Software Inc.
- May 1, 2015
- Coredumping
- 35h median play time
"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.
Reviews
- 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 and management.
- Steep learning curve, making it challenging for new players to grasp the mechanics.
- Occasional bugs and glitches, particularly in the game's early access stages.
- Can become repetitive and easy once a successful product is established, leading to a lack of challenge in late game.
- gameplay503 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a steep learning curve that can initially overwhelm new players. However, once mastered, the intricate systems provide a rewarding and engaging experience, with extensive customization options and a variety of strategic elements that enhance replayability. While the graphics may be simplistic, the focus on gameplay depth and continuous updates from the developer contribute to a compelling simulation of running a software company.
“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 extremely accessible -- it's a sort of buffet where you can attempt to manage as many elements as you feel comfortable with.”
“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.”
- graphics297 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simplistic and minimalistic, which some players find charming and fitting for the simulation genre, while others feel they lack visual appeal compared to more graphically intensive titles. Many reviewers emphasize that gameplay takes precedence over graphics, noting that the visuals are clear and functional, though there is room for improvement in animation and optimization. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they are considered adequate for the game's purpose and contribute to its unique aesthetic.
“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.”
“The graphics are not top tier, but honestly I feel as if they don't need to be.”
“The graphics are average, but if you've read the early access description you'll understand that.”
- story96 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 77 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely player-driven, with narratives emerging from individual gameplay experiences rather than a structured storyline. Many players appreciate the open-ended nature of the game, allowing for personal storytelling through business successes and failures, but some express a desire for a more defined narrative or mission structure. Overall, while the game lacks a traditional story, it offers a sandbox experience that encourages creativity and self-directed storytelling.
“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.”
“You are able to build a company from a simple plot of land to a major gaming industry giant or a popular company known for making anti-virus programs, game engines, and even art software similar to GIMP.”
“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.”
- replayability86 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its deep simulation mechanics, diverse strategies, and an active modding community that continually adds new content. Many players appreciate the unique office building system and the frequent updates from the developer, which enhance the game's longevity and keep the experience fresh. However, a few reviewers noted that some aspects could lead to diminished replay value over time, particularly if players exhaust the available content or strategies.
“I'm about to fire it up again for the first time in a while and see how much has been changed - that's what I love so much about this game and its developer - there's been so much replay value with this game having so many major core updates and the developer has seemed to keep their passion along the way.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The addition of mods has added to the replayability, but it does become the same game after a while.”
“I think the game needs a lot of pacing work; there are lots of 'space' for choices, but right now there are not enough for any replayability.”
- music83 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
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 express a desire for a broader and more varied soundtrack, as the current selection can become repetitive and sometimes absent. While the existing music is appreciated for its chill vibe, some users recommend playing their own music to fill the gaps.
“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.”
“What's currently included is limited and repetitive after a while, leading me to mute it and put on my own background music (which isn't much of a problem).”
“A fair word of warning: the game hasn't had in-game music, ever.”
- optimization60 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance on a variety of systems, including lower-end PCs. However, some users note that performance can degrade significantly in late-game scenarios or with larger companies, indicating that further optimization is needed, particularly for graphics and resource management. While the game shows promise with regular updates improving performance, there are still areas that require attention to enhance the experience for all players.
“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.”
- grinding53 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that while the game offers depth and strategic elements, it often devolves into tedious and grindy gameplay, particularly during contract work and employee management. Many players express frustration with the repetitive nature of tasks and the overwhelming micromanagement required, especially as the game progresses. Overall, enjoyment seems to hinge on one's tolerance for grinding, with some players finding it engaging while others feel it detracts from the overall 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 10 times 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.”
- stability42 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting occasional bugs and glitches, particularly in its early access phase. While some users note that the game runs well and is less buggy than many AAA titles, others express frustration with specific features and the frequency of crashes. Despite these issues, many players remain optimistic about future updates and improvements.
“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.”
“Really good game, but freezes and crashes quite often.”
- humor20 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
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 resonates particularly well with those interested in software development. Overall, the humor is a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and entertaining.
“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.”
- monetization13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users feeling that the in-game purchases and advertising mechanics resemble a cash grab, particularly due to the limited options for marketing before release. While players appreciate the depth of management features related to advertising and development, they express frustration over the timing of ad purchases, which can only be made post-launch. Overall, the monetization strategy appears to be a double-edged sword, offering complexity but also raising concerns about its execution.
“Seems like just another cash grab enabled by Steam.”
“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).”
“Anyways, it slowly took off, and I became an advertising empire minus the whole spying thing (which is an option, fyi) so I made loads of cash.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally impactful, often leading to tears, despite some frustrations with the user interface and tutorials. The overall experience is described as wholesome, suggesting a strong emotional connection, even if certain gameplay elements need refinement.
“I cried and wiped my tears with my digital wealth.”
“Nice wholesome game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
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.
“It really captures the atmosphere of its development.”
“The atmosphere, style, and substance of this product is significant.”
“Really captures the atmosphere of its development.”