Best Tycoon Games on Steam
If you like business simulators, where you have to run an establishment efficiently to make money and grow, then tycoon games are the best. Some have you running hospitals, others have you operating zoos, but the principle is the same: earn money and grow. Here are the best tycoon games that you can play on Steam.
Two Point Museum
This is a tycoon game where you take control of a museum and can change several things, including the layout, exhibits, and staff. You can also send teams to explore and find new artifacts, which can then be displayed in the museum. This adds collection and exploration elements to the usual management gameplay. Players can hire experts to search for new exhibits or cater to visitors by adding gift shops and food joints.
The biggest thing Two Point Museum does right is that it doesnât just focus on running the establishment as an executive. You have the choice to attract visitors with new exhibits or change the layout of the museum to streamline things. The game also doesnât take itself too seriously, providing enough humor to keep things lighthearted. All these things combine to make it one of the best tycoon games on Steam.
Game Dev Tycoon
This game has a straightforward premise, where players must create games for different platforms. You can research new technology, develop custom engines, and experiment in different genres. Once you start growing, you can expand your office and workforce. Staff can also be trained, which can allow you to create more complex games. The endgame is to become successful by making games that can earn acclaim and allow you to expand.
Game Dev Tycoon is more fulfilling compared to some other games in the genre, as you start off with a modest operation and your expansion depends on your success. The gameplay is also straightforward and doesnât have too many variables, which may make the game a good choice for newcomers. Players mainly need to balance research and staff to maintain growth.Â
Two Point Hospital
This is another Two Point game that tasks players with building a hospital from scratch and then managing it successfully. You can build hospitals from empty plots and create layouts according to your preference. Once youâve built the hospital, you have to hire staff and also ensure that employees are satisfied. Patients are diagnosed with comedic illness names and symptoms, so you can research the treatment. Successful hospitals earn stars and also unlock new locations.Â
Two Point Hospital follows the pattern that other games in the series have set by staying fun and lighthearted. Hospitals are usually serious, but the game is distinct from other hospital sims, as it has quirky illnesses and comedy. However, it’s crucial for players to balance patient and staff satisfaction, finances, and treatment capacity to ensure that they donât run out of business.Â
Big Ambitions
This tycoon game offers more freedom compared to others, as you have the choice of starting a gift shop, supermarket, clothing store, nightclub, and more. The game is set in NYC, and you have limited resources for building a business empire. Gameplay mechanics include renting and renovating properties, buying inventory, hiring staff, and more. Big Ambitions also includes handling real estate and logistics, which is different from tycoon games that focus on expanding the same business or have pre-built new locations.Â
This is one of the best tycoon games on Steam, particularly because of the amount of business systems you must handle and the different businesses you can start. You arenât locked into only building and expanding superstores; you can start a nightclub once you have the required funds. This increases the immersion and makes Big Ambitions the perfect choice for players who want to become a business mogul.
Planet Zoo
This game tasks players with building and managing zoos, with a large variety of more than 200 animals available. Gameplay mechanics include designing habitats for animals, caring for animals, and attracting visitors. The game offers substantial customization, and you can also use blueprints created by other players. A defining mechanic is the requirement to meet animal welfare needs. The rest revolves around you making money to expand while keeping animals and visitors satisfied.Â
Planet Zoo is particularly interesting, as it doesnât just allow you to create a zoo filled with animals. You can also release animals into the wild. This increases the choices you have and also makes the game more immersive. The game also has good replayability, as there are career, challenge, franchise, and sandbox modes, each offering different objectives and progression.
Prison Architect
This game has a distinct premise, as you have to design, build, and operate your own prison. You can build cells, showers, security rooms, and other facilities, while also making your layout efficient. Players have to manage both staff and prisoners, with the former requiring you to hire employees and the latter requiring you to have solid security while meeting inmates’ basic needs. These may make the gameplay sound similar to other tycoon titles, but the other mechanics include fires, fights, and riots, which require more management.
Prison Architect is a tycoon game, but you have to be strategic in a different sense, as you have to make sure inmates are satisfied but also not a threat. This makes the game more interesting compared to others in the genre, as your main goal isnât just making money and expanding. Reforming prisoners and other programs make the game more realistic, while the escape mode allows you to break out of prison.
