Occasionally, most gamers won’t admit it, but deep down, when they get a little tired of all the running and gunning they do in action-packed games or when exploring an exhaustively big open-world map in a modern AAA game, there is a little urge in them to sit back and relax, and dive into a world of unlimited possibilities through a game that lets them live out their ultimate fantasies of managing full-fledged establishments.
Tycoon games aren’t just games; they act as windows for gamers to enter a new virtual world where they can manage or construct their dream project from the ground up and see it grow and develop into a thriving, successful project.
According to us, the best aspect of these types of management games is the total control the players have in shaping the establishment of their choice. It is true that with full power in their hands, players are completely responsible for either the success or failure of a particular establishment like a Zoo, a Hospital, a Restaurant, or even a full-fledged city, but it is in these times that gamers utilize their management skills to the best of their abilities and try to steer the business to success.
To run a successful business, players need careful planning and great management skills, and today in this article we have brought you some of the best games in the market that enthusiastic gamers like you can indulge in and put your management skills to the ultimate test.
So without much ado, let us dive into the best tycoon games to play that will test your management skills thoroughly:
Best Tycoon Games List
1) Jurassic World Evolution 2
| Developer | Frontier Developments |
| Publisher | Frontier Developments |
| Release Date | 9 November 2021 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
The first game on our list is a tycoon game fit for fans of the legendary Jurassic Park movies called Jurassic World Evolution 2. This game is a business simulation, a theme park construction game in which players are tasked with constructing a Once-in-Lifetime kind of dinosaur theme park from scratch, expanding on it, and managing it efficiently.
In this game, players will manage and breed more than 75 varieties of dinosaurs, each with their distinct diets, behaviors, and enclosures. Moreover, players will have to pay attention to minute details like which type of dinosaur requires what kind of forest cover to thrive, which dinosaur requires a decent-sized lake to swim in, etc.
If you’re looking for a unique, pre-historic take on this tycoon genre, this game is one of the best options.
2) Tropico 6
| Developer | Limbic Entertainment |
| Publisher | Kalypso Media |
| Release Date | 29 March 2019 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, SteamOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
The next game on our list is a slightly different take on a city-builder game in which players will take on the role of El Presidente, a leader of a state in the Caribbean archipelago. Instead of quietly going about their duties of managing the city, as we see in most games of its kind, players in this game will have to make decisions according to what they want their state to look like.
Players can choose to enforce rules on civilians and charge double tax from them like a dictator, or they can choose to be a peace-loving statesman who is lenient with their people and always looks for ways to improve their lives first.
As mentioned earlier, players will be able to build their state by expanding it across a sprawling archipelago now, which was impossible to do in other older games in this series.
3) Two Point Hospital
| Developer | Two Point Studios |
| Publisher | SEGA |
| Release Date | 30 August 2018 |
| Platforms | Linux, macOS, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
Moving on to the next game on our list, Two Point Hospital is a hospital simulation game where players take on the role of a hospital administrator and must construct the hospital from scratch, expand it, and manage it by taking care of requirements like satisfying the hunger of the staff, installing modern furniture and decorations all across the hospital’s premises, etc., to the best of their abilities.
In this game, players will look to cure unique illnesses, manage staff and crew members, and design and utilize state-of-the-art machinery and equipment to serve the patients better to help them leave the hospital in good health and with satisfied hearts, to ultimately grow and popularize their healthcare business all across the county.
If you’re looking for a light-hearted take on the tycoon genre but also want to know how a modern hospital operates, Two Point Hospital is a game you definitely must try.
Also Read: Interested in playing more simulation games? Check out these best car simulation games to experience the thrills of driving a vehicle first-hand.
4) Empire Of Sin
| Developer | Romero Games |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Release Date | 1 December 2020 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
Moving on to the next game on our list, have you as a gamer ever wanted to build your very own gang from scratch and take over an entire city? Well, Empire of Sin enables players to do just that.
Empire of Sin is a strategy-simulation game in which players take control of a crime lord who wants to take total control of the city of Chicago somewhere during the Prohibition era in the 1920’s.
In this game, the player’s main aim is to grow their empire across the entire map and manage it efficiently. To do so, players will fight with rival gangs in turn-based combat to take over their businesses like clubs and brothels, hire recruits into their teams, defend their empire against rival gangs and the police, earn money from the various racket functioning under their names to further grow their reach and influence.
5) Prison Architect
| Developer | Introversion Software, Double Eleven |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Release Date | 6 October 2015 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android |
Moving on to the next game on the list, Prison Architect is a prison construction and management game in which players must take on the role of a prison warden and keep notorious, vicious inmates in check by designing the ultimate prison of their liking.
In this game, players must apply for federal money through grants and requests, and on receiving it, they must allocate them, along with other resources at their disposal, to maintain law and order within the prison’s premises.
Players must hire the best-armed guards, doctors, psychiatrists, lawyers, etc. to counter any situation that might arise like inmates falling sick, a full-blown riot, disturbed inmates in need of counseling, etc.
6) Planet Coaster
| Developer | Frontier Developments, Aspyr (Mac) |
| Publisher | Frontier Developments, Aspyr (Mac) |
| Release Date | 17 November 2016 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S |
The next game on our list is a construction and management game in which players must design and construct a roller coaster amusement park of their dreams to thrill and excite fans in equal measure.
In this game, players will have the capability and the freedom to design their own roller coaster theme park from scratch exactly how they want it to be. As they will be building their park on a piece-by-piece basis, they will not encounter any elements they can’t change to their liking, giving players unprecedented freedom to design structures and features that are specifically unique to their parks.
Additionally, players can look to enjoy this game by playing through its four unique game modes. The 4 modes are as follows: Career mode, Sandbox mode, Scenario editor mode, or Challenge mode.
In the career mode, for example, players will take on the responsibilities of an amusement park manager and look to either repair faulty equipment and structures or implement the necessary changes to attract more customers, which might be required for the smooth functioning of the said park.
7) Cities: Skylines
| Developer | Colossal Order |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Release Date | 10 March 2015 |
| Platforms | Linux, OS X, PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia |
Cities: Skylines is a city-building simulation game in which players must manage all the necessary and important resources like water, air, electricity, and most importantly money, to be able to construct the ultimate city of their dreams, as intricate as they dream it to be.
In this game, players will take on the role of a mayor who must go about constructing a city with all the necessary elements to ensure the civilians living in it have the best time possible.
As far as the important amenities that civilians must be provided with on a priority basis are concerned, a few well-documented ones are as follows: providing good education, proper garbage disposal systems, 24/7 availability of fresh water and electricity, a clear demarcation between the housing areas, commercial areas, and industrial areas, total control over pollution and noise levels in and around the city, etc.
8) Planet Zoo
| Developer | Frontier Developments |
| Publisher | Frontier Developments |
| Release Date | 5 November 2019 |
| Platforms | PC |
The next game on our list is a Zoo Construction and Management Tycoon game, which also happens to be a spiritual successor to the famous Zoo Tycoon games series from the early 2000s, in which players must construct a modern, well-functioning Zoo for the various species of animals looking to live in it.
In this game, players will have access to more than 90 animal species in-game for whom they will have to construct and design enclosures that will not only be sufficient in keeping them contained but it should also be designed in a way that gives the animals’ living in it ample space to move around and thrive.
Moreover, players will also have the option to entertain visitors by organizing events and exhibits, researching new ways to enhance elements they already have, and breeding new species of animals to integrate them with the ones already there to continue the cycle.
Just like another game on this list, this game also employs a piece-by-piece construction system to enable players to change and manipulate every minute detail available to them to give them a feeling of absolute freedom while constructing the zoos exactly to their liking.
9) Surviving Mars
| Developer | Haemimont Games, Abstraction Games |
| Publisher | Paradox Interactive |
| Release Date | 15 March 2018 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
The next game on our list is a Sci-fi colony-building game with a twist. Instead of constructing a colony on Earth as seen in most games, players in this game will look to establish a well-functioning settlement on Mars.
To construct a thriving city on Mars, players will have to keep track of important machinery and resources like oxygen generators and fresh water machines to sustain life on the planet’s surface and transparent durable domes to protect the structures and people alike from the harmful weather found on Mars, without which this expedition will be a complete failure.
With every new civilian sent from Earth to help the development process, they come with a few resources that will help the settlement survive for a bit longer like electronics, food, metal, etc.
To truly thrive, however, the civilians must be trained and taught how to research these technologies and manufacture them on Mars itself to ensure they keep getting the resources they require without requesting Earth for any assistance.
10) Megaquarium
| Developer | Twice Circled |
| Publisher | Twice Circled |
| Release Date | 13 September 2018 |
| Platforms | PC, macOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 |
Moving on to the next game on our list, Megaquarium is a management simulation game in which players have to construct and manage an aquarium showcase business.
In this game, players will be tasked to design their aesthetic fish display containers, take care of every little aspect regarding the fish they have in their tanks, and manage diverse staff members who undertake various roles throughout the facility, to ultimately give the visitors an experience they won’t forget in a hurry.
Moreover, keeping visitors engaged and entertained is the essence of this kind of business, so players must research newer varieties of fish and equipment, to upgrade their aquarium business.
Additionally, players must also be aware of the fact that while they need to keep upgrading their equipment and hire more capable staff members, everything comes at a cost, so managing finances is as important as the roles or duties they might do.
11) RimWorld
| Developer | Ludeon Studios |
| Publisher | Ludeon Studios |
| Release Date | 17 October 2018 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, macOS, Mac Operating Systems, Linux |
RimWorld is a 2-D, colony builder-management simulation game in which the main objective of the players is to not only safeguard themselves and their colonies from harm but also look to manage all the intricate little details that make a well-functioning settlement tick.
Players will face a plethora of different challenging scenarios during their time in the game, and they will increase in difficulty exponentially with each passing day, hence players will need to unlock a variety of powerful tools and weapons to help them survive longer in this hostile world.
In this game, players will not only have to manage the moods and addictions of their fellow colonists but players will also take part in various activities like taming cute pets, crafting structures, capturing prisoners, and much, much more.
If you’re someone who enjoys playing community-building simulation games that provide a plethora of unexpected challenges for players to navigate through, then this game is a great choice for you.
12) Software Inc.
| Developer | Coredumping |
| Publisher | Coredumping |
| Release Date | 1 May 2015 |
| Platforms | PC, Linux, Mac Operating Systems |
Software Inc. is a company-management simulation game in which players start their own company and must now oversee all the minute details that go into running a well-functions and profitable corporate business.
The aim of this game is simple: create the most efficient company mankind has ever seen to obliterate the competition and reign supreme. In this game, players will indulge in a wide variety of activities like buying the right piece of land to construct the ultimate office of their dreams, hiring and managing various employees, making sure they are performing their duties diligently, keeping track of the stock market graph to monitor your company’s growth, setting up your online servers to power-up various online projects, and much more.
If you’re someone who wants to start a business of their own but does not have the important know-how on how to successfully run a full-fledged business regardless of its offerings, this game is a great way to step into the world of entrepreneurship.
Conclusion
These were some of the best tycoon games in the market today that will not only test your management skills but will also help give players a platform to showcase their creativity and imagination and enable them to construct ultimate structures to their heart’s content, whether they are roller coaster parks or Zoos on Earth, or establishing a settlement on Mars.
Through these games, players will learn a lot of important skills like managing a full-fledged business and its finances, land planning, animal welfare, and much more.
Please keep coming back to this post if you’re looking for the best and latest tycoon games to sink your teeth into, as we will keep updating this article with newer titles, as and when they are released to the public.
Good Show Anmol the content shared by you will be very useful for Management students .