Evil Genius

Any run-of-the-mill secret agent can save the world, but to achieve global domination, it takes an Evil Genius. That's you in this campy, real-time gamepart James Bond, part The Simswhich pokes fun at classic 1960s spy thrillers. You'll build a secret lair, fight off government spies, tr

91%Game Brain Score

humor, gameplay

stability, grinding

94% User Score Based on 4,508 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Evil Genius is a single player economy real-time strategy game with comedy and economy themes. It was developed by Elixir Studios and was released on June 21, 2009. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Evil Genius" is a real-time strategy game where you take on the role of a criminal mastermind, building your own secret lair and carrying out evil schemes. Recruit and train minions, defend against enemy agents, and expand your lair to become the ultimate evil genius. The game offers a tongue-in-cheek take on the spy genre, with plenty of humor and pop culture references.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,508 reviews

humor516 positive mentions

stability114 negative mentions

Unique and humorous take on the spy genre, allowing players to be the villain.
Engaging base-building mechanics with a variety of traps and minion types.
Timeless charm and style that has aged well, making it enjoyable even years after release.

Clunky interface and dated graphics that may deter modern players.
Slow pacing and lack of a speed-up feature can lead to tedious gameplay.
AI issues with minions and enemy agents can result in frustrating gameplay experiences.

humor
518 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever, tongue-in-cheek style, drawing inspiration from classic spy films like James Bond and comedies such as Austin Powers. Players appreciate the hilarious animations, quirky traps, and witty dialogue that create a light-hearted atmosphere, making the gameplay both entertaining and engaging. Despite some dated graphics and occasional gameplay frustrations, the humor remains a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, ensuring it remains enjoyable even years after its release.
- “One of the game's greatest strengths is its blend of strategy and humor.”
- “The game has an incredible amount of humor and charm that modern franchise games often lack.”
- “It's a spy-thriller themed base-builder, with great humor and fun gameplay.”
- “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
- “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
gameplay
442 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The gameplay of "Evil Genius" is a mix of base-building, resource management, and strategic planning, set against a humorous spy-themed backdrop. While the game offers engaging mechanics and a colorful cast of characters, many players find it suffers from bugs, slow pacing, and a lack of clarity in its systems, which can lead to frustration. Despite these issues, the core gameplay loop remains enjoyable and addictive, especially for fans of the genre, particularly when enhanced by community mods that address some of its shortcomings.
- “Gameplay is great, you can conquer the world, build a base, train different types of minions, do different kinds of nefarious deeds and what not.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, the premise is amazing, and there is enough versatility that the game has good replayability.”
- “Solid gameplay with enough depth to maintain interest, an abundance of humor and crazy cliché characters like Red Ivan the henchman who'll blow your stuff up whilst 'defending' you or Evil Genius Alexis with her hunk bodyguards.”
- “From a badly planned gameplay element of jumping back and forth between the island and world screen to make sure your minions aren't all killed in a sudden agent rush to AI issues of your minions not doing anything or letting agents waltz in through doors they leave out of to the vast amounts of missing information that leaves the player in the dark about what exactly works and how it works to the dull linear campaign with no available sandbox mode to speak of.”
- “Regrettably, Evil Genius tantalizes players with a diverse array of options but cruelly stifles their freedom to explore alternative gameplay styles.”
- “It's just so terribly slow, so full of waiting and almost devoid of actual gameplay besides the base building that is also very, very slow once you spent your initial funds (because earning money in this game is also very slow and difficult).”
story
428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
82%
4%
The story of "Evil Genius" revolves around players taking on the role of an evil mastermind, tasked with building a secret lair and executing humorous, over-the-top missions to achieve world domination. While the narrative is largely driven by player choices and the comedic nature of the missions, it lacks depth and can feel repetitive, with gameplay often focused more on base management and mission execution than on a cohesive storyline. Despite its shortcomings, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, allowing for roleplay and creativity in plotting villainous schemes.
- “The humor, the animations, the story... absolutely brilliant!!”
- “Evil genius is one of those games that you can spend hours playing and get lost in its story lines and shiny things!!!”
- “This game is the perfect game for strategic base management with an interesting storyline to keep you playing.. can't wait for Evil Genius 2!”
- “However, the main plot devolves into a crawl as there's no speed-up button and you're constantly getting pounded by the super agents, that you can't kill but only imprison, only for them to break out and reappear again.”
- “The current way the minions plot and steal is boring and lame.”
- “The game is split between a base mode where all of the animated action takes place and a world map where you carry out missions that are solely a matter of numbers - you commit the designated number of agents of various types to a mission and watch their figures fall by attrition until they either succeed in the mission or fail.”
graphics
342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
60%
6%
The graphics of the game, while undeniably dated due to its 2004 release, have aged surprisingly well thanks to a charming, cartoonish art style that complements its humorous and nostalgic themes. Many players appreciate the vibrant colors and amusing animations, which contribute to the overall enjoyment despite some technical limitations. Overall, the visuals are considered decent for their time, appealing particularly to those who value gameplay and aesthetics over cutting-edge graphics.
- “The graphics are astounding in my opinion.”
- “Incredible art style and fantastic music and sound design.”
- “The graphics have aged well.”
- “The graphics in this game are of course outdated, and for the modern eyes of gamers it looks rather sad, but if you are an old gamer and remember the old school of cybersports, then for you this graphics will be like nostalgia for the past and something close to your soul.”
- “First of all, the ratio is still 4:3, which I could get over, but the graphics are bland, blocky, and somehow generally worse than the screenshots above would suggest.”
- “Graphics are shite no doubt about it and the actual gameplay is quite limited from today's viewpoint.”
music
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to capture the playful, retro aesthetic reminiscent of 60s spy films, particularly the James Bond franchise. While many reviewers praise the soundtrack as one of the best in gaming, some note that it can become repetitive during gameplay. Overall, the combination of excellent sound design and thematic music significantly enhances the game's atmosphere and humor, making it a standout feature.
- “The music score is amazing; the late James Hannigan won a BAFTA nomination for this game's music - and it really sets the mood as a playful James Bond-esque environment.”
- “The art style, music, gameplay, all perfect.”
- “Evil Genius is an original game, with an excellent soundtrack and brings an amazing feeling of evil to us all.”
- “The music gets repetitive in the actual game; only the menu music is actually very good, but you still need the music on or it seems to mute the audio cues for when a super agent arrives to attack you.”
- “Music and sound are both low-key; the music during gameplay is on the same song and same loop, it won’t really grab your attention and is decent ambiance.”
- “The only other thing I would want to improve on is the music for the game.”
stability
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game is widely regarded as buggy, with many players noting various glitches and issues that can disrupt gameplay, particularly as they progress further into the game. While some find the bugs charming or manageable, others report serious problems, including save file corruption and frustrating mechanics. Overall, players recommend being prepared for these issues, with some suggesting downloading patches or using mods to enhance stability.
- “Maybe that's part of the humor, but overall the game is incredible and the mechanics are smooth as well as bug free, considering the complexity of the game. At the time, that was awesome.”
- “Though seriously, this is a fantastic game and despite its obvious graphic shortcomings, it is a much more complete, bug free, and enjoyable game than others five times its price.”
- “This is one of those games that I pray gets a sequel that it deserves and one that isn't as buggy.”
- “Expect there to be glitches and remember to disable autosave to avoid one that crashes the game and can ruin your save file.”
- “As I said, the game is buggy and unfortunately there is a certain research-related bug 20-30 hours into the game that in the end corrupted my save file which is now unloadable.”
- “The gameplay in Evil Genius can be very finicky, often buggy, and worst of all the game does not respect your time.”
replayability
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
"Evil Genius" is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of play styles, base-building options, and character choices that keep the experience fresh even after many years. Players appreciate the game's charm and humor, noting that despite a linear campaign, the different strategies and combinations available provide substantial replay value. Overall, it remains a beloved title for those who enjoy strategy games, with many considering it a staple in their gaming library.
- “Evil Genius is now over 13 years old and yet it still retains a huge amount of playability and indeed replayability.”
- “Just know that if you're the type who wants endless play, at least here there's a strong amount of variation based on your choices (the actual genius you use, the henchmen you employ, and specific plans you pursue) that you can get some decent replayability out of the game.”
- “I consider replayability to be one of the greatest measures of a game, especially on PC, and this is one that will be in my library for the long haul, up there with Sins of a Solar Empire, Duke Nukem, AOE 2, C&C RA2, etc. You know those games where you may not play them for a while, but you always find yourself coming back to reinstall and play them... well this is no doubt one of those.”
- “There is not much immediate replay value in the game; however, after some time away, it is always great to return to it and play a great strategy game in the manner of Dungeon Keeper mixed with a little Theme Hospital as you try to keep your base safe and secure from enemy agents and keep it all running smoothly so that things don't back up and you end up with a bunch of unhappy, thieving minions.”
- “The only fault this game really has is some glitches and replayability.”
- “Lacks a story and replay value, but still worth the price.”
grinding
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly during missions and resource collection. While some appreciate the colorful characters and overall fun, others express frustration with the slow pacing, unclear mechanics, and the need for extensive micromanagement. Overall, players suggest that the game could benefit from tweaks to reduce the grind and enhance the experience.
- “If you can tolerate the bugs long enough, you will find a tedious game that punishes you without clear reason why or without any apparent way to retaliate or do better.”
- “But the game is so broken and grindy, it's extremely frustrating.”
- “Game has numerous tedious mechanics, slow pacing, lack of time controls, and problems with scale.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
19%
12%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive recreation of 60s and 70s spy film aesthetics, enhanced by an excellent soundtrack and stylized graphics. Players appreciate the humor, unique visual details, and the fun of embodying a villainous character, all contributing to a captivating and enjoyable experience reminiscent of classic spy narratives. Overall, the combination of engaging missions, charming animations, and a playful tone creates a memorable and atmospheric gaming environment.
- “Incredibly atmospheric, excellent music.”
- “Atmospherically this captures the feel of the 60s Bond movies perfectly and who doesn't want to build their own evil volcano lair, I ask you!”
- “The theme, the characters, the atmosphere right out of that classic '60s era of 007 & Dr. No... for me it all adds up to a really fun gaming experience.”
- “The 60's and 70's atmosphere combined with spy movies and a Dungeon Keeper-like game feels disjointed and lacks coherence.”
- “While the stylized graphics aim to create a lasting impression, they ultimately fall flat and do not enhance the atmosphere as intended.”
- “The attempt to capture the classic '60s era of spy films feels superficial and fails to immerse players in a compelling atmosphere.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly without major issues, it suffers from outdated performance and graphics. Players often find themselves waiting excessively for in-game actions, such as recruiting and training minions, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the artificial intelligence is notably poor, further impacting gameplay.
- “It runs smoothly and with no issues!”
- “No matter how well optimized your base is, you will spend most of the game waiting endlessly for minions to be recruited, trained, and outfitted so you can attempt missions.”
- “It's a little bit dated, where graphics and performance are concerned, and once you get the hang of how to play the game, it seems like a fairly linear grindfest where to do x you need to do y, with very little variation.”
- “Its most glaring transgression lies in the hopelessly inept performance of its AI.”
- “The last thing I'll comment upon is that the game hasn't aged well in terms of performance.”
- “It's a little bit dated, where graphics and performance are concerned, and once you get the hang of how to play the game, it seems like a fairly linear grindfest where to do X you need to do Y, with very little variation.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Reviews highlight a strong preference for games that prioritize fun over monetization, criticizing sequels as overpriced cash grabs. Players appreciate the absence of microtransactions, indicating a desire for a more straightforward gaming experience without additional costs.
- “When gaming was still fun and not a cash grab.”
- “Play this one instead of the overpriced cash grab that is the alleged sequel.”
- “And no microtransactions, obviously.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a mix of humor and satisfaction in their emotional experiences, finding joy in absurd actions like blowing up a state or shrinking iconic landmarks. These moments evoke a sense of empowerment and amusement, highlighting the game's ability to elicit strong, playful emotions.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Character development is praised for its humor, engaging objectives, and unique character designs, contributing to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
- “The character development is amazing, featuring great humor, fun objectives, and unique character designs.”
- “The character development is incredibly engaging, with a perfect blend of humor and creativity in the objectives and scenes.”
- “The unique character designs and humorous elements make the character development truly stand out.”