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
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
This is one of my favourite games of all time. 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.