Software Inc.

About

"Software Inc." is a business simulation game where players build and manage their own software company. Create and design software products, handle finances, hire employees, and expand your business in a competitive market. The game offers a deep level of customization and a realistic simulation of the software industry.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,910 reviews

gameplay308 positive mentions

grinding88 negative mentions

Incredible depth and complexity, allowing for various play styles and strategies.
Active developer support with regular updates and improvements.
Engaging gameplay that combines building mechanics with software development.

Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players.
Occasional bugs and glitches, particularly in the game's early access stages.
Late game can become repetitive and too easy once a successful product is established.

gameplay
1,006 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
5%
The gameplay of this software development simulation game is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a steep learning curve that can initially overwhelm new players. However, once players grasp the intricacies, they find a rewarding experience with extensive customization options, engaging project management, and a variety of challenges that enhance replayability. While the graphics may be simplistic, the focus on gameplay depth and continuous updates from the developer keep the experience fresh and engaging for hours on end.
- “Its in-depth mechanics, customizable gameplay, and realistic business dynamics create a challenging and rewarding experience.”
- “The core gameplay loop is fun and is guaranteed to hook anybody who is a fan of tycoon games, and the game slowly ramps up complexity in a way that's easy to get accustomed to.”
- “The gameplay is a lot more skill-based, the game is more difficult in general and there is more depth and complexity than previous versions.”
- “But the gameplay is absolutely horrible.”
- “When your company is big enough, gameplay ultimately becomes a boring cycle of churning out sequel after sequel, raking in infinitely more money, tapping other companies' lead designers to work for you, and paying taxes.”
- “I don't get what this game wants me to do half the time, and I am tired of feeling like I have to save every month and constantly play in a state of fear that one small mistake will bury me for hours of gameplay.”
graphics
594 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and minimalistic, fitting well within the simulation genre, but they may not appeal to players seeking a visually stunning experience. While some appreciate the clean and charming art style, others note that the visuals can feel dated or lack polish, with suggestions for improvement in animations and optimization. Overall, many reviewers emphasize that gameplay takes precedence over graphics, and the visuals are sufficient for conveying the game's mechanics.
- “The graphics are very smooth and resemble (at least for me) The Sims 1 and 2.”
- “The graphics, while simplistic, are very pleasing to the eye and aren't distracting from the core game.”
- “The graphics are fantastic and the mechanics are spot on.”
- “Players seeking a visually stunning experience might find the art style lacking in comparison to other simulation games.”
- “So, the only real meh I have about this game is the graphics (which aren't important) and how fluid the game feels at times.”
- “The graphics are not top tier, but honestly I feel as if they don't need to be.”
story
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
77%
11%
The game's story aspect is largely player-driven, with narratives emerging from individual successes and failures in business management rather than a structured plot. Many players note the absence of a traditional storyline, expressing a desire for more defined goals or missions to enhance engagement. Overall, while the game offers a sandbox experience that allows for creative building and management, it lacks a cohesive narrative framework, leaving players to create their own stories through gameplay.
- “Storyline: player-driven, with the narrative emerging from business successes and failures.”
- “The level of detail in things like office management, team management, etc., on top of the just interesting story of software development rocks.”
- “This money laid the foundation of a hopefully bright future for my organization and my employees, allowing me to say goodbye to the garage I was renting, purchased a plot of land and built a nice HQ with plenty of room to grow as the future unfolds.”
- “The game literally has no goal or a mission.”
- “If you're not really that imaginative, and aren't able to really world-build and create a sort of storytelling narrative throughout the duration of your game, maybe your gameplay could become stale after you've reached the point where you're earning a lot of money each month.”
- “Unlike other, similar games (from Game Dev Tycoon to even Game Dev Story) where you'll naturally become more skilled from projects you complete, you seem to stick on your poor skill level with Software, Inc.”
replayability
172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
2%
The game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the depth of its simulation mechanics, diverse strategies, and an active modding community that enhances the experience. Users appreciate the unique office building system and frequent updates from the developer, which contribute to an engaging and evolving gameplay experience. However, some reviewers note that replayability may diminish after extended play, suggesting a need for more challenges and variety in future updates.
- “The game has a very high replayability; each session introduces new challenges, diverse employee interactions, and varying market scenarios.”
- “This game has an insane amount of replayability, and even with the updates, the modding community gives tons of content to keep coming back to.”
- “The game has generous longevity and replay value with opportunities and routes for you to endeavor on and community-made modifications of all varieties.”
- “I enjoy the experience, but it feels woefully incomplete, a lack of difficulty from the early game on and pretty much no replay value (I could go and start another save right now, but I know it'd be absolutely boring to do as it'd be copy and paste what I did before, with no real way to take an alternative approach).”
- “Not really any replayability after that though so I'd recommend playing on a harder difficulty.”
- “The addition of mods has added to the replayability, but it does become the same game after a while.”
music
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
71%
6%
The music in the game is generally described as relaxing and suitable for long play sessions, enhancing the overall experience without being overly distracting. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading some to prefer their own music after a while. While the current music is appreciated for its chill vibe, there is a strong desire for more diverse tracks to maintain engagement throughout gameplay.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and the gameplay is amazing.”
- “The music adds a lot of depth to the game and it's really good chill music for such a game.”
- “Fantastic game, fantastic systems, mechanics, music, it's the whole package!”
- “I recommend it if players like slow-paced games and be totally bored since there isn't anything to see or any music to listen to. I myself fell asleep 4 times already just by playing it.”
- “Currently, my only critique is that I'd like a broader spectrum of background music. What's currently included is limited and repetitive after a while, leading me to mute it and put on my own background music.”
- “A fair word of warning: the game hasn't had in-game music, ever. The setting for music volume has served no purpose since the game began.”
optimization
120 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
68%
10%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance on a variety of systems, even with large companies. However, some players note that performance can degrade as the game progresses, particularly in late-game scenarios or with high graphical settings, indicating that further optimization is still needed. While the low-poly art style helps maintain accessibility for lower-end systems, there are ongoing concerns about specific graphical optimizations and resource management.
- “Optimization: well-optimized, runs smoothly on most systems.”
- “I am not exaggerating if I say that, on a programming level, this game is a wonder: everything is so well optimized, and each feature is so well thought out and laid out that it feels unreal this isn't getting more attention.”
- “The fact is that I had my eye on it from the beginning and loved it from the moment I started; the game overall is very stable and well optimized, which I can appreciate with my low-end PC.”
- “There's still a lot of work to be done in terms of optimization and end-game.”
- “Used to be a great game, now it's a bloated unoptimized mess.”
- “The only thing it needs is more optimization.”
grinding
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
14%
83%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly during contract work and employee management. While some appreciate the depth and strategic elements, others feel overwhelmed by the micromanagement required, leading to frustration and a sense of endless repetition. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy grinding, but it can be a significant drawback for players seeking a more engaging experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Yeah, okay, it's kinda grindy.”
- “The makers of new management games really should go back and play some of the old classics like SimEarth, SimCity, or Civilization to learn how to make a good user interface that isn't tedious and doesn't require the user to remember where stuff is among pages and pages of extraneous information.”
- “Contracts were such a tedious chore, getting employees to stop with their bathroom needs 10x a day and actually focusing on work without having to pay salaries that would go over the monthly revenue output I could get out of them was just too difficult.”
- “I found learning to play to be a bit overwhelming, any resemblance to a campaign completely missing, and every attempt to play resulting in my bankrupting almost immediately after I began working on my own products instead of completing other company's contracts endlessly... it felt like it was pure grinding and zero actual 'play', making me repeat the same exact action endlessly only to end up having to start over again which just felt agitating and ruined any opportunity for enjoyment.”
- “The overall effect is extremely repetitive, grindy, and bland gameplay.”
stability
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
2%
86%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players noting occasional bugs and glitches, particularly during its early access phase. While some users report minimal issues and quick fixes, others describe the experience as frustratingly buggy at times, especially with new features and certain gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is considered relatively stable for an early access title, but players should be prepared for some technical hiccups.
- “For an alpha, this is a very bug-free experience so far.”
- “Don't let the 'early access game' title scare you as the game is almost bug-free.”
- “Game runs great too.”
- “Pretty good and entertaining game, but sometimes it's just a pain and buggy.”
- “There is still a lot I'm hoping to see out of this game with upcoming progress, but even now the game is really cool and interesting, but also rather buggy and unbalanced.”
- “Horribly hard to play and was buggy.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The game is widely praised for its humor, with players finding it both funny and addictive, often losing track of time while playing. The comedic elements, including amusing animations and clever tooltips, contribute to a lighthearted experience that keeps players engaged. While some find the humor can become repetitive or annoying over time, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a humorous take on software development.
- “I was going to write something funny but I accidentally played for 20 hours and words are hard.”
- “So I saw this on a YouTube channel called 'The Spiffing Brit' and the whole concept of having company lawyers to get you out of being a business scumbag looked hilarious to play.”
- “It is quite funny to see the animation of your employees; it is like they are just hitting their keyboard very hard.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
- “So bad, it's actually funny.”
monetization
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
85%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players feeling it resembles a cash grab due to limited pre-release advertising options and a focus on post-launch marketing. While the game offers extensive management features, including advertising and team dynamics, the lack of in-game purchase options has left some users wanting more. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a point of contention, with players appreciating the depth of gameplay but questioning the timing and execution of marketing elements.
- “Seems like just another cash grab enabled by Steam.”
- “Companies spend millions on advertisement before something is released, not after!”
- “Marketing, press releases, release dates, announcements, ads - it’s all done pretty well but it’s weird that you can only buy ads after the release (not counting press builds and announcements).”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be a wholesome experience that evokes strong emotions, with some expressing moments of genuine tears. However, issues with the user interface and tutorials detract from the overall experience, suggesting that while the emotional impact is significant, the gameplay mechanics could use refinement.
- “I cried and wiped my tears with my digital wealth.”
- “Nice wholesome game”
- “Nice wholesome game”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for effectively capturing the essence of its development, with reviewers noting its significant style and substance that contribute to an immersive experience.
- “The atmosphere, style, and substance of this product is significant.”