1,000 Players Simulate Civilization: Rich & Poor

This is not just the best Minecraft video ever, but one of the best videos in the Internet.

Last time I felt this interested in the plot was in Game of Thrones. Yes I'm comparing this video to GoT. That's how good this is.

The Cinematography is better than most things I've seen this year, the sound direction is literally a high budget movie level, the story and the plot is soooo good it feels unreal knowing 90% of the video was unscripted !

Ish's last 1000 player civilization video was already a masterpiece btu this was a step higher in every single point.

Grab your popcorn, turn off the lights and watch this for free instead of the new Jurassic World (yeah its mediocre compared to this).

The twists and turns, the revenge, the betrayal, the coalitions, the philosophies... this could only come from people being people.

The direction by Ish is incredible. The soundtrack brings it to another level too.

I've never been so involved as I was in the final main scene.

Amazing work. Watch it.

A reel on instagram told me to watch it or i would regret it. It seemed silly at first, but i was able to put something on the screen while i did other things. I didnt realise i would be setting aside everything to watch it, staying up at 4am to finish it, and i dont even like minecraft that much.

Not to mention, its on youtube. Its a free video. And i have never yelled at a screen before but there was a first time for everything. Just give it a go.

Rating: 9/10

Summary A YouTube "experiment" that plays like a full-on movie. What starts as a simple premise, 1,000 players split between a barren island and a resource-rich island, spirals into one of the most engrossing, unpredictable, and oddly moving things I've seen in ages. With betrayals, alliances, unforgettable characters, bribes, assassins, roaming bands, and an epic finale, it's richer and more engaging than many actual films.

Full Review I wasn't expecting much from 1000 Players Simulate Civilization Rich and Poor. I only stumbled on it through TikTok clips, and I don't normally watch this kind of content. But this turned out to be one of the most captivating things I've seen in a long time.

The premise is simple: one group of players is placed on an island with nothing, another on an island with everything they need. From there, it's about what human beings do, how they form communities, break them apart, betray each other, and survive. What's wild is how quickly it takes on a Lord of the Flies quality. There are genuine story arcs, moments of betrayal, epic clashes, and even emotional beats that stick with you. Some characters lose everything and are forced into exile, some are sentenced by their own courts and flee, others are cornered to the point of contemplating or committing suicide. It gets shockingly dark and dramatic for something that is technically just a game.

The editing and pacing are key. It flows day to day, always moving forward with fresh events, but there's a clear throughline to tie it all together. I even dreamt about it after watching half, very few TV shows or movies have had that effect on me.

And the characters! Flux's arc is central and fascinating, the Infernus storyline is gripping, and the Coliseum fights are packed with tension. Then you get the standout oddballs, Remy the Rat, a crowd favourite, or Linguini (basically Mario), who steals every scene he's in. You find yourself looking forward to their return in the same way you do with characters in a great show.

But the richness goes even further. There's a full-blown information war with competing newspapers publishing conflicting stories, bribing leaders, judges, and even assassins to push their version of events. There are democracies, coalitions, dictatorships, empires, cults, and mafias, each with their own rise and fall. There's even a roaming band that travels one of the islands singing genuinely good songs about what's going on. Some deaths are mourned with real emotion, others become public spectacle, entertainment for the masses. The range of communities and moral codes feels wider and more creative than what many scripted shows manage to pull off.

Saps is maybe the most fascinating long-running thread. He begins as a complete outsider, not wanting to get involved, but ends up becoming a political bargaining chip fought over by nations. He becomes a pariah, a symbol, someone people project onto, and no one knows what to believe about him. His arc alone could be a feature-length documentary.

The fact that permadeath exists, if you die, you're gone, adds real weight. Watching people scramble to pick up the pieces when kingdoms fall or alliances fracture is genuinely compelling. And not all storylines tie up neatly: some reach satisfying conclusions, others just vanish, which somehow makes it feel even more real.

The production is surprisingly polished. The sheer number of shots and the way it's cut together make it feel like we're flies on the wall in this bizarre world. The commentator is present but never overbearing, guiding the story without pulling you out of it.

Honestly, this had more depth, tension, and fun than most movies I've watched recently. It might just be a game simulation, but it plays like an epic film. If every movie was this rich in characters, stakes, and surprises, cinema would be in a far better place. Highly recommended.

Great villain. Good political.

What makes it powerful is that every character is a real person. They aren't scripted NPCs, they aren't following a plan-they're individuals with their own desires, ambitions, and fears. This transforms every choice, every betrayal, every alliance into something that feels weighty. A declaration of war isn't just a button press; it's the product of distrust, pride, or ambition between actual people. And that makes the consequences hit harder.