Rec Center Tycoon
- September 6, 2019
- Jarrod Brown
- 9h median play time
Get on SteamRec Center Tycoon is a management simulation game where you build and operate your own recreational facility. Design and customize the layout, hire staff, and offer various activities to attract and retain customers. Balance budget, improve facilities, and respond to community needs to grow your rec center into a successful business.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game has a lot of potential and offers a fun management experience, allowing players to build and manage a recreation center.
- The developer is responsive and actively updates the game, addressing bugs and adding new content, which shows commitment to improvement.
- Gameplay is engaging with a variety of features, including a tech tree and customer feedback system, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- The game has been criticized for being abandoned or lacking significant updates, with some players feeling it is stuck in early access without enough content.
- There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and UI problems, which can detract from the overall experience.
- Many players find the gameplay repetitive after a few hours, with limited long-term goals or challenges to keep them engaged.
- gameplay18 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and depth, allowing players to transform small gyms into thriving businesses through a progression system that requires strategic goal achievement. However, it is still in early access, with notable bugs and balance issues that can hinder the experience. Overall, while the core gameplay is enjoyable and complex, it requires further refinement to reach its full potential.
“Easy to understand, lots of stuff being added, the mechanics work pretty well.”
“Progression mechanic is one of the highlights - you research new stuff, but you have to first unlock research options by achieving specific goals and challenges.”
“For lovers of management sims, the overall gameplay is interesting enough to be a positive experience with features similar to those encountered in other management sims yet without seeming like a copycat of any one particular game.”
“There's tons of bugs and gameplay still needs work.”
“The core gameplay needs work and is rough around the edges.”
“Gameplay for each new center starts very slowly; you'll need to keep in mind that your income is very slow and deliberate, and don't make the mistake of taking out a loan you can't make payments on.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the cute art style and nostalgic 2D presentation, while others criticize the retro visuals as poor quality compared to modern standards. Despite the simplicity, many find the graphics charming and fitting for a lower-priced management sim, with decent performance on mid-level PCs. Overall, while not groundbreaking, the graphics contribute to an enjoyable and addictive gameplay experience.
“I love the relaxing vibe and the cute graphic appeal.”
“The graphics are brilliant--no weird blob bodies here.”
“The art style is cute without being silly.”
“The retro graphics are very poor quality and a huge letdown.”
“There's no real excuse for such poor quality graphics when developers are pumping out new, state of the art stuff like Metro: Exodus and Battlefield V, with ray tracing.”
“The graphics to [i]Rec Center Tycoon[/i] are on the short end of aesthetically pleasing, which is to be expected for a lower-priced management sim.”
- humor6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with many users finding it charming and filled with amusing details. Reviews highlight that the humor can be so bad it's funny, adding to the game's overall appeal. Players are encouraged to share their funny experiences, indicating a lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
“The ratings and reviews are so funny.”
“It's charming, detailed, loaded with little bits of humor, and a true gem.”
“Nice and funny game.”
“So bad, it's actually funny.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally enjoyable and sets a relaxing mood, but some players find it repetitive over time. The options menu allows for muting the game music while retaining in-game sounds, giving players the flexibility to listen to their own music instead. Overall, while the music enhances the experience, improvements could be made to keep it fresh.
“Very fun game to just relax and listen to music with; at least that's been my experience.”
“The music loop sets the mood of the game, but it can get old quickly.”
“The options menu gives the player the ability to mute the music (while keeping the in-game sounds if the player so chooses) and play their preferred brand of music.”
“The UI could use some sprucing up, and maybe someone should make better music for the game.”
“The music loop sets the mood of the game, but gets old quickly.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly in managing classes and finances. While some appreciate the option of bank loans to alleviate excessive grinding, others feel that the overall experience can become monotonous, especially for those who prefer a more streamlined approach. Despite these criticisms, some players are starting to enjoy the game after investing significant time into it.
“I found that setting classes was tedious and annoying; there should be a monthly calendar that we can use and not just a 4-day week.”
“A couple of things I would change: the self-manager control is a bit tedious and time-consuming, like The Sims, but kind of pointless.”
“Bank loans are possible, which dramatically cuts down on the mind-numbing amounts of grinding that not even a seasoned gamer could tolerate.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The current story aspect of Rec Center Tycoon lacks quests, missions, or objectives, but users remain optimistic due to ongoing updates and the developer's plans to introduce a story mode and sports tournaments in the future.
“I give it a positive recommendation because there are still updates, and it is possible that quests and sandbox mode will be available someday.”
“There aren't any quests or leveling up.”
“There are no missions, no objectives, and no time constraints in Rec Center Tycoon as of yet.”
“The developer is actively working to implement a story mode, as well as sports tournaments.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Users report significant performance issues during busy moments in the game, with performance stabilizing after events conclude. However, these improvements are often short-lived due to recurring interruptions, though there are no crashes or major performance problems overall.
“No crashes, no performance issues.”
“There seems to be some major performance issues when things get busy.”
“When the event ends, performance returns to normal.”
“That moment is often short-lived; however, periodic broken cables in your electric supply or occasional visits by guests peddling illegal performance-enhancing substances require immediate resolution and become tiresome with the frequency of their occurrence.”
- stability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is noted for its stability issues, with users frequently mentioning persistent bugs and glitches. Despite these problems, many players express a strong attachment to the game, indicating that they continue to enjoy it even in its early access state.
“I keep coming back to it, even though it is a buggy mess sometimes.”
“It's buggy as hell.”
“Some bugs and glitches still exist as well.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is still in early development, with some users expressing concerns about its potential to feel like a cash grab. There are suggestions for improvements, such as incorporating advertising to enhance customer acquisition challenges, and a desire for more streamlined gameplay mechanics.
“Lost cash grab”
“I think there may be a way of making it more challenging to get customers, such as through advertising. With that said, it's in early development and is being worked on. Hopefully, they add a click-and-do feature instead of controlling the character, as that aspect is not for me.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, as it immerses them in the experience of managing a company, with detailed micromanagement that enhances their connection to the gameplay. The sound design further elevates this emotional experience, contributing to an overall sense of realism, despite some minor issues.
“This is a great game that made me feel like I was really managing a company with all the micromanaging of prices of individual items in the cafe, vending machines, entertainment machines, etc. The sound design is almost perfect, with only minor issues.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the game's focus on mortality and survival contributes to its replayability, as players face diverse challenges that encourage multiple playthroughs.
“The game offers a unique experience with each playthrough, thanks to its dynamic environments and unpredictable challenges.”
“With multiple endings and diverse character paths, every run feels fresh and engaging, encouraging players to explore different strategies.”
“The variety of gameplay modes and customizable options ensures that no two sessions are ever the same, making it highly replayable.”
“Other games in the genre have mortality and survival as central concerns, which provides a certain level of staying power and replay value due to the various obstacles they present.”
“Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to go back. The story doesn’t change, and the gameplay feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying the game feel pointless, as you end up experiencing the same events without any variation.”
