I walk in the door after another day, grab a cold slice of pizza from the fridge and plop myself down in front of the computer, Steam staring back at me. It’s basically my evening routine a ritual I can do without thinking. But the thing most people might not tell you, unless you’re a super hardcore sim fan.
Is the “best” business simulation game on Steam isn’t actually all that different from the rest. “Okay fine it does make a difference a bit”, but honestly the one thing that really matters is which one will get you hooked by 11 pm.
Game Dev Tycoon is that magical first step it takes to get you hooked. Cheap, pretty short to play through, you get to make your own games and before you know it you’re burning the midnight oil. Software Inc is kinda like that mean older cousin.
You set up your own software company, hire a bunch of wacky employees on the side and watch one guy who’s always getting dragged into office politics completely tank a project.
To be honest I lost a whole weekend playing that thing.
Capitalism Lab is where things get real though. Spreadsheets that feel like they’re alive.
Even my old roommate who used to run it on this laughable old laptop is now some kind super expert on supply chain management. She basically commands the room at parties. Nobody really invites her out anywhere anymore.
The Comfort Tier
If you just want to run a place and have a good laugh then Two Point Hospital is your thing.
Big Ambitions if you want that old rags-to-riches story walking around your own little city buying up shops like you own the place. And if you squint hard enough…Cities: Skylines counts I guess. You’re basically running a money-making machine with traffic. Who knew?
My actual advice. Don’t do what I did and go out and buy four at once. Start with Game Dev Tycoon first. See if the whole loop thing grabs you then go deeper.
The deep ones will suck up all your free time and it’ll never be the same again.
