Games Like Game Dev Story

Manage a game studio from the dawn of the gaming industry in 1976. Your journey starts with small indie titles and grows into a gaming empire. Develop, design, and conquer the industry. From humble beginnings to gaming legend, it’s your story, your studio, your legacy!

Why similar: Game Development 31.1% ★, Programming 25.9% ★, Management 12.4%, Life Sim 9.6%, Building 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: It provides a highly detailed look at game development management with unique mechanics like reverse engineering and publishing.

In Game Dev Tycoon you replay the history of the gaming industry by starting your own video game development company in the 80s. Create best selling games. Research new technologies and invent new game types. Become the leader of the market and gain worldwide fans.

Why similar: Management 60.4%, Simulation 17.9%, Strategy 10.3%, Casual 4.6%, 2D 3%

Why You'll Like It: This is the most direct thematic peer, offering a deep and engaging simulation of the video game industry's history.

Start your own game development studio in 1976. Build your own offices, production facilities and server rooms. Develop the games of your dreams and produce the next next-gen console. Rise from a small garage company to a huge corporation.

Why similar: Game Development 31.7% ★, Programming 19.9% ★, Management 15.1%, City Builder 15%, Building 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: This title offers a more complex and granular approach to managing a game development studio compared to the seed game.

Construct and design buildings for optimal working conditions. Hire people to design and release software, so you can defeat the simulated competition and take over their businesses. Manage and educate your employees to make sure they are skilled and satisfied with their job.

Why similar: Game Development 34.1% ★, Programming 26.4% ★, Management 15.5%, Building 14.8%, Simulation 4.6%

Why You'll Like It: A deep simulation that allows you to build offices and manage software development teams with impressive technical depth.

Startup Company is a business simulation sandbox game where you’re the CEO of a new company. Your job is to build your very own website and compete against the largest tech giants on the planet!

Why similar: Management 53.3%, Building 15.6%, Simulation 14.7%, Strategy 11.1%, Casual 3.2%

Why You'll Like It: It captures the feeling of growing a tech business from scratch, focusing on website development and server management.

Big Ambitions is a revolutionary role-playing business sim. Go from nothing to the biggest entrepreneur in New York by opening small businesses or slowly building huge corporations any way you like.

Why similar: Management 53.8%, Life Sim 33.3%, Simulation 11.5%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Why You'll Like It: An expansive business simulator that lets you manage multiple types of companies in a living city environment.

Build and manage the ultimate Japanese hot springs inn.

Why similar: City Builder 19.5%, Building 17.6%, Life Sim 14.3%, Real Time Tactics 9.2%, Pixel Graphics 6.9%

Why You'll Like It: A quintessential Kairosoft management title that excels at addictive, small-scale business growth.

Design stunning hospitals, cure peculiar illnesses and manage troublesome staff as you spread your budding healthcare organisation across Two Point County.

Why similar: Management 35.3%, Building 29.5%, Simulation 13.1%, City Builder 12.2%, Strategy 5.3%

Why You'll Like It: Shares the charming, lighthearted management style and satisfying progression loops found in Kairosoft titles.

Build the university of your dreams with Two Point Campus, the sim with a twist from the makers of Two Point Hospital. Build, hire staff and run an academic institution packed with wild courses.

Why similar: City Builder 28.2%, Management 25.8%, Building 21.7%, Strategy 7.4%, Simulation 7.3%

Why You'll Like It: Features the same polished, humorous management gameplay as Two Point Hospital but applied to running an educational institution.

Step into the studio and produce yourown hit anime with an original hero!

Why similar: Life Sim 16.3%, Management 15.8%, 2D Platformer 10.8%, Strategy 10.4%, Simulation 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: Shares the creative industry management theme of the seed game, focusing on producing hit anime series.

Create the gaming paradise of your dreams! Reach 5-stars and host tournaments!

Why similar: Game Development 21.4% ★, City Builder 16.5%, Life Sim 12.2%, Simulation 9.1%, Strategy 8.6%

Why You'll Like It: Captures the same retro-inspired management charm, focusing on running a successful arcade business.

Project Highrise is a skyscraper construction and management sim...

Why similar: Management 33.3%, Building 29.8%, Simulation 10.4%, Strategy 10%, City Builder 9.7%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the strategic management and construction of a skyscraper, requiring careful planning and resource balancing.

Design a towering mega mall in this mall management simulation game.

Why similar: City Builder 24.2%, Building 15.3%, Management 14.4%, Life Sim 14.1%, 2D Platformer 12.2%

Why You'll Like It: A classic Kairosoft title that focuses on the rewarding expansion and management of a multi-level shopping center.

The public aquarium simulator. Design your displays, look after your fish, manage your staff and keep your guests happy! It's all in a day's work as the curator of your very own Megaquarium.

Why similar: Building 34.2%, Management 30.8%, Simulation 10.8%, Cute 10.8%, Casual 6.1%

Why You'll Like It: A satisfying management game where you must balance the needs of your exhibits with the financial health of your aquarium.

Movie Studio Management Simulation Produce blockbusters and earn world-wide fame

Why similar: City Builder 22.8%, Life Sim 20.2%, Simulation 11.8%, Strategy 11.1%, Building 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Allows you to manage a film studio, mirroring the creative industry management loop of the seed game.

Serve up food, drinks, and smiles in this retro cafe management sim!

Why similar: City Builder 25.4%, Life Sim 18.1%, 2D Platformer 10.8%, Building 9%, Strategy 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the satisfying growth of a restaurant business with the signature Kairosoft management style.

Good Company is an in-depth management sim about building a trail-blazing tech corporation. Assemble complex production lines, manage employee logistics, and sell high-quality products on the market to become the best company in the whole county!

Why similar: City Builder 28.6%, Building 26.9%, Management 25.9%, Strategy 9.3%, Simulation 8%

Why You'll Like It: Centers on logistics and product development, challenging you to build efficient production lines for your inventions.

Design, build, and manage a high school with terrific teachers and fantastic facilities or simply let your students poop in the bushes? Academia : School Simulator is a management/tycoon game where you get to decide!

Why similar: City Builder 33.9%, Management 22.8%, Building 20.5%, Strategy 6.6%, Simulation 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a top-down management experience where you design and run a school, balancing staff and student needs.

Open your own diner and create custom burgers in this management sim game.

Why similar: City Builder 23.5%, Life Sim 16.6%, Management 11.5%, 2D Platformer 10.1%, Strategy 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: Provides a fun, casual management experience centered on building a successful food service empire.

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Why similar: City Builder 31.4%, Building 24.8%, Management 21.3%, Strategy 8%, Simulation 7.8%

Why You'll Like It: A classic management simulation that provides deep systems for building and maintaining a complex facility.

A town sim where you raise generations of residents. Unlock new stores and facilities, help your residents find love, or cash in on the stock market!

Why similar: City Builder 25.8%, Life Sim 16.3%, Building 12.2%, Management 7.4%, 2D Platformer 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: A city-building management game that emphasizes the growth of a community and resident happiness.

Parkitect is a business simulation game that charges you with the construction and management of theme parks! Bringing back the best of classic theme park games with many new features and content on top. Now supports online co-op with up to 8 players!

Why similar: City Builder 26.9%, Building 22.9%, Management 21.8%, Retro 9%, Strategy 8%

Why You'll Like It: Combines creative park building with the intricate management of finances and guest satisfaction.

Production line is the new car factory management/simulation/tycoon game that pushes your organisational and entrepreneurship skills to the limit. Can you build the ultimate optimised, free-flowing car production line whilst beating the competition and still turn a profit?

Why similar: Management 33.1%, Building 23.2%, City Builder 20.1%, Strategy 8.6%, Simulation 8.5%

Why You'll Like It: A complex factory management game that emphasizes efficiency and the optimization of assembly lines.

Customize your own store with a wide variety of products and business goals.

Why similar: City Builder 22.9%, Life Sim 17.9%, Simulation 11.7%, Strategy 11.1%, Building 10.2%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the retail management loop, challenging you to optimize store layout and product selection.

Run any store you like to build up your own buzzing business burg!

Why similar: City Builder 30.1%, Life Sim 16.7%, Strategy 10.8%, Simulation 10.6%, Building 9.4%

Why You'll Like It: Offers a broad business management experience that lets you run various types of shops in a single town.

Recruit adventurers and monsters to create your own RRG-style town!

Why similar: City Builder 21.9%, Real Time Tactics 16.5%, Life Sim 12.7%, 2D Platformer 9.1%, Building 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: A unique blend of RPG elements and town management that feels familiar to Kairosoft fans.

Put your entrepreneurial skills to the test in the first title in the ROI series as you create & optimise intricate production lines. As an early 20th-Century industrialist, grow your empire & adapt to an ever-changing business landscape with unexpected events that could lead to boom…or bust.

Why similar: City Builder 37.8%, Management 29.1%, Building 13%, Strategy 10.1%, Simulation 8.1%

Why You'll Like It: A strategic business simulation that tasks you with building a massive industrial empire across a procedurally generated map.

Just imagine: your own world-famous airport! A game with sky-high levels of fun!

Why similar: City Builder 27.8%, 2D Platformer 12.5%, Building 10.7%, Management 8.5%, Strategy 8.4%

Why You'll Like It: A large-scale management simulation that tasks you with running a busy international airport.

It's vacation time! Try your hand at managing a lush tropical resort!

Why similar: City Builder 33.7%, 2D Platformer 14.7%, Building 14%, Simulation 9.1%, Cute 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: Provides a relaxing yet engaging management experience focused on building a vacation destination.

Build your own spectacular, multi-story station for your favorite trains!

Why similar: City Builder 28%, Building 11.4%, 2D Platformer 10.3%, Simulation 8%, 1990's 7.2%

Why You'll Like It: Focuses on the management of a transit hub, requiring careful planning to handle passenger flow and business growth.

Make the dwelling of your dreams a reality in this apartment management sim!

Why similar: Life Sim 17.3%, City Builder 16.8%, Management 11.4%, Building 9.6%, 2D Platformer 9%

A brand new business sim! Build cafés, movie theaters, aquariums, and more!

Why similar: Life Sim 18.9%, City Builder 18.6%, Simulation 9.6%, 2D Platformer 8.3%, Strategy 8%

A city-building sim with a historical twist

Why similar: City Builder 31.1%, 2D Platformer 14.1%, Building 12.4%, Strategy 8.3%, Simulation 7.2%

Make a fantastic, dazzling water park!

Why similar: City Builder 27.5%, Building 11.8%, Life Sim 10.8%, Management 10.2%, 2D Platformer 8.7%

Create your own amusement park with a variety of rides, mascots, and activities!

Why similar: City Builder 23.3%, Life Sim 18.7%, Strategy 11.3%, Simulation 11.3%, Building 10.7%

A "hot" new hot springs resort sim with a ton of new exclusive features!

Why similar: City Builder 24.5%, Life Sim 20.8%, Building 12.9%, Pixel Graphics 7.1%, Simulation 7%

Run a music talent agency and make platinum-selling records!

Why similar: Life Sim 27.5%, 2D Platformer 12.6%, Simulation 9.6%, 1990's 9.3%, Pixel Graphics 8.9%

Make your own metropolitan utopia! Stores, mansions, towers--anything goes!

Why similar: City Builder 28.7%, Life Sim 13.7%, Building 11%, Real Time Tactics 8.3%, Simulation 7.8%

Revolutionize the revolving sushi bar in this fresh new sim!

Why similar: City Builder 18.1%, Life Sim 16.9%, Building 10.1%, Management 9.8%, Pixel Graphics 8.1%

Build the ultimate bowl to leap past your ramen rivals and achieve greatness!

Why similar: Life Sim 24.4%, Building 15.9%, Management 9.7%, Strategy 8.7%, Simulation 8.5%

Make your dream school in this management simulation game! School got you down?

Why similar: City Builder 23.2%, Life Sim 15.4%, Building 13.7%, Management 13%, 2D Platformer 10.4%

Build a heroic hamlet that warriors and merchants can call home!

Why similar: City Builder 28%, Building 16.5%, Management 13.9%, Life Sim 13.6%, Pixel Graphics 6.8%

Help your community grow through the power of the press in this magazine sim! A small local magazine can make a big difference! Do you have what it takes to become a magazine mogul?

Why similar: City Builder 24.8%, Life Sim 16.6%, Management 13.8%, 2D Platformer 8.2%, Retro 6.1%

Make your wildest ice dreams come true with this skating rink management game.

Why similar: City Builder 30.8%, Life Sim 22.2%, 2D Platformer 12%, Simulation 10.8%, Casual 6.7%

A clothing shop management sim. Go from quaint corner shop to world-class brand!

Why similar: Life Sim 26.4%, Building 12.1%, Management 11.4%, Simulation 10.6%, Strategy 9.8%

Create and customize your own campground in this charming pixel art sim game.

Why similar: City Builder 29.9%, Life Sim 15.8%, Strategy 10.8%, Simulation 10.5%, Building 9.1%

Captain a luxury cruise liner, sailing the entire world while entertaining VIPs!

Why similar: City Builder 26.4%, Strategy 13.8%, Building 13.3%, Simulation 12.8%, Pixel Graphics 9.1%

Demon Castle Building Dungeon Management Simulation

Why similar: City Builder 31.4%, Strategy 12.5%, 2D Platformer 12.4%, Simulation 11.1%, Building 7.7%

Form your own game studio set in the early 1980s in a small garage. Develop your own game ideas, create a team and develop megahit video games. Research new technologies, train your staff and upgrade your office space, going from a lowly garage to a huge building. Expand your business and dominate the world market for video games!

Why similar: Programming 34.8% ★, Management 28.1%, Building 18.2%, Simulation 7%, Strategy 6.9%

Create shows, sign stars, and dominate the airwaves in this TV studio sim.

Why similar: Life Sim 34%, 2D Platformer 23.1%, Simulation 11%, Cute 10.1%, Pixel Graphics 8%

Welcome to your own Game Dev Studio! How will you run your own offices and ascend to greatness in the gaming industry?

Why similar: Management 40.7%, Simulation 21%, Strategy 19.8%, Casual 9.7%, 2D 4.2%

Manage your Game Studio, earn big bucks, impress the critics, beat rival studios and clean up at the awards!

Why similar: Management 35.1%, Game Development 35.1% ★, Building 9.1%, Simulation 8.4%, Strategy 4.6%

A pyramid-building adventure of historic proportions!

Why similar: City Builder 25.4%, Life Sim 18.8%, Building 15.4%, Strategy 6.8%, Pixel Graphics 6.6%

Farm management simulation game! Create the most awesome farm!

Why similar: City Builder 25.1%, Life Sim 20.5%, Building 11.8%, Strategy 8.6%, Simulation 8%

Basketball Team Management Sim Coach a custom team and dunk your way to glory!

Why similar: City Builder 24.7%, Life Sim 18.9%, Simulation 14.6%, Building 10%, Pixel Graphics 6.6%

Well, what are you waiting for? Build a top-ranking zoo, set social media ablaze, and show the world your wild side!

Why similar: City Builder 25.7%, Life Sim 16.6%, Building 10.7%, Management 8.7%, Strategy 7.5%

Reap the joys of country life and cultivate your farm and fame!

Why similar: City Builder 22.7%, Life Sim 19.1%, Building 11%, Management 8.9%, Strategy 7.9%

A simulation game where you create a wonderful sweets shop with Doraemon

Why similar: City Builder 31.6%, Life Sim 23.1%, 2D Platformer 12.1%, Simulation 11.2%, Management 7.8%

Plunge into the past for a rousing romp through Edo period Japan!

Why similar: City Builder 22.8%, Life Sim 14.4%, Building 12.6%, Management 11.7%, 2D Platformer 8.5%

Attract customers, train stars, and win the Grand Slam in this tennis club sim!

Why similar: City Builder 24.3%, Life Sim 18%, Simulation 13.6%, Building 10.4%, Pixel Graphics 7.4%