Shipping Manager
- September 18, 2023
- Trophy Games
- 3986h median play time
Get on SteamCreate and manage your own shipping empire. Control every aspect from route creation to marketing to staff handling and beat other managers to top the leaderboards.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Fun and interesting management game that tests strategic abilities and business acumen.
- Good idle game that can be played casually without needing to stay constantly engaged.
- Unique concept that combines elements of popular games like SimCity and FedEx.
- Heavy reliance on microtransactions and in-game purchases, making progression frustrating.
- Technical issues and bugs, including problems with logging in and game stability.
- Slow-paced gameplay with real-time shipping that can lead to long wait times between actions.
- monetization13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the aggressive pay-to-play microtransactions that hinder progression and create a frustrating experience. While some appreciate the option to earn points through achievements, the overall sentiment leans towards the game feeling more like a mobile title laden with in-game purchases rather than a traditional tycoon game. Additionally, technical issues further exacerbate the negative perception of its monetization strategy.
“I personally love this game. I have 3986 hours on record, and it's an amazing slow-paced game where you are a manager of a budding shipping company. Unlike what others say, this is not a pay-to-win situation. Yes, there are in-app purchases, but you can also earn points by completing achievements. It's just very good, and there are two modes: easy and realistic. I'm playing on realistic, and I love it!”
“Shipping Manager aims to deliver an in-depth business simulation focused on building a logistics empire, but ultimately sinks under the weight of its monetization model and technical issues.”
“Maybe it is just me, but I would rather pay for a game than have to make in-game purchases to advance the gameplay.”
“It doesn't take long until the pay-to-play microtransactions have to kick in, and they only last for a short time before you need to pay for upgrades in a never-ending microtransaction loop.”
“However, progression is frustratingly slowed to a crawl or outright halted unless you make in-game purchases.”
“The solid core concept drowns under the barrage of monetization gates and technical problems.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by repetitive mechanics and slow progression, with minimal updates since 2015 aside from graphics. While the core elements of route management and vehicle purchasing have potential, they are overshadowed by aggressive monetization tactics that detract from the overall experience.
“The core gameplay of managing routes, hiring staff, and purchasing vehicles shows promise.”
“But it's repetitive, slow progressing, and hasn't been updated much since 2015, aside from the graphics. The gameplay and vessels are still the same.”
“After the first 10 minutes, the game consists of the following mechanics: click a button, click a different button, click a third button, wait 2 hours.”
“The core gameplay of managing routes, hiring staff, and purchasing vehicles shows promise, but it ultimately falls flat.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised as great, providing a clear visual experience, but many users feel that the overall graphical updates have been limited since 2015. While the visuals enhance the gameplay, there are calls for further improvements and additional features to elevate the experience.
“Graphics are great and the tutorial is very clear.”
“An okay game that can be fun over time, but it still needs some graphic updates.”
“But it's repetitive, slow progressing, and hasn't been updated much since 2015, aside from the graphics. The gameplay and vessels are still the same.”
“An okay game, still missing some features, and it definitely needs a graphic update. However, it can be fun over time.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with users frequently encountering bugs that affect gameplay.
“It's so buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I experience constant lag and glitches that ruin the experience.”
- story1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game has been criticized for its slow pacing, with players expressing frustration over lengthy tutorial missions that detract from the overall experience.
