Prison Empire Tycoon－Idle Game

About

"Prison Empire Tycoon" is an idle game where you manage a prison and work to expand it into a high-security facility. Meet the basic needs of your inmates, such as providing comfortable cells and recreational activities, to prevent riots and escape plans. Make smart business decisions and invest in improvements to increase your reputation and become a successful prison tycoon.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Prison Empire Tycoon－Idle Game screenshot

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,000 reviews

gameplay156 positive mentions

monetization2.6k negative mentions

Engaging gameplay with a fun prison management concept.
Optional ads for bonuses, allowing players to choose their experience.
Good graphics and a variety of upgrades to keep players interested.

Frequent riots occur when players return after being offline, regardless of upgrades.
Ads often fail to load or crash the game, leading to lost progress and frustration.
Progression slows significantly after completing the first prison, requiring excessive waiting for rehabilitated prisoners.

monetization
2,978 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
4%
89%
The monetization strategy of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the heavy reliance on ads for progression. While some appreciate the option to watch ads for bonuses and extra cash, others find the frequency and length of ads excessive, often leading to crashes and loss of rewards. In-app purchases, particularly for removing ads, are considered overpriced by many, creating a perception of the game as a cash grab. Overall, while the game offers a fun experience, the monetization model has left some players feeling dissatisfied.
- “I was really leery of paying so much for no ads, but it's very freeing.”
- “I paid for no ads because it is way better.”
- “I highly suggest buying the beginners deal and no ads, it helps a lot.”
- “It's extremely slow and feels like you can only earn enough when you start watching ads.”
- “Unfortunately, I have to give a one star because I had a couple of prisons built up and suddenly it wouldn't let me watch ads for x2 money anymore.”
- “The ads are frustrating, and you have to pay quite a bit to get rid of them.”
stability
373 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with frequent reports of freezing, crashing, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. Many players experience issues particularly when watching ads or transitioning between game elements, leading to frustration and loss of progress. While some users report minimal glitches, the overall consensus indicates that the game requires urgent fixes to improve its stability and user experience.
- “So far this game has worked as expected, no glitches, and you can move up rather quickly without having to spend your own money to upgrade.”
- “No glitches and runs fast with or without Wi-Fi!”
- “Solid premise of a game, I've seen no glitches.”
- “I am currently experiencing an issue on the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G where at the end of the alien event the game freezes for days, making it completely unplayable. I have tried killing the app or uninstalling, and every time I load in it goes to the alien map and everything is frozen. This has happened with the past two alien events.”
- “The game freezes every time you try to triplicate [I hoard the gems], and then you are forced to quit the game and lose any money that you made while not in the app.”
- “I really like the game but it's impossible to keep your prisoners happy because the game glitches and my cooks don't feed my prisoners. I can't wait for this to be fixed; I'll be playing it all the time.”
gameplay
357 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, with many players enjoying its idle mechanics and management aspects. However, there are significant concerns regarding bugs, slow progression, and a heavy reliance on ads, which detracts from the overall experience. Players express a desire for more depth, customization options, and improvements to mechanics to enhance engagement and reduce frustration.
- “The gameplay itself is well made and easy to learn.”
- “Gameplay is rewarding sometimes, and ads are 'optional'.”
- “I love the gameplay and the fact there aren't any forced ads.”
- “The gameplay is a little slow and the screen is very cluttered with in-app purchases.”
- “The game is fun to pass the time, but it seems like there is a 30-second ad for every 10 seconds of gameplay.”
- “It's an amazing game but my issue is that every time you leave the game there's always gonna be a riot and it messes with gameplay.”
graphics
308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
28%
4%
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users appreciating the cute and simple art style, as well as the overall visual quality. However, some players have noted that the graphics could be improved, particularly in terms of detail and realism, with comparisons to older or blocky styles. Overall, while the graphics are considered enjoyable and fitting for the game's theme, there is a consensus that enhancements could elevate the experience further.
- “The graphics are stunning, mechanics are great, simple controls and yet the game is complex.”
- “The graphics are great for a tycoon, the income is easily obtainable, and the design is good.”
- “Love the graphics, sound design and gameplay :3 I spent 11.99€ to skip ads so the game experience is better; great value too.”
- “Graphics leave a lot to be desired considering the age of tech these days.”
- “The graphics are reminiscent of Minecraft and very blocky.”
- “I didn't enjoy playing this game because the graphics suck, and I didn't know what to do next.”
story
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
84%
2%
The game's story is generally well-received, with players appreciating its engaging themes and mission-based structure. However, many users express frustration over repetitive gameplay and a lack of new content, such as additional prisons and missions, which can lead to boredom once the initial objectives are completed. Additionally, technical issues, such as glitches affecting mission rewards and progress, detract from the overall experience.
- “Great story, continues to get better.”
- “Really good storyline and a lot more in depth than all the others.”
- “The story is quite cool and realistic.”
- “I'd give it 4 stars but I either caught up with the story or something is wrong with the app because I have a ton of money and nothing I can spend it on.”
- “It's basically just the normal reskin of a linear upgrade path that has no real goal except to just upgrade things; there's no story, there's no challenges or anything to do other than upgrade the prison and hire guards.”
- “The game was good at first but now when I try to accept the mission it stays stuck on saying waiting for server.”
grinding
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, especially after the initial stages, with many expressing frustration over slow progression and the need to watch ads for in-game currency. While some enjoy the challenge and see it as a necessary part of the gameplay, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like an ad simulator than a game. Suggestions for improvement include increasing offline earnings and allowing for better zoom functionality to ease navigation.
- “I remember that the option of ads gave you way more money, making the overall progress not tedious.”
- “Other than those two things, I love this game; it's fun and not too tedious. I highly recommend this app.”
- “It's not tedious like some build time games are.”
- “The game is enjoyable for the first 2 areas, then the fun comes to a grinding halt.”
- “After buying all the upgrades to everything but not having hit the target number of reformed prisoners yet, it gets a bit tedious to just have to wait it out.”
- “Very quickly the pay wall hits with slow boring tedious progression.”
humor
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
91%
9%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the absurdity of managing a prison and the antics of prisoners and guards to be genuinely funny. Many reviews highlight the amusing situations that arise, such as riots and quirky character interactions, which keep the gameplay entertaining despite some frustrations with ads and game balance. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a fun experience for players.
- “It's funny, you try to manage the facility & rehabilitate the prisoners; there are riots and lots of things to upgrade.”
- “I can't keep my eyes off the game. The animations that the characters have are amazing; it's funny seeing how they interact with things.”
- “Love the riots; they're hilarious!”
- “This game is so badly unbalanced it's not funny; you can spend as much money as you like, but it only speeds up the process of having nothing to do but just wait.”
- “I keep trying to enter the game, but it kicks me out. I had to delete it and redownload it, but it did the same. Then I sent a report; I don't know if you guys have seen it, but it is not funny at all.”
- “Are the 'guests' tortured while I'm not looking? Is that some kind of joke? Not funny at all.”
optimization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The optimization of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting significant performance issues when the app is not actively monitored, leading to problems like lag, crashes, and unsatisfactory AI behavior for prisoners and staff. While some players experience smooth gameplay during active sessions, the overall performance deteriorates when the game is left unattended, resulting in negative consequences for in-game management. Users are calling for improvements in optimization to enhance the gaming experience, particularly regarding loading times and offline performance.
- “Runs smoothly, no locking up.”
- “The prison empire tycoon with good performance graphics for Android.”
- “Addicting and fun when everything runs smoothly.”
- “There's no optimization; it runs very poorly, and I feel like other prisons will be just as bad.”
- “Unfortunately, performance gets very slow and crashes often with no other apps running.”
- “The game needs more optimization, and the account should be checked and fixed because when I quit the game, it returned to the tutorial, losing my current progress.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players enjoying the soundtrack and describing it as good and engaging, while others express frustration over persistent sound issues, such as music and sound effects reactivating despite being turned off. Some users appreciate the soothing background music, but note that it can become repetitive, especially during lengthy tutorials. Overall, while the music enhances the gaming experience for some, technical glitches and sound settings need improvement.
- “Music is good and not annoying.”
- “Fun graphics, great gameplay, and even better soundtrack.”
- “My back is strained so I'm stuck in bed and this game has made the time fly, easy to play and soothing background music.”
- “A couple of frustrating things is that even if you turn off sound effects and music and leave the game, every time you return the sound effects are back on.”
- “Some bugs need fixing like how the game music continues to play after exiting the game.”
- “They waste like 20 minutes of your time throughout the tutorial which is around 25 minutes long; blasting the same song on repeat over and over and over.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Overall, the game suffers from significant replayability issues, with many players expressing disappointment over the lack of content and options to restart or enhance their experience after reaching maximum progression. While some appreciate the variety of prisons available, the absence of meaningful incentives to replay or reset the game limits its long-term appeal. Despite its enjoyable gameplay, the high cost of in-game purchases and the need for an online connection further detract from its replay value.
- “Not many ads popping up in my face; it's fun and there's more than one prison for more playable content!”
- “I also like how it differs from other generic tycoons which lack replayability and overall, in my opinion, one of the best mobile games out there.”
- “All in all, it's a decent game; just wish there was a little more replay value.”
- “The issue affecting me now is a brick wall in replayability.”
- “All in all, it's a decent game, just wish there was a little more replay value.”
- “Doesn't have enough replayability.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express mixed feelings about the emotional aspect of the game. While some find it engaging and rewarding, fostering a sense of achievement, others feel frustrated by technical issues that detract from their enjoyment, leading to stress rather than relaxation. Overall, the emotional experience is hindered by gameplay interruptions and loading times.
- “It's a really great tycoon game; it made me feel that I needed to earn things over time.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Reviewers appreciate the immersive atmosphere of the game, highlighting the variety of prison environments, engaging scenarios, and animations that enhance the overall experience. Suggestions for improvements, such as a new menu design, indicate a desire for further atmospheric depth as players navigate different areas.
- “I enjoy the different prisons, scenario chances, animations, and the whole prison atmosphere!”
- “It is a good game; it has a great system you get the hang of, determining to upgrade or build a cell. Oh, and please get a new menu like a briefcase to add to the atmosphere of the game; it can change when in a new area.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “While the game has potential, the overall atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real sense of tension or excitement.”
- “The environments are repetitive and do not contribute to a compelling atmosphere, making it hard to stay engaged.”