Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown

About

Prison Tycoon 3: Lockdown is a prison management simulation game. As a warden, you're responsible for designing, building, and managing a maximum security prison. Oversee every detail, from cell blocks and inmate mess halls to visitation rooms and prison yards, while maintaining safety and order. Face challenges like gang wars, riots, and escapes, and balance the needs of inmates, staff, and your bottom line.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

20%

Audience ScoreBased on 102 reviews

music2 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The old school graphics and attention to detail in the prison design are appreciated by some players.
The game offers challenging gameplay and a free play mode that can be enjoyable for those who are patient.
Nostalgia plays a significant role in the enjoyment of the game for long-time fans.

The game is plagued by bugs, poor AI, and a lack of mod support, making it frustrating to play.
There is no tutorial or clear instructions, leaving new players confused and lost.
Many players find the game boring and tedious, with a slow pace and unresponsive mechanics.

graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the old-school aesthetic and attention to detail, while others criticize them as sub-par and drab, failing to enhance the overall experience. Many users note that the graphics were average for the release date in 2007, but their lack of polish, combined with poor UI and gameplay, detracts from player engagement. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant drawback, especially when coupled with gameplay issues.
- “I love the old school graphics; the way the developers thought of every detail of a prison is impressive.”
- “It was released in 2007, so don't expect 2014 graphics.”
- “The graphics are average for the release date, but they reflect the game's overall aesthetic.”
- “The graphics are sub-par (even when it was first released), the UI is almost worthless, no tutorial (let me say that I'm not a huge advocate for tutorials... I don't usually need every small detail explained over the course of a half hour, but this game really needs it), and worse of all... your prisoners will escape.”
- “Poor graphics, poorly designed camera angles, and really hard.”
- “The graphics are average for the release date, but when the gameplay is boring, the drab graphics don't do anything to help ignite your enthusiasm, and the same goes with the menus and other interface options.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's story is polarizing, with some users noting a lack of narrative depth, comparing it to casual games like "Candy Crush," while others praise it for having an epic storyline. However, the initial gameplay experience is hindered by unclear guidance on objectives, which detracts from the overall engagement with the story.
- “Epic story.”
- “Like playing 'Candy Crush' for the story.”
- “This game has no story.”
- “It's like playing 'Candy Crush' for the story.”
- “It doesn't even clearly show you which plot of land you should be building on, which is annoying as first impressions.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay introduces new mechanics such as suppressing prisoners and training guard dogs, but many players feel these additions are underwhelming and the overall experience feels rushed and unfinished. The average graphics and uninspired interface contribute to a lack of engagement, with some players noting it takes a significant amount of time to grasp the game's objectives.
- “Adding new game mechanics like the ability to suppress a fleeing or violent prisoner, training guard dogs, and confining your prisoners to their cells was a decent change.”
- “Adding new game mechanics like the ability to suppress a fleeing or violent prisoner, training guard dogs, and confining your prisoners to their cells was a decent change; however, the game appears to be somewhat rushed and unfinished.”
- “The graphics are average for the release date, but when the gameplay is boring, the drab graphics don't do anything to help ignite your enthusiasm, and the same goes for the menus and other interface options.”
- “It wasn't until close to 7 hours of gameplay that I had that 'ahhh, so that's what you have to do' moment, and I've played a lot of tycoon/simulation games before.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality, particularly the nostalgic wild west themes, earning a perfect score from some players. However, there are significant issues reported with sound functionality, including crashes and non-working audio, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The music is top-notch in my book.”
- “Oh yeah, and let me tell you that same old wild west music gets a 5 out of 5 in my book. Thanks, guys, for making one of the best tycoons out there!”
- “The sound doesn't work, nor does the music; it randomly crashes.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, particularly with guard AI getting stuck. Users report that the user interface is poor, and the overall experience feels unfinished, akin to an alpha version.
- “It is incredibly buggy, and the guards get stuck easily somewhere. The only way to fix this is to literally destroy the building and rebuild.”
- “Poor UI, poor guard AI, and buggy as an alpha.”
- “This game is mind-numbingly boring and very buggy.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, particularly due to the inefficiency of farming tasks that require repetitive clicking on items located outside the prison, making the process feel tedious and cumbersome.
- “Work details such as farming are unusable, since the farm is outside your prison.”
- “Having to click on every single one is a tedious task.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Users highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs without losing its appeal.
- “The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
- “I find myself coming back to this game time and time again; the replayability is outstanding.”
- “Every run feels fresh and exciting, making it a game I can play endlessly.”