SimAirport
- February 28, 2020
- LVGameDev LLC
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"SimAirport is a single-player strategy game with poor storyline but phenomenal game mechanics and good graphics. You control every aspect of running an airport, from flight schedules to staff management, with simple controls and deep simulation. However, expect lots of grinding and bugs for a hilarious experience."
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay with a good balance of complexity and accessibility.
- Active developer support with frequent updates and community engagement.
- High replayability with the ability to build and customize airports extensively.
- Numerous bugs and performance issues, especially with larger airports.
- Lack of a comprehensive tutorial, making it difficult for new players to learn the game.
- Some UI elements are clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- gameplay228 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the airport simulation game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging mechanics and customization options reminiscent of "Prison Architect." However, numerous bugs and unintuitive mechanics have led to frustration, making the experience feel clunky and at times overwhelming for new players. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and offers depth, the presence of persistent issues hampers its overall enjoyment and accessibility.
“Its realistic mechanics, customizable features, and dynamic challenges create an engaging gameplay environment that caters to simulation enthusiasts and strategy lovers alike.”
“The gameplay is smooth and the added details and multiple floors were a great addition.”
“Gameplay is fun and for the most part everything works really well together.”
“Weird bugs and mechanic quirks require you to build your airport in very unnatural ways to make it work. Go get the other game.”
“I'm usually tolerant of bugs that don't break the gameplay experience, but after a while, this feels more like you are fighting the bugs more than playing the actual game.”
“The game is still in very early access but there are gameplay issues that prohibit a smooth experience, including bugs and mechanics that simply do not work.”
- graphics184 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many users describing them as basic, cartoonish, and reminiscent of older titles like "Prison Architect." While some appreciate the low system requirements and find the visuals acceptable for a management sim, others criticize the lack of detail, frequent bugs, and overall dated appearance. Overall, the consensus suggests that while the graphics are not the game's strong point, they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are really eye-candy even for a 2D game.”
“The art style isn't photorealistic, but this counts as a definite positive, as the simpler but still detailed graphics enable this simulation to run well even on fairly low-level machines until you've built a truly massive airport.”
“I enjoy the colorful graphics, high FPS count, and the overall smoothness.”
“The graphics are very basic and there are some key issues with the way the system works (no ability to move objects, etc.).”
“The graphics also look pretty bad, especially in the restaurants and shops.”
“The graphics would make a game from the 90s look good, but perhaps they might be tolerable if I could actually get higher quality settings.”
- stability122 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting persistent bugs, glitches, and performance issues, particularly as airport size increases. While some players appreciate the game's potential and the developers' responsiveness to feedback, the overall consensus is that it remains too buggy and incomplete for a full release, making it challenging to recommend without reservations. Frequent updates are noted, but many players still experience frustrating gameplay interruptions due to these ongoing issues.
“The game runs great on my low spec computer from a couple years ago.”
“The game is nearly bug free at this point.”
“The latest patch from an hour ago made the game bug free for me.”
“After so many years out of early access, this game still feels unfinished and buggy.”
“The game is now dead; it doesn't seem like there have been any new features in a while, and everything that is there is buggy or only half-built.”
“It's buggy, it's laggy, it's a bit of a mess, but it's a good start.”
- optimization112 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a significant concern, with many players reporting severe performance issues, especially as airports grow larger. While some users have noted improvements in recent updates, the overall experience remains hampered by bugs and frame rate drops, particularly on high-capacity maps. Despite its potential and enjoyable gameplay, the current state of optimization makes it challenging to recommend for those looking for a smooth experience.
“Nice airport simulator game, where you need to think if you want to have an optimized airport.”
“I easily have over a thousand in the airport and it still runs smoothly.”
“With some further optimization, this seems like something that could be overcome by the devs.”
“Performance really needs improvement.”
“It's actually quite a fun game, but my big complaint is that once the airport gets big, the code is not optimized at all well, and starts chugging along to the point of being unplayable.”
“Starts lagging after ~30 minutes even on high performance computers which after a while gets worse up to the point that it renders the game more or less unplayable (1-2 fps).”
- story46 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users noting that there is no narrative or quest progression to engage with. While players appreciate the freedom to build and manage their airports, they express a desire for more structured missions or achievements to enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the lack of a compelling story detracts from the game's potential, leaving it feeling incomplete and unchallenging.
“I played this game for 32 hours in two days; I think that pretty much tells the whole story.”
“The 'story' of the game is rather short, but precise; you have to build a profitable airport.”
“I like that it lets you build the airport at your own pace without mission-designated goals.”
“☑ no story”
“Ultimately, I think that is what warrants a 'negative' review under Steam's binary rating system - the game isn't bad at all, but there are alternatives that do everything better; since the game has no story at all, SimAirport has nothing extra going for it and thus should not be your top choice unless (for example) Airport CEO is not your cup of tea.”
“If you are looking for things like tutorials, missions, a proper game world, etc. then you will be disappointed.”
- grinding20 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 65 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely described as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest significant effort to progress. While some players appreciate the complexity and find enjoyment in the repetitive tasks, others feel that the grind detracts from the overall experience, especially in the absence of a structured campaign. Overall, the game offers a mix of fun and frustration, appealing primarily to those who enjoy sandbox-style gameplay.
“Yeah, okay, it's kinda grindy.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I have no idea why this needs to be in the game, it's tedious and when you've finally done it, the extra money barely offsets the cost of hiring all these salespeople.”
“It's extremely tedious to earn profits to upgrade anything in career mode.”
- replayability15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Replayability for this game is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly addictive and appreciate the modding community's contributions, others criticize it for lacking depth and content, leading to low replay value. Many users express hope for future updates to enhance gameplay and fix existing bugs, suggesting that the game's replayability may improve over time. Overall, the current state of replayability is seen as limited, with potential for growth as the game develops.
“The modding community enhances replayability, ensuring endless creative possibilities.”
“It's addictive, it's good fun, and the replay value is very high if you love these kinds of games.”
“Lots of replayability.”
“Replayability - 0/10 (no point in placing the same 10 objects/buildings again if you've done it once)”
“Currently this game has very little replayability value.”
“It was playable, but had fundamental flaws, and at the time (and still does to some degree) lack a large amount of content or depth to make the game truly replayable.”
- music15 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users noting the complete absence of a soundtrack and describing the sound effects as lackluster. Some players expressed disappointment over the silence during gameplay, suggesting that the game would benefit significantly from a well-composed musical score. However, a few reviews mentioned that the sound effects were not bothersome, indicating a mixed reception overall.
“A really fun game I highly recommend if you like managing simulation type games and airports and airplanes or you just want something simple to play while playing music for hours.”
“Despite it having bugs (kind of a given with an early access), I still really enjoy this game, the sound and music are great, and the sheer amount of detail and complexity in this game has me learning new things even at the advanced stage I've progressed to.”
“-music and in-game sound effects are not annoying.”
“The ugly: the price seems a bit too high for a prison architect clone (graphics, government grants, road system etc) and there is no music.”
“- no music, literally just silence.”
“The graphics in this time are ugly, the resolution is horrible, the user interface is awful. No music or sound in the background; I just thought things would be better but I have only played a little because I cannot get myself to like this game.”
- humor12 mentions
- 92 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The humor in SimAirport is often described as unintentional, stemming from the game's quirky animations and mechanics, such as the amusingly awkward movements of planes and vehicles. Players find the game's raw visuals and absurdities, like the "Flintstones style" luggage buggies and the comical "Tokyo drift" departures, to be entertaining, despite the game's unfinished state. Overall, while the game has significant room for improvement, its humor adds a layer of charm that keeps players engaged.
“One thing that does bother me a bit is how the aircraft move around the airport, especially the departure from gates - looking on the bright side, it is kinda funny to see at work, especially the Tokyo drift departures.”
“It's funny to see that the people driving the carts are simply the individuals walking graphic inside the moving vehicle.”
“Visually, the game is still very raw, especially the movements of the planes and vehicles, and especially the in-house luggage buggies when they are moved around in Flintstones style (which is kind of funny, too).”
“So bad, it's actually funny.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that understanding the monetization mechanics, such as selling items and engaging with advertisements, enhances their enjoyment of the game. The introduction of microtransactions, DLC, and new multiplayer features has altered the game's structure, providing additional content and opportunities for engagement.
“The microtransactions in the game are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
“The DLC content is reasonably priced and adds significant value to the game, enhancing the overall experience without being a cash grab.”
“I appreciate how the monetization model respects players' time and investment, offering optional purchases that truly enhance gameplay rather than being necessary to progress.”
“The game heavily relies on microtransactions, which can be frustrating for players who prefer a more traditional gaming experience.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as essential features are locked behind paywalls.”
“The constant push for DLC and in-game purchases detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game can evoke strong emotional responses, leading some players to feel a deep investment in their creations. However, this emotional attachment may result in disappointment, with at least one player feeling compelled to request a refund due to their experience.
“If you get emotionally invested in your designs, then this is not for you yet, but I would strongly urge you to at least monitor the progress.”
“Out of the 250 games I have, this is the only one that has ever made me feel the need to refund.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive realism, featuring authentic airport sounds, including jet engines and operational noises, which enhance the experience of designing and managing an airport from scratch.
“If you've ever wanted to design an airport from the ground up and hire people to run the show, as well as workers to help build and maintain it, and you love the real sounds of an airport's atmosphere, including the realistic sounds of jet engines landing and taking off, you will love this game.”
