Airport CEO

About

"Airport CEO" is a 3D tycoon-style simulation game where you manage the operations of your own airport. Oversee everything from flight schedules and airport infrastructure to managing staff and passenger satisfaction. Experience the challenging and dynamic world of airport management and strive to build your dream airport.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+15

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,496 reviews

gameplay112 positive mentions

stability274 negative mentions

Engaging and addictive gameplay that allows for extensive customization and management of airports.
Realistic simulation of airport operations, including detailed mechanics for baggage handling, flight scheduling, and passenger management.
Active community and developer support, with regular updates and improvements based on player feedback.

Numerous bugs and pathfinding issues that can disrupt gameplay, especially in larger airports.
The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult for new players to navigate and understand game mechanics.
Performance issues arise as airports grow in size, leading to lag and crashes that hinder the overall experience.

gameplay
407 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
66%
6%
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its depth and engaging mechanics, offering players a complex and rewarding experience in airport management. However, many users report significant issues with bugs, crashes, and a lack of clear tutorials, which can make the game frustrating and difficult to navigate, especially for new players. While the core mechanics are solid and provide hours of entertainment, the overall experience is marred by technical problems and a steep learning curve.
- “Its everything I ever wanted my LEGO airports to be, and has a lot of really fun mechanics inside and outside the terminal.”
- “With its realistic management mechanics, customizable design options, and intricate gameplay, Airport CEO offers a rewarding experience for players who enjoy strategy and simulation games.”
- “The gameplay is great, there are some small glitches, as expected, but I have been waiting for a game like this for a while.”
- “The game is buggy as hell, the tutorial is unfriendly, and the gameplay is monotonous.”
- “There are so many mechanics that are broken or so convoluted that I just stayed away from them at all costs.”
- “It's sad to see this studio pumping out DLC while game-breaking bugs ruin gameplay a couple of hours in.”
graphics
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The graphics in the game are generally described as simplistic and 2D, with many players noting that while they are not demanding on hardware, they can lead to performance issues when managing larger airports. Some reviews appreciate the clean and functional art style, which complements the gameplay, while others criticize the graphics for being rudimentary or lacking detail compared to competitors. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for the genre, with a focus on gameplay rather than graphical fidelity.
- “Plus, the game's graphics make you feel like you're watching a bustling airport from a sky-high observation deck.”
- “There are many detailed animations and the graphics are of wonderful quality.”
- “Airport CEO features a clean and visually appealing art style that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.”
- “The graphics are pretty bare minimum, but the gameplay is very good in my opinion.”
- “For the primitive graphics that it has, you kinda expect a better performance.”
- “The early access state of the game does show itself; bugs do frequently occur, some graphics and assets can look incomplete and there sometimes feels like there are gaps in what you expect you would be able to do within management windows/options.”
stability
280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and pathfinding issues that hinder gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, many express frustration over frequent crashes, unresponsive mechanics, and the overall lack of polish, suggesting that it remains unplayable for extended sessions. Overall, the game is seen as having potential but is currently plagued by instability that detracts from the experience.
- “The game is polished, looks and runs great, and has loads of realistic options and features.”
- “Yes, don't expect it to be bug free, but it is a work in progress.”
- “There are bugs but this is an alpha, so if you want a fully up and running game with all the capabilities launched and bug free, hold on and wait until it has a full launch.”
- “For a 2D game, it's shameful how unstable this game is; it always crashes and freezes. On the other hand, the gameplay itself is very good, but unfortunately, it's unplayable like this.”
- “The sad fact of the matter is that we have paid good money for a game that, after a couple of years now, is still buggy and lagging most times, that is if it doesn't shut down on you with an auto-save.”
- “Currently, it's a buggy, barely playable mess even years after its release into early access.”
optimization
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
68%
20%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly as airport size increases, leading to stuttering and frame rate drops. While some users have noted improvements and express hope for future optimizations, the overall sentiment indicates that the game struggles with pathfinding and resource management, making it challenging to enjoy larger airports without encountering major performance setbacks. Despite its potential, many players recommend waiting for further optimization before fully committing to the game.
- “This is really well designed and remarkably well optimized compared to games of a similar scope and theme!”
- “The game has finally reached a state where new updates really put performance and bug-fixing on center stage while still pushing out gameplay features at an impressive pace.”
- “Developers have been active in letting players know what they are up to and continue to optimize for better performance.”
- “For the primitive graphics that it has, you kinda expect better performance.”
- “Once in the thousands and tens of thousands of passengers and visitors, the game doesn't know what it's doing, and considering these numbers are fairly easy to reach with just a handful of stands, it's clearly a result of poor optimization, particularly in the pathfinding of everything.”
- “The performance really starts to drag when you get to some larger airports.”
story
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
72%
24%
The consensus among users is that the game lacks a meaningful story or narrative, with many reviewers noting the absence of a story mode or mission scenarios, which limits replayability and engagement. The game is primarily described as a sandbox experience without any unique storytelling elements, making it feel repetitive and unchallenging after initial gameplay. Overall, players express a desire for more structured challenges and a coherent narrative to enhance the gaming experience.
- “In some ways, playing this game is similar to chess - you can learn the rules and moves very quickly, but mastering it is a whole other story.”
- “At least Prison Architect has some semblance of a story and game progression.”
- “From storylines to an even broader approach of operating an airport (perhaps even an airline at some point which uses your airport as a hub).”
- “There is nothing unique that sets this game apart than letting you plot down a floor plan and watch things magically appear in the hands of contractors in 2D.”
- “After a while it gets boring because there are no mission scenarios like the classic tycoons (where most often than not you had to get loans because money was not easy to get).”
- “I usually like when a tycoon game at least has some story in the tutorial, but this game doesn’t have that.”
music
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its soothing and catchy qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some find it repetitive after extended play, the majority appreciate the high-quality soundtrack, which evokes nostalgia and complements the gameplay well. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, making it worthwhile for players to purchase the DLC.
- “Everything is great, but quite frankly, the music is amazing.”
- “The music is top notch; soothing jazz, and I am glad I paid extra for it.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing; it is a great addition to vibe while building your airport!”
- “Very repetitive and boring after playing the game for a while, fire music though.”
- “The music quality is decent but forgettable considering the player will be so focused on making sure that their airport doesn’t explode.”
- “For example, when opening SimAirport you are just met with the main menu, with no music and no fanfare.”
grinding
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
38%
57%
The reviews highlight that grinding in the game is often perceived as tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling it requires an excessive investment of time. While some find the gameplay enjoyable initially, the repetitive tasks and management systems can lead to frustration and boredom. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the game has its fun moments, the grinding aspect detracts from the overall experience.
- “It isn't grindy to get from an airfield to an international airport, and I love the 2D art style which takes out a lot of the strange logistical headaches you would find in other games.”
- “Yeah, okay, it's kinda grindy.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The gameplay itself is alright, but it is somewhat boring and a lot of systems are tedious.”
- “This makes the gameplay extremely tedious and frustrating.”
replayability
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the ability to experiment with different airport layouts and strategies, while others find it limited due to a lack of scenarios or a career mode. Many reviews highlight that, despite its fun gameplay, the game can become repetitive after a few playthroughs, especially in its current early access state. Overall, while some users see potential for increased replay value with future updates, many agree that it currently lacks depth and variety.
- “It has a lot of replayability as you can experiment with different layouts and focuses.”
- “You're going to get your money's worth in replay value here.”
- “There is a ton of replay value as well, as you can experiment with different styles of airports and have drastically different outcomes.”
- “There is no story mode or scenario play; it's just a sandbox currently, which really limits replayability.”
- “Replayability is very low; playable for about 10-15 hours before the game becomes boring and you lose the motivation to play.”
- “Due to its very limited replayability at this time and the fact that you have no growing curve in the true tycoon sim game style, I do not recommend the game at this time.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding amusement in its quirky mechanics and unexpected scenarios, such as cars blocking traffic and baggage pile-ups. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to elicit laughter through its absurdities, while also noting that the humor can sometimes stem from frustrating gameplay moments. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute to an entertaining experience, despite some calls for optimization.
- “Watch hilariously as cars go to turn down a road but instead of waiting to turn, they simply turn and block opposing traffic, waiting for the road in front of them to clear.”
- “And really funny is the baggage reclaim area which on a regular basis has bags getting stuck quite often which then in turn will cause a pile-up, leading to even more stuck bags.”
- “From hiring, firing, getting contracts and managing them, the flight schedules, the shops and cafes... so much to play and delve into that you will spend hours laughing just as quickly as shouting out loud at yourself for the latest mistake you've managed to make!”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The game effectively captures the vibrant atmosphere of an airport, with realistic plane movements and detailed 2D art that enhances immersion. Players appreciate the lifelike environment, which stimulates creativity and appeals to airport enthusiasts. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its authenticity and attention to detail, setting it apart from other titles in the genre.
- “Captures quite well the atmosphere and inner workings of an actual airport.”
- “Planes landing and taking off create a great game atmosphere that gets my creative mind working.”
- “I hope Airport CEO could become an airport tycoon game that has a 'lifelike' atmosphere because I know Sim Airport can't give me that vibe.”
- “Their movement feels more natural compared to another game, and the art style formed by 2D sprites in the game creates a somewhat realistic atmosphere.”
- “Other than that: many details; I love the realistic atmosphere.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy in the game involves selling advertising space, which some players find detracts from the visual appeal and overall experience. While higher-rated establishments require more customer traffic and often struggle to maintain profitability, lower-rated franchises tend to be more successful, indicating a potential imbalance in the game's economic model.
- “Selling walls for advertising causes ugliness but brings in money. This ugly method can be obtained from the game RimWorld.”
- “We need to be careful not to mess up our brand with variables such as having advertisements on walls, as it decreases overall satisfaction.”
- “The graphics are not minimalist, but they don't provide an immersive experience either. You can see it in the ads - things are nicely drawn, but it's not a 3D, free-rotating camera, ultra-realistic experience.”