Airport CEO

About

Airport CEO is a single player strategy game with a business theme. It was developed by Apog Labs and was released on March 4, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

+15

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,448 reviews

gameplay204 positive mentions

stability520 negative mentions

The game offers a great level of depth and customization, allowing players to build and manage their own airport.
The tutorial is helpful for new players, providing a good introduction to the game's mechanics.
The game is addictive and engaging, with many players losing track of time while playing.

There are numerous bugs and pathfinding issues that can make the game frustrating and unplayable at times.
The user interface can be overwhelming and not very intuitive, leading to confusion for new players.
Performance issues arise when managing larger airports, causing significant lag and crashes.

gameplay
730 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The gameplay of Airport CEO offers a complex and engaging experience, allowing players to manage various aspects of airport operations, including construction, staffing, and flight scheduling. However, many users report significant bugs, a lack of intuitive mechanics, and a steep learning curve that can detract from the overall enjoyment. While the game has potential and provides hours of entertainment, it often requires players to navigate through unclear mechanics and frustrating technical issues.
- “The gameplay in Airport CEO revolves around managing various aspects of airport operations, including construction, staffing, flight scheduling, and passenger management.”
- “With its detailed management mechanics, customizable design options, and challenging gameplay, Airport CEO provides hours of immersive entertainment for players who want to build and manage their own airport.”
- “A superb simulation of airport management, Airport CEO has engrossing gameplay and meticulous attention to detail.”
- “The game is also very inconsistent with what mechanics it models in ridiculous detail and what mechanics are abstracted to the point of not mattering or not even existing, and you're left to just guess.”
- “The gameplay itself is alright, but it is somewhat boring and a lot of systems are tedious.”
- “It's sad to see this studio pumping out DLC while game-breaking bugs ruin gameplay a couple of hours in.”
stability
530 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, with numerous players reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance problems that hinder gameplay. Many users describe it as a "buggy mess," particularly when managing larger airports, leading to frequent crashes and frustrating experiences. While some acknowledge the game's potential and ongoing development efforts, the consensus is that it remains largely unplayable in its current state, especially for those seeking a polished experience.
- “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.”
- “Advance warning: this is not a finished game yet, so don't expect it to be balanced, bug free, or feature complete.”
- “Still a buggy mess after all these years.”
- “The game is buggy as hell, the tutorial is unfriendly, and the gameplay is monotonous.”
- “In its current state, the game is so unbelievably buggy as to be unplayable without frustration.”
graphics
508 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
7%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple and 2D, with some players appreciating the clarity and aesthetic appeal, while others find them rudimentary and lacking in detail. Despite the graphics not being demanding, performance issues arise when managing larger airports, leading to lag even on high-end systems. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they are often considered functional and complement the gameplay, with potential for improvement as the game develops.
- “The game presents players with a visual delight through realistic graphics and detailed animations.”
- “Airport CEO features a clean and visually appealing art style that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.”
- “The graphics are extremely well done.”
- “This game's graphics are not demanding at all, yet it lags like crazy once I make a large airport and starts bugging out for no reason.”
- “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.”
- “Graphics are ugly and often confusing; for instance, it's hard to tell which side of the stairs is which.”
optimization
370 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
67%
21%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, particularly in late-game scenarios where performance significantly deteriorates as airport size increases, leading to stuttering and frame rate drops. Many users report that the pathfinding and overall coding are poorly executed, resulting in frustrating gameplay experiences, especially with larger airports. While some players acknowledge recent performance updates and express hope for future improvements, the consensus is that the game currently suffers from major optimization issues that hinder its potential.
- “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.”
- “However, the devs are taking performance very seriously and doing their best to make Airport CEO run as smoothly as possible.”
- “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 update has made a huge difference yet every day that I play this game I'll get some kind of huge bug that basically breaks my airport, which is very frustrating because sometimes it's just some stupid bus that decides the route it has taken over 100 times is not viable anymore even though nothing has changed.”
- “The potential for a great game is there, which is why it's all the more frustrating to see it fall short with mediocre performance, abominable AI, terrible pathfinding, lack of support for larger airports, and just a general impression of instability.”
story
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
74%
24%
The game lacks a coherent story or narrative, with many users noting the absence of a story mode or mission scenarios, which limits replayability and engagement. Players express disappointment over the lack of challenges and detailed explanations, leading to a monotonous experience once the initial gameplay is mastered. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels more like a sandbox without a compelling storyline or progression.
- “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.”
- “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).”
- “Once you have figured out a way to make a profitable airport from a bare plot of land, there is reason to explore beyond that.”
- “There is no story mode or scenario play; it's just a sandbox currently, which really limits replayability.”
- “If only there was a story mode or challenges with this game, as once you build an airport and get it running efficiently, there's not much else.”
- “After a while, it gets boring because there are no mission scenarios like the classic tycoons, where you often had to get loans because money was not easy to get.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many users praising its soothing jazz tracks and overall quality, often describing it as "top notch" and "absolute fire." While some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, the soundtrack is generally seen as a significant enhancement to the gameplay experience, making it worthwhile to purchase the soundtrack DLC. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, providing a relaxing backdrop that complements the management simulation.
- “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!”
- “Great game, has nice calming music and I was tempted to just sit back and listen to the music.”
- “Very repetitive and boring after playing the game for a while, fire music though.”
- “For example, when opening SimAirport you are just met with the main menu, with no music and no fanfare.”
- “Lacks soundtrack”
grinding
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
38%
60%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with many tasks requiring repetitive trial and error. While some appreciate the depth and challenge, the majority agree that the game could benefit from more automation and streamlined mechanics to reduce the grind. Despite its fun elements, the grinding often detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “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
82 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 operations, while others find it limited due to the lack of a story mode or varied scenarios. Many reviews highlight that the current sandbox format can lead to repetitive gameplay after a few sessions, though there is hope for improvement as the game is still in early access and expected updates may enhance replay value. Overall, while some players find it engaging and immersive, others express concerns about its long-term replayability without significant new features.
- “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.”
- “This game lacks assets to make it replayable; after a couple of playthroughs, you will be bored out of your mind, doing the same thing over and over.”
- “Due to its very limited replayability at this time, based on what is available, and the fact that you have no growing curve in the true tycoon sim game style and have to build everything, I do not recommend the game at this time.”
humor
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both genuinely funny and absurdly entertaining, particularly in scenarios like baggage pile-ups and the incongruous presence of snow in a Mediterranean airport. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to provoke laughter through its quirky mechanics and situations, although some note that it could benefit from optimization, especially in later stages. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “It's a funny game, and you really have to be awake and remember all the little things.”
- “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.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The game effectively captures the vibrant atmosphere of an airport, with realistic details such as planes landing and taking off that enhance the immersive experience. Players appreciate the natural movement of characters and the art style, which together create a lifelike environment, making it particularly appealing for airport enthusiasts. Overall, the game's atmosphere is praised for its creativity 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.”
- “Their movement feels more natural compared to other games, and the art style of 2D sprites in the game creates a realistic atmosphere.”
- “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 from 2D sprites in the game creates a somewhat realistic atmosphere.”
- “Other than that: many details; I love the realistic atmosphere.”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy in the game involves selling advertising space on walls, which is criticized for detracting from the visual appeal and overall experience. While this method generates revenue, it can negatively impact brand perception and customer satisfaction, particularly for higher-rated franchises that struggle to maintain profitability without sufficient traffic. Overall, the balance between monetization and user experience remains a contentious issue.
- “Selling walls for advertising causes ugliness but brings 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, which decreases commercial satisfaction.”
- “The cafes and shops above a two-star rating always demand more customer traffic than they can generate on their own or with a fully researched advertising team, so they always cancel the contracts after a while. I've never gotten a three-star franchise to stay open for a long period of time, but all my one-star franchises are profitable.”