Arcade Tycoon

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 275 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Arcade Tycoon Game Cover
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"Arcade Tycoon" is a simulation game where players can design, manage, and build their own arcade empire with pixelated isometric graphics. Choose from a variety of machines and decorations to keep guests happy and earn more income. Discover new games, tech, and staff through research and unlocking menus, and build arcades in various locations through 12 campaign levels and a sandbox mode. Inspired by popular sim games such as Two Point Hospital, Megaquarium, and Game Dev Tycoon. "

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 275 reviews
gameplay8 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game has a charming pixel art style and nostalgic feel, reminiscent of classic tycoon games.
  • Gameplay is engaging and offers a fun management experience, allowing players to build and customize their own arcade.
  • The developers are responsive and actively working on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.
  • The user interface is clunky and can be frustrating to navigate, especially with the reliance on both hotkeys and mouse clicks.
  • There are significant bugs and glitches, including crashes and issues with saving progress, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • The game currently lacks depth and variety, with limited content and repetitive gameplay that can lead to boredom.
  • gameplay48 mentions

    The gameplay of the arcade tycoon game is characterized by a steep learning curve and a mix of engaging mechanics and tedious elements. While it captures a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of "Theme Hospital" with straightforward mechanics and fun visuals, many players find the pacing slow and the economic balance lacking, leading to repetitive gameplay. Overall, it offers a solid core experience but may require adjustments to enhance depth and flow.

    • “With fun visuals, quirky staff, and strategic gameplay, it's a fresh and humorous take on the genre.”
    • “It impeccably captures that nostalgic 'Theme Hospital' vibe, offering straightforward gameplay mechanics that enhance rather than hinder the enjoyment.”
    • “The core gameplay of balancing your budget and power needs while trying to constantly expand the arcade is just the right level of challenging -- you can chill out and watch all the little people run around your arcade while you plan your next moves.”
    • “Overall, the gameplay is a huge letdown because the economy of the game is very unbalanced, the graphics are very unappealing as well, but I would have overlooked that if the gameplay was good.”
    • “Some of the research mechanics seem pretty useless/unhelpful in earlier levels, and can really drag the pacing of the game.”
    • “The tutorial needs to be way better to explain all the mechanics, like the token cost to play ratio, the difficulty settings, etc.”
  • graphics46 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming pixel art style that evokes nostalgia for the early 90s, appealing to fans of retro aesthetics. While many players appreciate the fun visuals and the overall artistic direction, some have noted issues such as graphical errors, repetitive designs, and a lack of diversity in environments. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's atmosphere, though there are calls for improvements and more varied designs.

    • “What captivates me about Arcade Tycoon is its charming pixel art style and the nostalgic ambiance reminiscent of Theme Hospital.”
    • “The pixel art style is very fitting for the game, and the soundtrack goes seamlessly with it.”
    • “Love the graphics, totally immersive gameplay.”
    • “Expect semi-frequent crashes, disappearing props and decor items between saves, saves that become unplayable due to decor clipping, and graphical errors with currency pop-ups.”
    • “The graphics are very unappealing as well, but I would have overlooked that if the gameplay was good.”
    • “The graphics are lazy, because everything is copy & pasted and just multiple recolors of the same machine in every category.”
  • music24 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its fitting retro and chiptune style, enhancing the overall atmosphere and nostalgic vibe. While many players appreciate the quality and integration of the soundtrack, some note that it can be repetitive and that sound effects, particularly UI sounds, lack impact. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's charm and engagement.

    • “The game really just gives those old school vibes with the soundtrack and the atmosphere of the game too.”
    • “The pixel art style is very fitting for the game, and the soundtrack goes seamlessly with it.”
    • “It's starting right out of the gate with some lovely pixel art and terrific chiptune music, both suiting the subject matter perfectly.”
    • “The music is horrible and the sound effects from the arcade machines are too silent and not great or realistic either.”
    • “Music fits with the overall style of the game, but the sound effects sound a little dull, especially the UI ones.”
    • “The music gets stuck in your head.”
  • story16 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many players finding it repetitive and simplistic. While there is a campaign mode with missions, it fails to provide a compelling narrative or progression, leading to boredom as players progress. Reviewers express a desire for a more developed storyline, additional scenarios, and varied gameplay elements to enhance the overall experience.

    • “Like other reviews have stated, a story or more progression other than the campaign would be more entertaining.”
    • “Some things I'd like to see are a storyline, addition of rhythm games, events/scenarios (kid's birthday party, work conflict, gaming tournaments), more decoration options, and expanded customer personalities/complaints.”
    • “Only negative is - after the first few campaign missions you'll see everything the game has to offer.”
    • “It would be nice if the devs added a story or something to hold on to, because after playing it for a while it gets repetitive.”
    • “Very simple game (too simple), no story to the game whatsoever!”
  • grinding11 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, with many expressing frustration over the high learning curve and repetitive tasks required to progress. The need for constant menu navigation and frequent micromanagement, such as giving staff bonuses, detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the experience feel more laborious than fun. While some appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic, the gameplay often feels bogged down by unnecessary grind.

    • “Getting all those stars within the game is really tedious and slow if you only start playing.”
    • “While not a bad game per se, it's pretty grindy and not that fun.”
    • “The amount of clicking for tedious tasks in this game is pretty high.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of fun visuals, quirky staff, and amusing dialogues, with some players noting its resemblance to classics like Theme Hospital and Two Point Hospital. While some find the humor to be minimal outside of tutorials, others appreciate the humorous challenges and random events that add a lighthearted touch to the gameplay. Overall, the game successfully incorporates comedic elements through its design and retro references, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “With fun visuals, quirky staff, and strategic gameplay, it's a fresh and humorous take on the genre.”
    • “With humorous challenges inspired by games like Two Point Hospital and Megaquarium, balance power management, staff antics, and diverse attractions to keep guests entertained.”
    • “The pixel art is good and the retro ads and references are really funny.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game currently suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that affect basic functionalities, such as the money system. Many reviewers note that the game feels unfinished and is still in early production, contributing to its instability.

    • “The game is unfinished and buggy in its current state.”
    • “Additionally, the game is buggy.”
    • “The little content present in the game now is highly buggy; basic things like the money system do not make sense.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any stuttering or lag, and features impressive animations that enhance the overall experience. Users appreciate the polished performance, although some suggest improvements in automation for certain gameplay elements.

    • “I like what I've seen so far. The game runs smoothly and the animation is fantastic; you get to see the players use the joystick and the buttons, etc.”
    • “Well polished game; no stuttering or lag.”
    • “Automating things like employee bonuses based on performance and marketing would be nice.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere evokes nostalgic old-school vibes, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and appealing retro graphics. However, the environment is criticized for feeling lifeless and poorly designed, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are nice and really add to the retro charm and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is also not good because every 'city' is dead and strangely designed.”
    • “The game really just gives those old school vibes with the soundtrack and the atmosphere of the game too.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization strategy has drawn criticism for not delivering on advertised content, with a significant portion of the game being locked behind paywalls. While the pixel art and retro references are appreciated, the disparity between what is promoted and what is accessible raises concerns among players.

    • “I am not going to bash the devs for what is not in the game after only a couple of hours of playtime, but what they are advertising on their store page is not in the game.”
    • “It's all blocked off and for advertising, 90 percent down is a red flag.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players appreciate the game's strong replayability, highlighting the presence of sandbox modes and numerous elements to discover, all at an affordable price of $10.

    • “I will now be working on sandbox modes, and there's plenty of replay value for a cheap $10.”
    • “There's lots to uncover, which gives this game good replay value.”
    • “The game lacks significant replayability, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Once you complete the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
    • “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics really diminishes the replay value.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviewers express deep gratitude towards the developers and Kickstarter supporters for creating a game that resonates emotionally, highlighting the heartfelt connection fostered by the project.

    • “Heartfelt thanks to the developers and the Kickstarter supporters for bringing this to life.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal.”
    • “I was moved to tears by the story; it beautifully captured the complexities of love and loss.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers suggest that the game would improve its character development by incorporating a wider variety of character designs, which would enhance visual diversity and reduce repetitiveness.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form meaningful connections with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “The choices you make significantly impact character growth, leading to a unique experience for each playthrough.”
    • “The game could benefit from introducing more diverse character designs to prevent repetition and add more visual richness.”
    • “Character progression feels stagnant, with little to no meaningful choices that impact the story or gameplay.”
    • “The lack of depth in character backstories makes it hard to connect with them on an emotional level.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

11hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
3-13hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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