Top Ten Tycoon Games

Written by: Simon Hill • Edited by: Michael Hartman
Updated Dec 9, 2009 • Related Guides: Roller Coaster Tycoon | Golf

There have been many tycoon games over the years, many management sims placing you in charge of everything from schools to zoos to entire cities. What are the best tycoon games on the market? In this article we take a look at the tycoon games you'll want to play and highlight the ones to avoid.

Tycoon Game Genre

Everyone loves tycoon style games and there are loads out there to choose from. Tycoon games are all about building and management. They task you with building zoos, theme parks, hotels or even entire cities. Hire the necessary staff, build structures that will entice people in and keep them happy once they are there; all with the ultimate aim of generating as much cash as possible. The best tycoon games offer a great alternative to action packed or violent game-play and they are popular with all ages and both genders.

I’ve tried out loads of management sims over the years largely because my wife is addicted to them. There are some terrible examples and some delightfully addictive games. In this article I’ll give you a run down of the best titles, the cream of the crop, the top ten tycoon games on the market in no particular order.

Casino Empire

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Las Vegas is fertile ground for tycoon gaming and there are a number of titles set in sin city which charge you with building casinos and fleecing the population. Casino Empire is a simple title which is a lot of fun. The progression sees you take over management of various casinos as you work your way up the strip to increasingly opulent joints. The tasks are not too difficult and the game makes for an enjoyable evening of gaming. You fit out the casino, you can attract various guests including some comical celebrity characters and you can play in poker and blackjack tournaments. If you want a seriously in depth and involved tycoon game with a casino focus then try Vegas: Make It Big instead.

Sid Meier’s Sim Golf

This is a super cute game from acclaimed designer Sid Meier. In Sim Golf you have to design and construct a golf course, provide amenities, hire staff and attract wealthy punters to play a round. It has the typical brightly coloured sim game art style and some nice touches of humour. You can also play the course and make adjustments as you see fit. Tournaments can be held and you can take part yourself to be in with a chance of winning cash in front of the television cameras.

The Movies

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This is one of my favourite games of all time and a strong candidate for the title of best tycoon game ever. You are the manager of a movie studio and you have to build the necessary sets and production buildings as well as amenities to pamper your stars. You have to hire staff including actors, actresses and directors and micro manage their careers including their appearance, relationships, habits, trailer and of course the films they work on. The Movies is a huge game and on top of the tycoon management you can also write and direct your own films. It is beautifully made with a great art style, lots of humour and some terrific voiceover work. There is also an expansion pack called Stunts and Effects which allows you to hire stuntmen and create visual effects for your cinematic masterpieces.

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Wilson Mm Dec 15, 2011 12:40 AM

RE: Top Ten Tycoon Games

well, i believe u have never tested one of the oldest tycoon games ever, and i have to say, its really one of the best although the graphics arent much, try to test Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe, its great and the best: its free to download

Simon Hill Sep 26, 2011 4:08 PM

RE: Comments and suggestions

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, both games to check and games to avoid. I did try it but for some reason I never really got into Transport Tycoon maybe I should give it another go. Stronghold was great, hoping that the new one will erase the memory of Legends though ;)

eduardo Sep 2, 2011 10:44 PM

thank you

i have been looking for this word "Tycoon"

Mihnea Aug 11, 2011 9:31 AM

prison

I agree...Prison Tycoon is awful

kentun Jul 17, 2011 3:16 AM

I think Capitalism 2 is the best one, since it cover all aspect of industry from raw material, factory, to retail.

wojtek Jan 2, 2011 3:41 PM

I'd like to add Startopia and OpenTTD, both great titles.

Andrew Warman Oct 8, 2010 9:18 PM

Adding to games to avoid...

also avoi Deep Sea Tycoon and Moon Tycoon

CC Jul 26, 2010 1:50 AM

I would have to add Monopoly Tycoon. It has really fun gameplay and I like the fact that unlike many tycoon games, it has different levels and challenges, so you get your tycoon fix but also a lot of competition.

Lachlan Charles Stevens May 29, 2010 9:47 AM

Transport Tycoon

I have to back up the two people who've mentioned Transport Tycoon and openttd as games which (one of) should be on your article. openttd in particular is still a massively popular game with a huge userbase. It's fairly customisable and is a free download. I personally play it and I'd recommend it.

Patrick Curry May 15, 2010 7:30 PM

I second Kovir Wyttcliff Gerra, Transport Tycoon is a fantastic game. OpenTTD is being constantly improved: http://www.openttd.org/

Definitely worth playing. Railroad Tycoon II is pretty good fun but doesn't really compare to TTYD.

Stronghold (1, Crusader, maybe 2 but steer clear of Legends) is sort of a Tycoon game, you have to construct a castle and run it.

Johnny Apr 26, 2010 8:45 PM

What I Like

I think the game picks were right on. I am a huge fan of RCT and Sim City and Zoo Tycoon.

Robert Jan 6, 2010 2:42 PM

Imperialism

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Imperialism I and II, they were released around 97-98 made by Frog City. They were fantastic games. EIC is similar to IMP1/2 , but no where as good.

In IMP you control one of the European Powers, in IMP1 it's set in the Industrial Revolution and IMP2 is set in the Age of Discovery, you go around and discover the Americas.

You also conquor smaller nations, to fully exploit their resources, or intergrate them into your Empire. You're also able to buy/research tech. It's turn based as well.

With the resources that you've collected, you use it to manufacture goods in your Home country, then sell it off for a profit. You buy resources on the open market, or from the countries you've conquered. You have to build railroads, or ships to help you transport all the goods you've bought or stolen!

When you play this game, you will have no idea on how much time has gone by, and you keep thinking one more turn, one more turn, and when you finally give up it's 1 or 2am in the morning, and you have to be you for 6am to work!

Luke Nov 20, 2009 5:33 PM

RCT 2 vs 3

If your a fan of the RCT series go and buy RCT3.
It is worth buying and comes with expansions.
-Soaked
-Wild

This game is incredibly addictive and will give you hours of entertainment

budakjengka Nov 17, 2009 7:19 PM

What?

Yeah, I've played Prison Tycoon and it's totally make my head bleeding. Once I installed PT, at the same hour I uninstalled it. But, where Sim Societies?and I think Restaurant Empire 2 is also a good Tycoon game. Plus, I think RCT 2 is out-dated. There's RCT 3 outside in the store. Get one...
*I think RCT 3 Jonathan Lee.

Kovir Wyttcliff Gerra Nov 12, 2009 5:55 AM

Missing titles

As usual it needs to be pointed out. Transport Tycoon and its current clones - TTDPatch, and especially OpenTTD as the creme de la creme.

In my eyes it beats railroad tycoon by several margins, as it allows to truly build a railroad network. To me Railroad tycoon is just a pretender, but it was nice to see all the nice trains from the history...

Patrician 2 / Patrician 3 can be considered as a tycoon game as well and a good ballanced game too.

And i was so sure that i had tons of others on my mind, but suddenly i can not remember any... so this may be just about it...

Simon Hill Oct 10, 2009 8:59 AM

I'd go for RCT 2, I think it is better

Jonathan Lee Oct 10, 2009 4:26 AM

Just making sure sir.
But is RCT 2 better than 3?
I played RCT when I was younger.
And im thinking of which i should play right now?
2 or 3?