Games Like Game Dev Tycoon

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: Management 50.8%, Economy 19.7%, Simulation 16.7%, Strategy 7.1%, Sandbox 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: It delivers the same fantasy of building a game studio, researching technology, picking genres and platforms, and growing across gaming eras, but with even deeper management systems.

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: Management 50.2%, Simulation 16.1%, Economy 15%, Strategy 6.8%, Sandbox 3.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its core loop of designing games, unlocking tech, hiring talent, and riding industry history closely mirrors Game Dev Tycoon.

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 33%, Simulation 21.9%, Economy 10.2%, Strategy 8.9%, Addictive 7.1% ★

Why You'll Like It: It offers a very similar indie-studio management experience built around choosing projects, balancing teams, and chasing commercial success.

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

Why similar: Management 53.7%, Simulation 16.4%, Economy 15.6%, Strategy 3.8%, Indie 3%

Why You'll Like It: This pixel-art studio sim captures the same accessible charm of managing developers, picking projects, and responding to market demand.

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: Management 41.2%, Economy 17.5%, Simulation 15.6%, Moddable 12.1% ★, Strategy 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: Although it focuses on software more broadly, it nails the same satisfying cycle of hiring, researching, developing products, and scaling a tech company.

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 51.1%, Simulation 18%, Economy 15%, Strategy 5.9%, Moddable 3.1% ★

Why You'll Like It: It shares the same small-business-to-industry-player progression through product development, office growth, and staff optimization.

Work hard and you may reach the top of the video game industry!

Why similar: Management 60.7%, Simulation 17.9%, Strategy 10.2%, Casual 4.6%, 2D 3%

Why You'll Like It: Kairosoft’s lighter take on the formula still scratches the exact itch of training staff, making games, and growing a beloved studio.

In GamersGoMakers, you found a little company creating the first video games in history. Create your first game with only basic sound and simple graphics available in the year 1980. You´re one of the pioneers entering the rising global market for computer games.

Why similar: Management 45.6%, Simulation 29%, Strategy 10%, Economy 6.1%, Indie 5.8%

Why You'll Like It: It follows the same game-industry progression with platform shifts, publishing decisions, employee management, and project planning.

Tech Corp. is a game where you try to become the biggest tech company in the world . Your goal is to become the next big shot in the tech industry. The game also takes place through history. Starting in the early 90's and going to present time.

Why similar: Management 40.4%, Simulation 23.6%, Economy 13.2%, Strategy 11.3%, Indie 3.8%

Why You'll Like It: Managing a tech company through research, product planning, and market competition makes it feel like a broader cousin to Game Dev Tycoon.

Welcome to the Game Industry!The year is 1982. Three young entrepreneurs discover the computer and potential to strike it rich in the Games Industry! Their love for computer games is a common bond that they all share but they are also in fierce competition with one another in a race to build a successful Games Development House…They...

Why similar: Simulation 45%, Management 35.6%, Strategy 12.7%, Economy 6.7%

Why You'll Like It: This classic game-company sim is all about developing successful titles through changing tech generations and market conditions.

In Game Builder Tycoon, begin as an indie game developer. Personalize your character, craft hit games, manage marketing, research stuff and manage a skilled team. Overcome competition to guide your game development studio to global recognition and dominate the gaming industry.

Why similar: Management 41.1%, Simulation 19.2%, Economy 19.1%, Strategy 7.5%, Sandbox 4.2%

Why You'll Like It: This newer studio-management game leans into the same loop of budgeting, staffing, and shipping games that connect with the market.

«Smartphone Tycoon» — unique business simulator. Create your own company for the production of smartphones! Your main goal will be to achieve worldwide recognition and take the company to the temple of fame of the global market.

Why similar: Management 49.8%, Simulation 29.5%, Strategy 13.3%, Indie 6.2%, Singleplayer 1.2%

Why You'll Like It: It swaps games for phones, but the appeal is very similar: study trends, invest in tech, launch products, and outgrow rivals.

Computer Tycoon is a fairly complex Business Grand Strategy game about Computer Evolution. Start in the 70s, invent until 2034, create the best computer systems, upgrade your infrastructure, lead a team, and alter computer history! It is time to "Think Different"

Why similar: Management 44%, Economy 20.9%, Simulation 13.3%, Strategy 9.6%, Sandbox 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: Its emphasis on R&D, product strategy, and long-term company growth makes it a strong fit for players who enjoy the business side of Game Dev Tycoon.

Empire TV Tycoon is a game in which you manage a TV channel and fight for audiences taking decisions that will project your channel to fame and fortune.You will decide the content of your channel, select advertisers, hire workers, make your own productions, hire actors, and engage in much more activities!

Why similar: Management 49.7%, Economy 18.2%, Simulation 13.1%, Strategy 7.3%, Funny 2.4%

Why You'll Like It: This media-management sim scratches a similar itch through audience targeting, production choices, and steady company expansion.

Become the most successful youtuber on the planet! Create videos, get subscribers, attend events, interact with your fans… and grow your channel. Live a youtuber’s life!

Why similar: Management 53.8%, Simulation 20.8%, Casual 5.2%, Strategy 5.1%, Indie 5.1%

Why You'll Like It: While more life-sim flavored, it still centers on turning creative output and smart management into a growing entertainment business.

MMORPG Tycoon 2 is a single-player world-builder game about creating the greatest MMORPG of all time – yours.

Why similar: Management 47.1%, Economy 19.9%, Simulation 18%, Sandbox 6.4%, Indie 3.4%

Why You'll Like It: It is more focused on one game than a whole studio, but designing systems and watching player response taps into the same game-creator appeal.

The only game of its kind where you can feel like a real internet celebrity! Record videos, interact with your subscribers, buy better equipment and gain fame!

Why similar: Management 44.4%, Simulation 27.9%, Strategy 13.1%, Casual 6.5%, Indie 6.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its rise-from-nothing creator-business loop echoes the same addictive formula of trend chasing, reinvesting, and scaling up.

Quit your job and build an exciting startup! Survive the tech bubble, compete with rival CEOs and expand your office from bedroom programmer up to the heights of global corporate sabotage! As long as you don't get hacked... or kidnapped...

Why similar: Management 42%, Economy 18.8%, Simulation 17.5%, Strategy 8.3%, Casual 4.1%

Why You'll Like It: Its approachable startup-management structure captures the same fun of building products, hiring talent, and surviving in a competitive market.

Ever dreamed of making your own movies? Build up your own movie studio, scout for upcoming stars, and produce cutting-edge films and TV shows. Try to stay ahead of your competition throughout the history of cinematography.

Why similar: Management 38.9%, Simulation 18.5%, Economy 16.5%, Moddable 15% ★, Sandbox 5.9%

Why You'll Like It: It translates the creative-studio formula to filmmaking, with staff, project, budget, and audience management that feels very familiar.

Start out as comic artist in small room and draw best comic you can and show off your work, replay the history of the comic industry., your decisions will make or break your studio. Create bestselling comics and become immortal with your stories.

Why similar: Simulation 29.1%, Management 22.9%, Strategy 14.7%, Addictive 7.9% ★, Indie 7.5%

Why You'll Like It: Another creative-business sim, it focuses on staffing, product decisions, and selling to an audience in a way Game Dev Tycoon fans often enjoy.

Develop your newspaper and become New York’s new media mogul! In this tycoon, build and manage your newspaper from printer to toilet. Create your editorial line and lead your journalists through unique 1930's stories and dig out the latest scoops!

Why similar: Management 49.2%, Simulation 16.8%, Economy 13.9%, Strategy 7.6%, Sandbox 4.9%

Why You'll Like It: Running a media company through staff, layout, production, and audience demand gives it a similarly compelling tycoon progression.

Welcome to the big show! Ready the camera, unleash your creativity and and pile up the profits! Grow your operation with your razor-sharp business sense and usher in a new era for filmmakers worldwide.

Why similar: Management 29.8%, Simulation 25%, Economy 14.6%, Strategy 12%, Sandbox 6.8%

Why You'll Like It: Like Game Dev Tycoon, it is about growing a creative company by choosing the right projects, managing talent, and adapting to the market.

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: Management 39.4%, Simulation 18.5%, Economy 11.2%, Moddable 8.9% ★, Strategy 8.2%

Why You'll Like It: Despite the different setting, its transparent systems, constant optimization, and satisfying management feedback make it a good adjacent pick.

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 58.2%, Economy 20.8%, Simulation 15.9%, Sandbox 3.3%, Singleplayer 1.2%

Why You'll Like It: Its broader business sandbox captures the same satisfaction of starting small, expanding carefully, and optimizing for long-term success.

Make your dream cars a reality with Automation’s unparalleled car and engine design tools. Gain a competitive edge through smart engineering and business decisions to help you build an automotive empire. Will you become an industry leader, or just a footnote in automotive history?

Why similar: Management 48.5%, Simulation 20.7%, Economy 9.3%, Moddable 8.4% ★, Strategy 5.2%

Why You'll Like It: If you love the product-design and market-positioning side of Game Dev Tycoon, this offers a deeper version in the auto industry.

Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Platinum combines the excitement of rollercoasters with the fun of a great strategy simulation. RCT3 Platinum combines the roller coaster theme park fun of the Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 with included expansion packs Soaked! and Wild! Now enjoy more options than ever.

Why similar: Management 51.6%, Simulation 23.7%, Economy 7.6%, Strategy 5.5%, Sandbox 5.4%

Why You'll Like It: A classic management game with easy-to-read systems and an addictive build-tweak-profit loop that overlaps with Game Dev Tycoon’s appeal.

Compete for stardom in this Esport management tycoon.

Why similar: Management 49.9%, Simulation 32.2%, Indie 6.2%, Strategy 6%, Casual 5.7%

Why You'll Like It: It shifts from development to esports, but keeps the approachable tycoon feel of building a business within the games industry.

Design, build and manage a giant shopping center. Open shops, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys and more. Hire and manage the best staff for the job and milk your customers for all they're worth!

Why similar: Management 50.9%, Simulation 18.5%, Economy 13.8%, Strategy 4.3%, Moddable 3.7% ★

Why You'll Like It: It is less thematic, but its clear systems, staffing, finances, and growth optimization hit a similar management groove.

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: Management 36.9%, Economy 16%, Simulation 14.6%, Moddable 11.9% ★, Strategy 6.7%

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: Management 47.2%, Economy 19.1%, Simulation 16.8%, Strategy 9%, Indie 3%

Why You'll Like It: This leans harder into economy and expansion, but it delivers the same pleasure of spotting opportunities and building a successful business around them.

Shape the history of the Hollywood movie industry in this sandbox business simulation game. Create the movies you've always wanted to see, hire the best team, research cutting-edge technologies, and dominate the Box Office. Can you rise from a small studio to a Hollywood giant?

Why similar: Management 39.9%, Simulation 14.4%, Economy 14.2%, Moddable 9.2% ★, Strategy 6.3%

Welcome, eager young investor, to AdVenture Capitalist! Arguably the world's greatest Capitalism simulator!

Why similar: Management 45.7%, Economy 20.9%, Simulation 18.2%, Casual 4.5%, Funny 3.4%

Start your life as a simple gamer in the year 2000. Find popular games to stream or compete in 8 different Esports. Who will you be? Play your career and story. Can you become the most famous broadcaster or the best progamer in the world?

Why similar: Management 34.3%, Simulation 28%, Economy 13.9%, Casual 7.2%, Indie 6.8%

One of the best games from acclaimed Tycoon series, with well designed gameplay mechanics, appealing graphics, and really high re-playability value. There’s no limit to what you can create so design and build the most thrilling roller coaster the world has ever seen!

Why similar: Management 56.3%, Simulation 26.7%, Strategy 7.4%, Sandbox 5.1%, Singleplayer 1.7%

Congratulations. The October labor lottery is complete. Your name was pulled. For immediate placement, report to the Ministry of Admission at Grestin Border Checkpoint. An apartment will be provided for you and your family in East Grestin. Expect a Class-8 dwelling.

Why similar: Simulation 40.2%, Addictive 18.5% ★, Indie 15.5%, Strategy 6.5%, Point & Click 4.9%

Game Builder Tycoon - Prologue is a free simulation game in which you begin your journey as an indie game developer. Personalize your character, craft hit games, manage marketing and research stuff. Create best game on the planet!

Why similar: Management 43.3%, Economy 18.3%, Simulation 15.8%, Strategy 7.5%, Sandbox 4.4%

Manage your computer company and develop your PC components, create your own laptop, monitor, develop an interactive operating system or build your PC. Research new technologies, improve your office and your factory, hire the best employees, buy other companies and build your computer empire!

Why similar: Management 43.2%, Economy 25.5%, Simulation 13.1%, Strategy 8.3%, Sandbox 6.8%

In Startup Freak you take the role of a budding entrepreneur, and grow your very own software startup from humble beginnings to a multi-million dollar company. Along the way you will have to overcome countless challenges. But the ultimate question you must answer: are you a Startup Freak?

Why similar: Management 39.3%, Simulation 26.7%, Strategy 12.8%, Economy 11.1%, Indie 6.3%

Open your own local game store. Stock shelves with the latest booster packs, or crack them and collect the cards for yourself. Set your own prices, hire staff, host events, and expand your card shop.

Why similar: Management 51.1%, Simulation 26.7%, Economy 18.2%, Singleplayer 1.8%, Casual 1.3%

Build and grow your very own computer repair enterprise as you learn to diagnose, fix and build PCs. With real-world licensed components and comprehensive hardware and software simulation, you can plan and bring your ultimate PC to life.

Why similar: Management 45.8%, Simulation 36.7%, Sandbox 5.8%, Casual 4%, Indie 3.2%

Create, manage, and guide your very own band to success!

Why similar: Management 61.3%, Simulation 25%, Casual 7.5%, Indie 6.2%

Cities: Skylines is a modern take on the classic city simulation. The game introduces new game play elements to realize the thrill and hardships of creating and maintaining a real city whilst expanding on some well-established tropes of the city building experience.

Why similar: Management 38.8%, Simulation 22.6%, Economy 12.5%, Moddable 10.4% ★, Strategy 7.4%

CoffeeBiz tycoon is a mix of entrepreneurship fun and complicated business simulation. Start your first coffee kiosk, brew, expand, hire, deal with competitors, build a well-known brand, risk, and do everything else needed to build prosperous and profitable business.

Why similar: Management 44.2%, Simulation 23%, Economy 13.2%, Strategy 10.1%, Indie 5%

In Game Tycoon 2 you find yourself in the middle of the big players. Get into the act and experience the fascination of the game development. Reach your goal and become the Game Tycoon!

Why similar: Management 46.9%, Simulation 20.6%, Economy 16%, Strategy 10%, Indie 5%

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

Why similar: Management 57.1%, Simulation 27.4%, Strategy 4.7%, Sandbox 3%, Indie 2.1%

Market Tycoon is a Tycoon game where you Grow your Market from a small Mini Market all the way up to a Hyper Market. Manage, create, and customize your market from wall paint to placing cashiers, shelves, and fridges.

Why similar: Management 49.2%, Simulation 24.9%, Strategy 10.9%, Indie 5.9%, Casual 5.3%

Disco Simulator is a tycoon type game based on club management. Your task will be to set up the club from scratch, put up walls, arrange furniture, hire staff, plan events, invite artists, put on concerts. Create your own club!

Why similar: Management 41.6%, Simulation 18%, Economy 16%, Strategy 6.8%, Casual 4%

«Smartphone Tycoon - Lite» — unique business simulator. Create your own company for the production of smartphones! Your main goal will be to achieve worldwide recognition and take the company to the temple of fame of the global market.

Why similar: Simulation 43.9%, Strategy 22%, Management 15%, Indie 11.2%, Addictive 7.2% ★

Be the architect of your own universe with Spore, an exciting single-player adventure. From Single Cell to Galactic God, evolve your creature in a universe of your own creations.

Why similar: Simulation 55.2%, Sandbox 18.6%, Casual 12.7%, Funny 9.3%, Comedy 3.5%

“Game Company Simulator：back to 2000” is a game development company to establish a management game. Employ employees, balance pressure and output, develop new game types, produce highly praised games, release and earn revenue, gain game fans, and continuously sell the game to the global market.

Why similar: Management 55.7%, Simulation 36.8%, 2D 3.1%, Indie 2.9%, Singleplayer 1.4%

Weedcraft Inc explores the business of producing, breeding and selling weed in America, delving deep into the financial, political and cultural aspects of the country's complex relationship with this troublesome and promising plant.

Why similar: Management 38.2%, Simulation 34.3%, Strategy 15.2%, Indie 7.1%, Economy 2.1%

Tech Executive Tycoon is a simulation, strategy, role playing game that places you in the seat of CEO and entrepreneur of your very own tech company. Can you take your company to the top with top of the line products? Can you command a world class group of employees?

Why similar: Management 50.1%, Simulation 30%, Strategy 13.5%, Indie 6.3%

Enter the exciting world of Arcade ownership! Play through the 1980's arcade revolution by buying arcade machines for your customers to play! Customize your arcade to increase its popularity! Manage your finances, capitalize on newly released games, but beware the pitfalls that could bankrupt you!

Why similar: Management 37.4%, Simulation 31.8%, Strategy 14.8%, Indie 8.2%, Casual 7.8%

Idol Manager is a business sim about conquering the entertainment industry using any means you deem necessary.

Why similar: Management 44.5%, Economy 19.7%, Simulation 13.8%, Moddable 8.2% ★, Strategy 7.6%

Have you ever wanted to be president? or prime-minister? Convinced you could do a better job of running the country? Let's face it, you could hardly do a worse job than our current political leaders.

Why similar: Simulation 34.2%, Management 24.5%, Strategy 13.4%, Economy 12.4%, Moddable 5.3% ★

Have you got what it takes to become the manager of a high-performance motorsport team? Motorsport Manager is a highly detailed, best-in-class management game for fans of motorsport. You’ll hire the drivers, build the cars and embed yourself in the dynamic world of racing.

Why similar: Management 68.1%, Simulation 20.4%, Strategy 9.1%, Singleplayer 1%, Economy 1%

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

Why similar: Management 53.8%, Simulation 21.9%, Strategy 8.9%, Economy 7.3%, Sandbox 2.7%

Business Magnate is a tycoon business simulation game where you can create all types of businesses: Cars, rockets, phones, tanks, trucks, airplanes, computers, and ships. Design, produce, market and sell them. You can even run multiple companies at the same time.

Why similar: Management 41.6%, Simulation 21.3%, Economy 17.3%, Strategy 9.8%, Sandbox 3%

Build your own dungeon and attract heroes from all over the realm! Grow your business by exploiting every facet of your visitors' dungeon exploration experience. Will you be able to keep your evil dungeon business going?

Why similar: Management 47.3%, Economy 19.5%, Simulation 17.1%, Strategy 8.9%, Sandbox 5.2%