Managing resources and overseeing complex production chains don’t sound too exciting. Yet, management games make convoluted construction projects and head-scratching economic challenges much more fun than meets the eye. These building simulations range from straight-up city builders to construction and management sims with a survival spin. So, do you like strategy games? Discover four addictive management games to dive right into on PC.
Factorio
Imagine crash-landing on a strange planet. What would be your first move? Chances are, you would strive to build a rocket and escape as soon as you can. And that’s exactly what Factorio assigns you to do. Playing as a quick-witted engineer, you get straight to work to craft the tools and machines that will lead your way back to earth. Locating and harvesting resources across a vast open world, you put them to good use by creating ever-so-advanced materials and unlocking ever more sophisticated machinery. Researching advanced technologies helps you upgrade your structures and automate your industry to boost efficiency.
From huge factories to state-of-the-art exoskeletons, you quickly turn into an industrial powerhouse presiding over a bona fide logistical empire. The excessive exploitation of the planet’s resources puts you at odds with the locals, though. As pollutant emissions increase, so does the indigenous fauna’s aggressiveness, forcing you to defend yourselves against some pretty strong-willed enemies. To defeat them, you can join forces with fellow gamers. But that’s barely scratching the surface of what the game offers. Boasting hundreds of hours of playtime, Factorio is decidedly a well-oiled machine.
Satisfactory
Much like Factorio, Satisfactory is an open-world factory-building game set on an alien planet. You play as a pioneer dropped onto this unknown intergalactic world. With a bunch of tools at your disposal, your goal is to harvest the natural resources needed to construct a space elevator. As you begin supplying your company, your missions get increasingly harder and require you to assemble intricate networks of conveyor belts. You also need to conquer the land to build massive factories as far as the eye can see.
So, put on a jetpack or ride the hypertube to venture on adventurous expeditions and travel this fascinating world. Don’t forget to equip safety gear and defensive weapons in case you encounter some not-so-well-meaning wildlife. Although in early access, Satisfactory already packs hours and hours of content. You might even enter conveyor belt heaven alongside friends in multiplayer mode.
Prison Architect
Some simulation games let you build the theme park of your dream. Others have you manage a zoo full of adorable critters. Prison Architect takes a different approach. This 2D construction and management sim puts you at the head of a prison. Acting as a warden and an architect, you get to build and run a penitentiary facility. So, roll up your sleeves and supervise every last detail of your prisoners’ lives. Recruit and manage armed guards to keep a watchful eye over the inmates while hiring an accountant to make sure your finances don’t go downhill. Allocate just the right resources to optimize your compound, connecting utilities and building top-notch infrastructures.
Trouble comes with the job, and you may have to deal with gang activity and disease if not full-blown riots. Will you lead your inmates to a brighter future and prevent recidivism? Or will you be a ruthless ruler with little regard for the convicts’ well-being? That’s for you to decide in this poignant management game unafraid to tap into the darkest aspects of its subject matter. Prison Architect is depressingly realistic sometimes. Still, this one-of-a-kind title offers a great spin on the management genre.
Anno 1800
Set in the dawn of the industrial revolution, Anno 1800 kicks off in an Old World reminiscent of Victorian Britain. Your task is to grow your population across several tiers of citizens, which require specific goods to thrive. Building increasingly demanding factories, you must optimize your production chains and set up commercial routes. Bold expeditions await, unlocking new regions and items to take your production empire to new heights. Anno 1800 isn’t all about optimization, though. This visually-stunning city builder lets you get creative to beautify your islands.
You may even purchase a handful of cosmetic packs to place a Ferris wheel by the peer or design a gambling district. Despite these casino skins, however, the game features no real spinning of the wheel. If you’re looking for some gambling fun, thus, online casinos are your best option. Although prospective players are spoiled for choice, not all websites are equal. That’s why reviewing platforms comes in handy to choose wisely. Users can search for certain features to pick the right fit, from the heftiest bonuses around to the payment methods at hand. Reviewers also emphasize safety for all players to enjoy classic card games and machine slots risk-free.
Management games are as satisfying as it gets when you finally untangle a logistical nightmare that’s been nagging you. The games above also involve city-building, combat, and exploration elements to spruce up the experience. So, are you up for a construction and production challenge?