Mad Games Tycoon

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,579 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Mad Games Tycoon Game Cover
Great game with pros and cons like any other game,but solid none the less. Great retro style game with fun and challenges i enjoyed it.
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Mad Games Tycoon is a business simulation game where you build and manage your own video game development company. Create and release your own games, while upgrading your office and competing with other companies to become the top game developer. Research new technology, recruit employees, and license game engines to stay ahead of the competition.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,579 reviews
gameplay96 positive mentions
music18 negative mentions
  • Mad Games Tycoon offers a deeper and more complex experience than Game Dev Tycoon, with extensive customization options for building and managing your game development studio.
  • The game features a variety of gameplay mechanics, including the ability to develop your own consoles, publish games, and manage multiple departments, providing a rich and engaging experience.
  • The developers are very active in updating the game, frequently adding new content and addressing community feedback, which enhances the overall gameplay experience.
  • The user interface can be clunky and unintuitive, making it difficult to navigate and manage your studio effectively, especially as it grows larger.
  • There is a lack of clear feedback on game performance and mechanics, leading to confusion about why certain games succeed or fail, which can be frustrating for players.
  • The game can become repetitive and easy once you establish a successful studio, with limited challenges or new content in the late game, reducing replayability.
  • gameplay350 mentions

    The gameplay of this game is characterized by its depth and complexity, offering a variety of mechanics that enhance the simulation experience, such as game engine creation and department management. While many players find the gameplay addictive and rewarding, there are criticisms regarding the lack of clear explanations for mechanics, leading to a steep learning curve and occasional frustration with balancing and review systems. Overall, the game is seen as a more refined and engaging alternative to similar titles, though it still requires further polish and balance to reach its full potential.

    • “The gameplay is well done.”
    • “Mad Games Tycoon is for sure one of those titles you'll need to read a few fan-made guides for, but once you get a handle on the gameplay, it's rather deep and fun.”
    • “There is a depth and completeness about the gameplay, the understanding of the market and the mechanics that makes it an instant classic.”
    • “I don't think repetitive gameplay can turn out to be fun here.”
    • “Yes, this game is more complex and in-depth but it is not fun and is hampered by constant glitches, broken gameplay, and bad design.”
    • “There is simply no real variety to the gameplay, no overall strategic decisions to make beyond 'how much money do I have to hire more people and build more rooms to make even bigger games'.”
  • graphics324 mentions

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they appear dated and lack variety, particularly in NPC designs. While some appreciate the simplicity and functionality of the visuals, others find them bland and lacking creative direction, suggesting that the game would benefit from a graphical overhaul. Overall, while the graphics may not be a strong selling point, many players feel that the engaging gameplay compensates for the visual shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are great.”
    • “It runs good, has good graphics, and is really deep.”
    • “Mad games tycoon keeps the graphics light and attractive, the music is decent if nondescript and throws an ever-increasing number of market options for the user.”
    • “The graphics and UI are a bit wonky at times, but the game runs well enough even on a meager machine.”
    • “It's really bland in the graphics department with no real creative direction or charm factor to it.”
    • “The graphics/UI is so bad that it actively hinders gameplay.”
  • story126 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth, with many reviewers noting that it does not offer a compelling narrative or engaging plot, often feeling like a linear experience. Players seeking a rich story will be disappointed, as the focus is primarily on gameplay mechanics and economic simulation rather than storytelling. While some appreciate the game's complexity and depth compared to similar titles, the absence of a meaningful story mode is a common point of contention.

    • “I started the game thinking 'wow, now I can write the kind of games that I would want to play!', but after a while I found myself adding excessive graphics at the expense of story, building space base simulations instead of fantasy RPGs and putting an excessive amount of work towards the sounds instead of working on the core gameplay.”
    • “It has more variety, it allows you to build rooms yourself, it has a wider range of training parameters, and the story is considerably longer than other tycoon games.”
    • “I hope there is a story mode version they add in when it's all said and done.”
    • “If you want a story, this game is not for you.”
    • “Unlike with Game Dev Tycoon, there's no 'story' to speak of.”
    • “Not a fan of branding a tycoon game by its graphics, soundtrack, or even story (since there's hardly any), since the gameplay is pretty much the important part of any tycoon game.”
  • music110 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and annoying over time, leading some to mute it and play their own music instead. While a few users appreciated the pleasant soundtrack, the general consensus is that the limited variety and simplistic nature of the music detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the music is often described as decent but ultimately forgettable, lacking the depth and engagement expected in a game of this genre.

    • “Beautiful atmospheric sounds and soundtrack.”
    • “Good soundtrack and events (fixed, random, rare special).”
    • “Mad Games Tycoon keeps the graphics light and attractive, the music is decent if nondescript and throws an ever-increasing number of market options for the user.”
    • “The music can get repetitive; however, you can just mute it and play your own in the background.”
    • “The music is fine but lacks tracks, which makes it repetitive.”
    • “It's cringeworthy and almost drives me insane every time, to the point that I muted all audio and just played music in the background.”
  • replayability88 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits high replayability, with many players enjoying the variety of strategies and tactics available. While some reviews note a lack of depth compared to other simulation titles, frequent updates and a range of topics to explore contribute to its addictive nature and extended playtime. However, a few users express concerns about potential replayability diminishing after updates cease, indicating a need for ongoing content to maintain interest.

    • “Mad Games Tycoon is a deep, thoughtfully-made, extremely fun and replayable game.”
    • “The game is hella fun, with endless replayability, and I believe it is now considered finished by the devs; it is definitely a full-fledged game.”
    • “I have a ton of hours in it already, and it has nearly limitless replayability.”
    • “Not a lot of replay value; seems to lack the depth of other sim titles.”
    • “Overall, I feel the game was fun for about 20 hours, but if I knew that it would be only one playthrough for me, I definitely wouldn't pay more than $10 for it, because I like my tycoon and management games to be much more replayable than this one.”
    • “The problem with this game is that it's going to have zero replayability after the constant updates stop, and they eventually will.”
  • humor46 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mix of clever genre combinations, funny NPC models, and subtle nods to 80s and 90s gaming culture, which may resonate more with nostalgic players. While some aspects, like translation errors and simplistic animations, can be amusing, others, such as generic logos, fall flat. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to generate hilariously named games and its lighthearted approach to simulating the game development industry.

    • “The game has tons of subtle hints of humor you may not catch unless you're familiar with the 80's and 90's gaming scene.”
    • “So this game lets you start your own company, develop games, consoles, and give them funny names of games that could never be made in real life, like Half-Life 3!”
    • “This early access game is already the most comprehensive, funny, and polished game in this niche category (video game development business simulations).”
  • stability40 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting it as largely bug-free and stable, especially for an early access title, while others have encountered various glitches and bugs that affect gameplay. Many users noted that while minor issues exist, the developers are actively working on updates to improve stability. Overall, the game is considered playable, but some players caution that it still has flaws that need addressing.

    • “For an early access game, it is extremely stable. No crashes; I played for 11 hours straight without a crash, and for me, it is bug-free. The gameplay is smooth, and the controls are simple and basic, which is always good in this style of game.”
    • “Yes, this game is more complex and in-depth but it is not fun and is hampered by constant glitches, broken gameplay, and bad design.”
    • “The menu for selecting which games to get reports from is buggy; there is no button to start the queue, the only way I could get it to start required checking off reports until the menu closed itself and the devs started writing them.”
    • “This game is still buggy; half the things are not working.”
  • grinding38 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious, especially in the late game where repetitive tasks and micromanagement can become overwhelming. However, some appreciate the depth added by the complexity and the option to automate certain tasks, which can alleviate some of the grind. Overall, while the game offers engaging elements, it can also feel like a time sink, particularly for those who prefer a more streamlined experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Training your staff is a very slow and tedious process that does not help much given how slow it is because of the limited number of training sessions.”
    • “In the late game, spending most of the time just going through menus to basically make a copy of an old game can feel tedious.”
    • “At which point a good chunk of the game becomes a tedious distraction, rather than something fun and interesting.”
  • optimization32 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, particularly in the late game when managing larger studios and more employees. While some users report improvements with each patch, others still experience slowdowns and demand for better optimization, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, while the core gameplay is praised, the optimization remains a concern that developers need to address.

    • “I love the engine optimization, and that you can sell your engine and actually make money off it.”
    • “I have had zero crashes so far and the performance of the game is almost perfect.”
    • “Edit: performance issues with having too many employees seems to be fixed or at least alleviated.”
    • “Until I see an update that fixes performance issues, I'm going to have to not recommend this game.”
    • “This game needs to be optimized to hell; everything else about it is amazing.”
    • “When you get a larger building and fill it with stuff, the game's performance drops through the floor.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke real-life feelings, including tears of joy. The simulation of the gaming industry fosters a positive engagement with virtual goods, enhancing the overall emotional experience of the gameplay.

    • “What a brilliant concept to offer gamers a simulation of the gaming industry, making sure that every player has a positive emotional connection to the virtual goods he deals with - games are fun!”
    • “I cried in real life.”
    • “I cried again, in real life.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by beautiful sounds and a captivating soundtrack, enhancing the immersive experience. However, some players feel it lacks a certain depth or "soul," with critiques pointing to missing sound effects and feedback that could elevate the overall ambiance. Despite these shortcomings, the diverse topics and features contribute positively to the atmosphere of the development journey.

    • “Beautiful atmospheric sounds and soundtrack.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is nice on its own and it has a lot of topics and genres and features for your development journey.”
    • “The ability to develop patches, updates, language packs, sequels, as well as undertaking contracts tugs on my perfectionist personality when it comes to games, so making sure they’re ‘up-to-date’ creates the atmosphere of me almost being there.”
    • “There's just something about it - it seems to be missing something: soul, atmosphere, appropriate sound effects, and game feedback.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy in the game has been criticized for feeling exploitative, with players likening it to cash grabs that prioritize profit over genuine engagement. Additionally, promotional options are perceived as lacking value, further detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Have some fun making MMO add-ons like 'the new hat' or 'the final cash grab' and make billions raking your loyal fan base over the hot coals.”
    • “The promotion/advertisement option doesn't feel worth it.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised, with players appreciating the depth of customization options and the ability to specialize in different types of game development. Additionally, the emphasis on managing finances adds a strategic layer to the character's growth, contributing to an overall positive experience.

    • “Character development, office customization, focusing on the type of game development you want to specialize in, managing your finances (the key is to be frugal too)... overall... A+++”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

90% average critic score

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Play time

16hMedian play time
26hAverage play time
6-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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