Build-A-Lot

About

Build-A-Lot is a strategy game where you buy, build, and sell houses to become a real estate mogul. Upgrade homes with fun features and complete goals in Career mode, or improve neighborhoods at your own pace in Casual mode. Enjoy beautiful graphics, special buildings, and online high scores lists.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Build-A-Lot is a nostalgic and addictive game that has entertained players for over a decade.
The game offers a fun and challenging experience, testing players' multitasking and time management skills.
It features simple yet engaging gameplay, making it a great way to pass the time and enjoy a casual gaming experience.

The game frequently crashes and has issues with saving progress, leading to frustrating replaying of levels.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive and lacking in complexity, especially in later levels.
Technical problems, such as stuck squares on the screen, detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The music in "Build-a-Lot" is generally praised for its calming and cheerful qualities, particularly in the lakeside area, which is highlighted as having the best atmosphere and difficulty balance. While most tracks contribute to a relaxed mood, some players find certain sound effects to be slightly annoying. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the gameplay experience, making it more enjoyable and fulfilling, especially during challenging moments.
- “The music in Build-a-Lot puts you into a relaxed mood and is very calming (aside from the Granite Springs track). I will say hands down the area Lakeside has the best music, best atmosphere, and the right level of difficulty in the entire game.”
- “Overall, this is a solid building game with some nice graphics, music, and sound effects, along with solid gameplay.”
- “One last thing I want to touch on is the music.”
- “As for the soundtrack, it's very cheerful and the sounds can be a little annoying.”
- “The music in Build-a-Lot puts you into a relaxed mood and is very calming (aside from the Granite Springs track), and I will say hands down the area Lakeside has the best music, best atmosphere, and right level of difficulty in the entire game.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in the game are praised for their simplicity and timeless quality, effectively complementing the solid gameplay and sound design. While not cutting-edge, they remain appealing and relevant, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The simplicity in graphics and management style holds up even to this day.”
- “Overall, this is a solid building game with some nice graphics, music, and sound effects, along with solid gameplay.”
- “However, the graphics aren't really outdated.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The story is generally considered lacking in depth and excitement, with some levels feeling repetitive and not offering a significant narrative. However, there is optimism that future installments in the series will improve upon these shortcomings.
- “The story is lacking depth and feels repetitive in some levels, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “There isn't much of a story to engage with, making the gameplay feel monotonous at times.”
- “The narrative doesn't offer much variety, leading to a sense of repetition throughout the game.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is praised for its solid mechanics and nostalgic appeal, complemented by nice graphics, music, and sound effects, making it a well-rounded building game.
- “Overall, this is a solid building game with some nice graphics, music, and sound effects, along with solid gameplay.”
- “Bought the collection for the nostalgia, and the gameplay's still good!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in Build-a-Lot is characterized by calming and relaxing music, particularly highlighted in the Lakeside area, which is praised for its excellent ambiance and balanced difficulty. However, the Granite Springs track is noted as a less favorable exception.
- “The music in Build-a-Lot puts you into a relaxed mood and is very calming (aside from the Granite Springs track). I will say hands down, the area Lakeside has the best music, best atmosphere, and the right level of difficulty in the entire game.”