Rock God Tycoon
- February 13, 2017
- Panos Tzimas
- 18h median play time
In Rock God Tycoon, become a band's manager, leading your group to stardom by choosing members' disciplines, hiring bandmates, and firing those who underperform. Customize characters with over 300 detailed items, and manage finances by booking appropriate shows in 76 cities with unique venues. If needed, take the stage yourself to demonstrate the correct performance techniques.
Reviews
- The game has a fun and engaging concept, allowing players to manage a rock band and create their own songs.
- The developers are very responsive to community feedback and actively work on updates and improvements.
- The character customization and song creation features add depth and personalization to the gameplay.
- The game can be overly grindy, with repetitive tasks and a lack of meaningful progression after a certain point.
- There are frequent crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration.
- Some features feel incomplete or underdeveloped, such as the song editor and the overall management mechanics.
- music231 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the fun and simple song editor that allows for some creativity, but many find it tedious and repetitive over time. While the soundtrack is generally praised for its catchy tunes and fitting themes, some users feel that the limited variety and clunky interface detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game appeals to aspiring musicians and fans of music simulation, but it may not satisfy those looking for a more robust music creation experience.
“The song creator has enough variety to let you create a few unique songs, and you can even make them the soundtrack of the game.”
“The music throughout the game is epic with its high-fidelity metal riffs and melodic soloing.”
“The song editor is a really cool tool, albeit one you will probably only use once or twice.”
“It's very repetitive after a couple of hours of gameplay, and I found making the music so difficult I just skipped it entirely.”
“The song customization is ultimately a waste of time and not very enjoyable.”
“The music creation aspect should have been dropped completely; it is laughable at best.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this music tycoon game is characterized by its repetitive and grindy nature, which may deter players who dislike such mechanics. While the core mechanics are easy to grasp and can be engaging initially, many users feel that the lack of variety and depth leads to a monotonous experience after a few hours. Despite its shortcomings, fans of the tycoon genre may still find enjoyment, especially if they appreciate the rock theme and the potential for future updates to enhance gameplay.
“Rock-themed instrumental music is nice, cartoonish, hand-drawn graphics look good, gameplay is addictive, and the UI is easy to navigate.”
“First off, the gameplay and controls are easy to figure out, and let's face it, we all wondered what it would be like to be a rockstar at some point in our lives, and this game gives it to you.”
“It has that addicting tycoon managing gameplay style where you grind to build skills so you can get better and get rewarded in return.”
“It's very repetitive after a couple of hours of gameplay, and I found making the music so difficult that I just skipped it entirely.”
“The only gameplay in the meantime is clicking through the same 5 'random' events with an occasional trip to the bar to relieve tension.”
“After a few hours, you realize that this game has one of the most devilishly in-depth repetitive gameplay designs ever conceived.”
- grinding28 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that progress relies heavily on performing the same tasks repeatedly. While some find enough variety to stay engaged, others express frustration with the lack of meaningful rewards and a clunky interface that exacerbates the grind. Overall, the gameplay can feel unfulfilling, especially as players advance and encounter increasingly monotonous mechanics.
“This game can be super grindy, so if you're not interested in pouring hours into doing the same thing over and over, then you'll lose interest in the first hour of gameplay. However, I think personally it's enough variety to keep someone who loves tycoon games engaged.”
“The game is grindy and repetitive, and you will spend time grinding for fans to gain access to the next city with a studio or recording label.”
“It's core mechanics are very grindy, unfulfilling, and don't seem to make sense with what most would think of a group of 'rock gods' in training.”
- graphics27 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, nostalgic aesthetic and decent art style that fits the rock theme well. However, there are criticisms regarding the need for more polish, functionality issues on certain systems, and a lack of diversity in character customization. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing, they could benefit from further refinement and updates.
“The aesthetic feel of the game is wonderful; the graphics and sound are all perfectly suited for the style.”
“Rock-themed instrumental music is nice, cartoonish, hand-drawn-like graphics looking good; gameplay is addictive, and the UI is easy to navigate.”
“Visually and audibly appealing; graphics and sound match the game style and suit it well.”
“The aesthetic reminded me a lot of Hot Topic, which was charmingly nostalgic but only for a short time.”
“Also, the graphics need more cut and polish, and the tutorial may need more tweaking.”
“As far as the rest of the game, yes, the characters are drawn almost amateurishly, without a lot of diversity in the customization of faces.”
- humor10 mentions
- 90 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by amusing references to the music industry and rock culture, providing initial laughs and a chill experience, though it can become repetitive over time. While some elements, like the "triggered" reference, have drawn criticism for trivializing serious issues, the overall comedic tone and engaging gameplay make it a worthwhile experience, especially given its reasonable price and potential for future updates.
“It has funny references to the music industry and rock world that can make you smile.”
“The game has an amusing sense of humor, and it can be quite chill to play for a couple of hours once you get into it.”
“It's also really funny that I have to make them busk on the streets so much so they can pay their own salaries.”
“The use of 'triggered' is not funny and trivializes mental health issues.”
“The humor often falls flat and feels forced, lacking genuine wit.”
“Many jokes rely on outdated stereotypes, which is neither clever nor amusing.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for feeling unbalanced and abandoned, particularly in the performance mini-game where players create songs but face unclear scoring and difficulty spikes. While fans of rhythm games like Guitar Hero may find enjoyment in the performance aspect, the overall experience is marred by idle gameplay and a lack of clarity in how performance metrics translate to success. Additionally, the game's mechanics, such as band member addiction, add complexity but do not enhance the core gameplay experience.
“So essentially you 'create' the songs you end up playing in the performance mini-game.”
“By the way, if you enjoy those Guitar Hero-type games, then you will enjoy the performance portion of this game; if not, then no need to fret, you can either simulate performances or play the drums on easy (still kind of hard).”
“The problem is that, unlike Guitar Hero, the first levels are actually pretty difficult, and it's not really clear how much of an advantage a perfect manual score would give over the simulation; you just get a bunch of random numbers at the end of the performance and it's not really clear if it was good or bad.”
“It feels like it wasn't balanced or optimized at all, then just abandoned as a failed project.”
“You spend a lot of time idle watching bars go up, and your performance and advancement in the game is entirely based upon how much time you've watched the bars go up as you've practiced the four stat categories.”
“The problem is that, unlike Guitar Hero, the first levels are actually pretty difficult, and it's not really clear how much of an advantage a perfect manual score would give over the simulation; you just get a bunch of random numbers at the end of the performance, and it's not really clear if it was good or bad.”
- story8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and lacking depth, while others appreciate the character creation aspect and the journey to fame. Although it offers some engaging elements, many feel it falls short compared to the narratives found in popular rock band stories, resulting in a grindy experience with limited plot progression. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary feature rather than a strong focal point of the game.
“Although on the plus side, the story that revolves around creating your character with clear definitions is pretty cool; I'm sure there are some interesting elements about this game.”
“Some story elements in your rise to fame and success add depth to the gameplay.”
“This game does away with all that nonsense, adds more depth, story, and overall fun playability along with a very awesome and mostly easy-to-use song crafting option that segues into playing songs at the gigs you scheduled.”
“This game might remind you of a story of a band (if you ever played that), but it's a much bigger grind and way less happens during the game.”
“Read any story of popular rock bands and, with few exceptions, you will get the plot of rg-t.”
“Although on the plus side, the story that revolves around creating your character with clear definitions is pretty cool, I'm sure there are some interesting aspects about this game.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits very low replayability, primarily due to a lack of character diversity and depth, which diminishes the incentive to revisit the experience after mastering it. Reviewers note that the absence of meaningful interactions and RPG elements further contributes to this limitation, making it feel repetitive after the initial playthrough.
“As other reviewers have pointed out, the replay value is not high after you learn how to beat the game, but that is true of many fine RPGs and other games.”
“The band members have no personality; they are all clones with, at most, one or two traits and perks each. This leads to zero replay value as there is no RPG component to be found: there is absolutely no interaction between them.”
“The review crew's evaluations are based on various factors, including replayability, which reflects the game's potential for multiple playthroughs and player engagement.”
“Very low replayability.”
“As other reviewers have pointed out, the replay value is not high after you learn how to beat the game, but that is true of many fine RPGs and other games.”
“Band members have no personality; they are all clones with, at most, one or two traits and perks each. This leads to zero replay value as there is no RPG component to be found: there is absolutely no interaction between them.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization system in the game is heavily criticized for its imbalance, as the costs of travel and advertising often exceed potential profits, making it difficult to succeed financially. While players can make some strategic decisions regarding stage arrangements and advertising, the overall experience feels limited and heavily reliant on busking and fanbase growth to generate income.
“When you finally unlock other venues, which is a static list based on fans collected, you will find that the costs of traveling and advertising always outweigh any chance of making a profit.”
“The costs of hiring studios and gigs that pay peanuts are hard at the start, but busking helps to pay the bills as you develop your character and bandmates to reach their full potential. Your fanbase is also important, increased by playing gigs, busking, and using an assortment of gifts and advertising from the store.”
“You can make some decisions like how to arrange props on the stage or what advertising to do, but it's mostly just scheduling stuff on the calendar.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its concept and enjoyable elements, but it suffers from significant stability issues, with persistent bugs and crashes that detract from the overall experience. Players should be prepared for a frustrating experience, as stability problems remain unresolved even years after release.
“A good idea, some quality parts, but overall still buggy as hell years later.”
“Great fun but very buggy, so get ready to pour hours of effort into the game only to be rewarded by it crashing at some random point, never to be played again.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 100 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers consistently praise the game for effectively capturing the intended atmosphere, indicating that it successfully immerses players in its environment.
“They capture the atmosphere perfectly.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive and engaging.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”