Big Pharma

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,277 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Big Pharma Game Cover
Big Pharma takes the cake when it comes to puzzle games that can both be therapeutic to watch, while being the right level of infuriatingly difficult to make you come back for more. If you are a fan of sizzle games, you owe it to yourself to take a look.
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"Big Pharma" is a business simulation game where you run your own pharmaceutical company, researching and developing drugs to cure diseases while balancing profit and ethics. Start with basic equipment and grow your company by discovering new ingredients and technology, while fending off competition from rival corporations. The game explores the challenging moral dilemmas of the pharmaceutical industry.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Gog Com
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,277 reviews
gameplay63 positive mentions
grinding23 negative mentions
  • Engaging puzzle mechanics that require strategic planning and optimization of production lines.
  • Unique theme that combines pharmaceutical management with fun gameplay elements.
  • High replayability due to randomized ingredients and different scenarios.
  • Can become repetitive and formulaic after a few hours of gameplay.
  • Limited depth in the business simulation aspect, making it feel shallow at times.
  • The tutorial can be confusing and lengthy, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics.
  • gameplay193 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of puzzle-solving and resource management mechanics, which can be both engaging and addictive once players grasp the complex systems involved. While the tutorial provides a basic understanding, many players find the initial learning curve steep and the gameplay can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game offers a solid foundation with interesting mechanics, but some users express a desire for deeper content and more intuitive controls.

    • “The intricate mechanics, from optimizing production lines to resource management, keep players engaged.”
    • “Clear and succinct gameplay with amazing challenges and a ruleset that is both understandable and accessible.”
    • “It's satisfying, easy-to-learn, difficult-to-master gameplay makes it really open and engaging.”
    • “The tutorial just explains the basic mechanics of the game, but after that I was unable to make a profit after multiple attempts.”
    • “I want to like this game, but the tutorial is boring and the gameplay isn't much better.”
    • “Unfortunately, the game's mechanics are incredibly limited, leaving little room for exploration and a lack of player agency overall.”
  • story109 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of a cohesive narrative, with many players noting that it consists primarily of repetitive missions focused on achieving specific objectives rather than a traditional storyline. While the missions offer a variety of challenges and can be engaging, they often feel monotonous and similar, leading to a sense of redundancy as players progress. Overall, the absence of a meaningful story or character development detracts from the game's potential for deeper engagement.

    • “I thought really highly of this game, with a lot of replayability when working through the story scenarios.”
    • “The game's main story mode has a really great variety of challenges to play through.”
    • “You're allowed to set your own pace and customize your challenge through a wide variety of options, missions, and randomization of ingredients.”
    • “If you want a storyline or a campaign, this doesn't have that.”
    • “The game lacks a story or structure to keep it engaging.”
    • “There is no story mode/campaign but rather many scenarios that require you to reach a certain objective (like a target revenue) within a time limit.”
  • graphics95 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet charming, featuring a colorful, cartoonish art style that suits its factory simulation theme. While some players find the visuals lacking or basic, many appreciate the clean design and smooth animations, which allow the game to run well even on lower-end machines. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the genre, enhancing the gameplay experience without being the main focus.

    • “The art style is gorgeous, to say the least.”
    • “Big Pharma’s simple, colorful, cartoony graphical style works really well.”
    • “Graphically it looks great - it's not your fancy 3D artwork that you might find elsewhere, but the simplistic graphics fit really well and mean you can run it on lower-end machines as well.”
    • “Some players find the visuals lacking, impacting the overall experience.”
    • “The graphics and sound are basic and don't make me want to really look at what's going on.”
    • “Music and graphics are poor for today's games, but I would have easily forgiven based on a cheaper price if it had great gameplay.”
  • replayability59 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally praised, with many players highlighting the randomization of ingredients and scenarios as key factors that enhance replay value. While some users note that the game can become repetitive after extended play, the inclusion of a custom level builder, sandbox mode, and various challenges keeps the experience fresh for many. However, a few reviews mention limited replayability compared to similar titles, suggesting that while enjoyable, it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.

    • “Excellent game with awesome replayability and the ability to customize the way you get to play it.”
    • “The custom level builder and sandbox mode ensure replayability, allowing you to refine your pharmaceutical empire.”
    • “The concentration system for drugs, the random ingredient generation, and robust AI competitor performance (especially on higher difficulty levels) lend this to be a very interesting and *very* replayable game.”
    • “There simply is no replay value.”
    • “It's definitely worth picking up on sale, but the full price tag may not be justified given the game's limited replay value.”
    • “Fun for like 30 minutes, until you exhaust the tiny tech tree and realize there is 0 replayability.”
  • music34 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable and well-suited to the game's atmosphere, while others describe it as repetitive and distracting. Many users suggest that the background music is decent but recommend turning it off in favor of personal playlists for a better experience. Overall, while the soundtrack has its merits, it lacks variety and can become monotonous over time.

    • “The soundtrack is pretty good; it also makes pleasant 'lab sounds' as the machines work and as you scroll and click through the menus.”
    • “Music is great (though I wish there was more); the game is virtually without bugs in my experience, art is good, there is nothing gimmicky about this title, and it's overall a very enjoyable experience with just the right amount of challenge for a more casual game.”
    • “The music is absolutely perfect for the subject matter; the UI is one of the cleanest and most functional I've ever seen, and like most good factory-themed games, seeing your products move down conveyor belts and through wacky machines en masse is an absolute delight.”
    • “The music is your plain vanilla-flavored background beeping and bopping, which is probably what you want when you’re trying to concentrate on the finer points of chemistry and marketing.”
    • “I tend to turn the music down in games like this because it becomes more of a distraction than an enhancement, and big pharma is no different.”
    • “The main downside is the repetitive music, but this is easily fixed by turning it off and playing your own music outside the game.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The optimization aspect of the game is highly praised, with players enjoying the challenge of resource management and space optimization, likening it to a complex puzzle that rewards meticulous planning and strategy. While the game has a steep learning curve and requires significant number crunching for advanced play, it offers satisfying gameplay for those who appreciate efficiency and production optimization. Overall, it appeals to fans of management and simulation genres, though some players question its value at full price.

    • “That said, I personally love games that have me start to dissect each resource and try to build out optimized paths.”
    • “A very comprehensive management/simulation/factory game that requires a lot of strategy, not only from a floor space perspective, but also for optimization of processes, a degree of cost/benefit analysis, workforce management, and some degree of business sense to be successful at the expert level.”
    • “It took me a while to get acclimated with all the tools and important optimization aspects to be mindful of, as I feel like it has a high learning curve, but hanging in there is more than worthwhile.”
    • “Every small optimization found is a substantial reward to the player, and as it gets more and more difficult to make your line more efficient, finding the smallest and sometimes very insignificant improvement offers a great feeling of satisfaction from your puzzle-solving prowess.”
    • “No, this is a production optimization game in the same vein as Factorio, where space and time are your limiting resources, and your goal is to build complex production lines as efficiently as possible.”
  • grinding24 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is often described as a mix of fun and frustration, with many players finding it initially engaging but ultimately tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the complexity and challenge of micromanaging systems, others feel that the constant back-and-forth navigation and inefficient mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction and burnout. Overall, the grinding experience can be rewarding for those who thrive on intricate setups, but it frequently becomes a burdensome chore for many players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Tedious, frustrating, long boring, dunno why I can't stop playing.”
    • “Unfortunately, interactions feel tedious: there's a lot of unnecessary moving back and forth between screens to find information I need to make decisions but don't find where I need them... machine shapes make space usage feel very inefficient, which goes against my desire to optimize for fun, and leaves me dissatisfied with how any of the production lines look.”
    • “The conveyor belt building is tedious and extremely repetitive, and the business side of the game is almost non-existent.”
  • humor17 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of silly and dark elements, with players finding amusement in the absurdity of creating drugs that have ironic effects, such as curing migraines while causing headaches. While some appreciate the lighthearted approach and funny naming of ingredients, others feel the game lacks depth in its satirical commentary on the pharmaceutical industry and can be too realistic to be genuinely funny. Overall, it offers a humorous twist on a business simulation, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and execution.

    • “Besides that, the naming of the ingredients is hilarious.”
    • “Creating a drug that cured migraines and caused headaches made me laugh out loud a bit more than I probably should have.”
    • “Are you looking for a great puzzle game where you strain your brain to create awesome production lines, produce hilarious drugs, and constantly have to evolve to meet interesting challenges?”
    • “Not funny....”
    • “I got highly disappointed with the game - it's unfunny and offers poor explanations of the game's functions.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The stability of the game is highly inconsistent, with many users reporting frequent freezes, mouse cursor flickering, and overall bugginess that detracts from the experience. While some players have noted a lack of significant bugs during their sessions, the majority express frustration over performance issues, particularly when alt-tabbing or during extended gameplay. Overall, the game appears to be a mixed bag in terms of stability, with ongoing concerns about its reliability.

    • “Actually, the game has been bug-free the entire time I've played, which is quite something nowadays in non-finished, rushed-to-market games.”
    • “The game is very polished and free of glitches and bugs.”
    • “However, alt-tabbing out of the game occasionally freezes my entire PC, and the only way to solve that is by force closing the game, which is quite annoying.”
    • “Mouse cursor flickers like mad; I can barely play the game. Every update seems to make it even more buggy, and it's very off-putting waiting and hoping it will get fixed.”
    • “This game is still a buggy mess.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional responses to the game are largely negative, with users expressing strong disapproval and a sense of disappointment, indicating that the experience was unfulfilling or distressing. One user even suggests a deep-seated aversion, stating they won't engage with the game again.

  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is heavily influenced by advertising strategies that prioritize market control features over research and development, leading to a focus on consumer manipulation rather than genuine innovation. Despite this, players express enjoyment of the game's mechanics and features, suggesting that the monetization model does not detract from the overall experience.

  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a beautifully-animated, relaxed environment complemented by a pleasant soundtrack. It effectively balances clarity and aesthetic appeal, providing players with clear goals while maintaining an uncluttered visual design.

    • “It gives you the tutorial, has a nice atmospheric soundtrack, looks good, is not cluttered, and sets some goals for you to aim for, which I like.”
    • “It's a beautifully animated game that presents a relaxed puzzle atmosphere and provides you with almost all of the information you'll need up front.”
    • “The game lacks a cohesive atmosphere, making it difficult to immerse myself in the experience.”
    • “Despite the beautiful graphics, the overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired.”
    • “The sound design is underwhelming, which detracts from the intended atmosphere of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

11hMedian play time
22hAverage play time
7-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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