business make for an entertaining game that stands as the best pure business simulation to date.

Patrician IV is a good simulation, but after some hours and if you are not a hardcore simulation fan it's easy to get bored by the game, because aside from trading and maybe building a few things there isn't that much exciting left to do.

Patrician IV is a good sequel of the venerated Patrician III. Maybe it is too conservative in its general aspects, but it consistently improves every area in gameplay.

For a niche title, it's a nice entry and it builds upon the franchise, so if you're really interested check it out. Otherwise, don't expect to be overly thrilled with the gameplay, even if you like the sounds of seagulls.

In every game, I reach a point where I start to wonder why I am still playing. I literally have more money than I know what to do with. With a successfully, healthy business, it certainly feels like the main goal has been achieved. But ultimately, Patrician is less about money than it is about the convergence of wealth, power, and influence.

Patrician IV is most certainly the best game in the series. It triumphs with a vast array of options, better audio and visuals and atmosphere. I have no doubt that the game will turn out to be a success - fans of the series can buy it without hestation but everyone else should think twice.

Clearly isn't the game for everyone. [Feb 2011, p.68]

If you're looking for an economic simulation game set during the reign of the Hanseatic League, then look no further: Patrician IV will scratch that oddly-specific itch of yours.

As of means of conquest by trade, Patrician IV is a good solid example that will offer merchant gamers something to chew on. If however you like a bit more turbulence as you lift yourself up and forge a seafaring empire then you'll likely find yourself distracted as it can get boring once you realise your convoy captains practically run everything for you, and coin is in abundance.

Fans of the Patrician series will doubtlessly find a lot to enjoy from the newest iteration. Those who haven't been exposed to it before will find a very deep trading and city building simulation, but the pace may turn off players who prefer their empires built in a day.

An engaging, if niche, trading sim. Hampered by some obtuse user interface choices and unwieldy combat sections.

Though not a great game on its own, Patrician IV has all of the things that make good trading games interesting and challenging.

There is simply no reason to come back to it after one playthrough. It's disappointing for me because I want to love Patrician IV, but it falls short in far too many areas.

A game dedicated to pure strategy fans. There's a lack of options and multiplayer modes though, and some more polish could've done good to the whole experience.

A wave of tedium nearly sinks this medieval trading game.

Annoying bugs, shoddy graphics and horrible code optimization are not the worst crimes of this game. Instead of building upon its predecessor, Patrician 4 squandered all the hallmarks of the series and devolved into a Tortuga-style drab.

More yawn than yarr, sadly. [Feb 2011, p.80]

Unless you're willing to try each and every one of the strategy games that are released, I really don't see why I should recommend this game to you. With average graphics at best, no real gameplay value, and a boredom generating ability that strikes pretty soon into the game, Patrician IV doesn't stand a chance next to its competition. Sure, on paper the idea was praiseworthy and its developers seem to have had some good intentions, but it clearly lacks ambition. Too bad.