Empire TV Tycoon

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 450 reviews
  • monetization
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Empire TV Tycoon Game Cover
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Empire TV Tycoon is a simulation game where you build and manage your own television network. Create and schedule diverse programming, hire staff, and upgrade your channels to increase viewership and revenue. Compete with other networks, overcome challenges, and strive for ratings dominance in this engaging tycoon experience.

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Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 450 reviews
gameplay21 positive mentions
monetization87 negative mentions
  • Empire TV Tycoon is a fun homage to the classic Mad TV, offering engaging gameplay where players manage a TV station and create their own shows.
  • The game features a variety of real movies and TV shows, adding a layer of nostalgia and humor that resonates with fans of the genre.
  • The developers are actively updating the game, responding to community feedback, and adding new features, which enhances the overall experience.
  • The game can become repetitive quickly, as the core mechanics do not change significantly over time, leading to a lack of long-term engagement.
  • The audience mechanics can feel random and frustrating, making it difficult to plan programming effectively and often resulting in financial penalties.
  • The user interface can be cumbersome, requiring players to navigate through an elevator system that disrupts the flow of gameplay.
  • monetization87 mentions

    The monetization system in the game is heavily reliant on advertisements, which are often criticized for being confusing, poorly scaled, and not effectively tied to viewership metrics. Players must navigate a complex web of audience demographics and advertising contracts, with many expressing frustration over the high percentage requirements for ad viewership and the randomness of ad availability. While the core concept of managing a TV station and maximizing ad revenue is engaging, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a challenging and sometimes frustrating gameplay experience.

    • “The ads don't scale correctly.”
    • “Advertisements require a certain amount of viewers and you have 2 or 3 days to air a certain amount of blocks to fulfill the contract and get paid; if you fail, you lose money.”
    • “The most annoying thing is the advertising requirements.”
  • gameplay83 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the fun and engaging mechanics of managing a TV channel and producing content, while others criticize the repetitive nature and lack of depth after initial play. Many appreciate the simplicity of the mechanics, but feel that the game could benefit from additional features and clearer explanations, as well as a campaign mode to enhance longevity. Overall, while the game offers a unique tycoon experience, its limitations in gameplay variety and mechanics have left some players wanting more.

    • “Cute game, honestly pretty fun gameplay with entertaining dialogue.”
    • “Has a unique addictive gameplay loop of being a TV channel scheduler and a movie producer, all in one package.”
    • “The mechanics are fun, and the game is laden with little film and TV references right through it.”
    • “The gameplay you get when you first start is pretty much the same gameplay when you finish, so it can get pretty stale over an extended session.”
    • “There are so few events and after 10 hours of gameplay basically you're done with everything.”
    • “Overall gameplay is simple - after my second playthrough I had already 'won' the default game, and had moved onto custom and setting up harder win options.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics in the game are generally described as basic and simplistic, often compared to retro pixel art styles, which some players find charming while others consider them lacking in detail and legibility. While the visual representation of demographics through animated characters is appreciated, the overall aesthetic does not impress everyone, with some reviewers noting that the graphics can be busy and difficult to interpret. Overall, the graphics serve their purpose in a management sim context but leave room for improvement in clarity and visual appeal.

    • “The graphics are excellent.”
    • “Delightful retro graphics and pixelated wonders!”
    • “The mechanics are a more approachable and intuitive version of Game Dev Tycoon, and the pixel visuals are perfect for what the game is; an addicting, well-written, gamely executed contribution to the tycoon genre.”
    • “The graphics are pretty basic and are mostly limited to the empire TV building and looking at one's own time slots trying to figure out what should be shown.”
    • “I can't say much about the gameplay because unfortunately the text and game graphics were incredibly small with no option of making it bigger, so for me, with a kind of bad eyesight that glasses don't fix, it was basically unplayable.”
    • “The visuals are so busy at times that you can't tell what's what.”
  • story22 mentions

    The game's story aspect is characterized by a lighthearted and humorous narrative that unfolds through quirky events and random quests, adding a layer of entertainment to the management simulation. While players appreciate the engaging mechanics and the amusing plot generator, some criticize the overall lack of depth in the story and repetitive missions, which detract from the experience. Ultimately, the narrative serves as a backdrop to the gameplay rather than a central focus, leading to mixed feelings about its impact on the overall enjoyment.

    • “There's also cute little narrative touches, like the random events that pop up when you're producing content, story events that weave a goofy tale of the hijinks and potential catastrophes involved with your upcoming movie/tv series.”
    • “The game mechanisms are original enough to attract interest; the basic idea is fun, and I especially love that frantic feeling of the day: you have to check the situation in real time to make last-minute corrections, getting films and TV series done... by the way, love the automatic plot generator, you get extremely funny gems.”
    • “Pro: the TV plot generator is hilarious.”
    • “Comparing the two, the most obvious downfalls are the lack of story and movie production.”
    • “The plot and other aspects of the show mean nothing.”
    • “It's you trying to cater to a random audience and trying to do small missions that barely make sense and are very repetitive.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it nostalgic and enjoyable, particularly the main menu theme, while others describe it as repetitive and annoying. Many appreciate the option to mute the music, which is seen as a necessary feature due to its looping nature. Overall, while the soundtrack has its charm, it can become grating over extended play sessions.

    • “The nostalgia is very strong in this one - the menu music already is a blatant ripoff of the original music, you will feel right at home.”
    • “Great relaxing music corresponds with the various shows, or you can mute the show volume for some nice background music.”
    • “Great gameplay, and as a bonus, the soundtrack is also pretty great.”
    • “The sounds are basic, but the music that plays during shows is quite annoying. Fortunately, the developers are aware of this, which is why the game's music can be muted.”
    • “The nostalgia is very strong in this one - the menu music is a blatant ripoff of the original music; you will feel right at home.”
    • “My one gripe is the music and sounds - repetitive and annoying.”
  • humor18 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a quirky, retro style that resonates well with players, often drawing laughs from its clever references to real-world movies and TV shows. While some reviews note a lack of the original's charm, many appreciate the game's funny community mods and the amusing plot generator that produces entertaining scenarios. Overall, the lighthearted approach to the tycoon genre, combined with its engaging gameplay mechanics, contributes to a humorous experience that players find enjoyable.

    • “A bit weird retro sense of humor is strong in this one.”
    • “It's a funny, lighthearted take on the 'tycoon' genre, and while the TV premise might not sound interesting, the game delivers it very well!”
    • “The channels and the people we see watching those channels are hilarious.”
  • replayability17 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it enjoyable with various difficulty levels and customization options that enhance replay value, others criticize it for lacking depth and variety, especially without mods. Recent updates and the introduction of a workshop for mods have improved its replayability, but opinions vary on whether it meets expectations for a game released over 20 years later. Ultimately, it offers fun and replayability for some, but may not satisfy those seeking a more robust experience.

    • “This game is super fun and is easily replayable!”
    • “A lot of factors to deal with and tons of replayability.”
    • “Well put together strategy game with good replay value.”
    • “But I would expect much more replayability and depth from a game that came out more than 20 years later.”
    • “It's a quarter decent simulator with not much time put into it; replayability without mods is subpar, and the music is absolutely horrible and extremely annoying.”
    • “If it's cheap, it's a good bit of fun, but if you're looking for a half decent, replayable sim, sorry, this is just not going to cut it.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious and time-consuming, with constant adjustments to schedules and a cumbersome UI contributing to a frustrating experience. While some elements are simple to manage, the overall gameplay feels drawn out and lacks enjoyment, leading to a perception of the game as more of a chore than a fun activity.

    • “It's not bad but a playthrough feels overlong, and your knowledge of audience demographics for time slots updates throughout the day, so you're just fiddling and tweaking with your schedule constantly until it becomes tedious.”
    • “This game is extremely tedious.”
    • “It's just... too much about grinding and not entertaining.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The optimization of the program significantly improves by the seventh day, regardless of prior performance levels, suggesting a notable enhancement in quality and efficiency. Users express that this transformation can lead to exceptional results, akin to a standout performance.

    • “On the seventh day (advanced level), they will dramatically increase the quality of the program, no matter what kind of performance they had until then.”
    • “On the seventh day (advanced level), they will dramatically increase the quality of the program no matter what kind of performance they had until then.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is noted to be unconventional, with users describing the character designs as strange, suggesting a unique but potentially polarizing approach to character aesthetics.

    • “The character designs are strange.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and unengaging.”
    • “I found the characters to be one-dimensional and lacking depth.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report that while advertisements function, they often impose overly restrictive requirements and can be buggy, leading to instances where meeting the criteria does not register correctly.

    • “Advertisements work but are too restrictive in their requirements and can be buggy. Most of the time, I would meet the requirements, but it would not count.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game is considered a secondary element, contributing to the overall experience but not deemed essential by players.

    • “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a haunting atmosphere that keeps you on edge.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is rich and evocative, making every moment feel significant.”
    • “Overall, this wasn't so important, but it added some atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Empire TV Tycoon

Play time

9hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
7-40hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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