Games like Games Are for Players, not Stock Holders

Definitive Guide to Video Game Reward Design Building Player-Centered Systems that Drive Engagement, Retention, and Monetization Stop guessing what players want. Start designing rewards they'll genuinely love. Have you ever designed a reward system that, despite looking great on your spreadsheet, ended up feeling like a chore for your players? Have you worried that your game is becoming a "gold… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Definitive Guide to Video Game Reward Design.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, optimization

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

84% User Score Based on 962 reviews

Create the Starship of your dreams, explore a vast and vivid world and jump into epic space battles. Experience a truly unique and powerful building engine where your imagination is the limit. Welcome to the next evolution in Space Sandbox gaming! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Starship EVO.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:emotional, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:story

87% User Score Based on 100 reviews

A game made during Game Jam Madrid Crea. You can skip any level in the game (just check the help menu). If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Overwhelmed.

Entrepreneurship made easy and fun! One step at a time Lemmy, the entrepreneurial lemon, will take kids on a journey to opening their very own business...a lemonade stand. Since 2007 Lemonade Day has been empowering today’s youth to become tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. Lemonade Day's new digital platform, My Lemonade Day, will teach kids to set goals, make a plan, run their stand, and get results to… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to My Lemonade Day.

Lead a nation through decades of political and economic challenges. Manage budgets, taxes, interest rates, crises, and public opinion in a deep grand-strategy simulation where every decision shapes your country's future. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Wealth of Nations: Economic Strategy.

Unlock the Secrets of Player Behavior: A Guide to Process Mining for Game Development Have you ever wondered... Why do most players gather all the components for a powerful item, but only a fraction ever craft it? What are the hidden paths that lead players to success in a complex puzzle, and which ones lead to failure? Players report a feature feels "slow,"… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games User Research: Process Mining.

77%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, optimization

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, story

77% User Score Based on 250 reviews

Worldwide Rush lets you experience passenger transportation and management on a global scale. Expand your company, meet the growing travel demand, compete against other companies, and discover new continents with its unique vehicles. The entire world is yours to control. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Worldwide Rush.

86%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

93% User Score Based on 4,914 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 9 reviews

How will you lead the nation of Sordland? The award-winning, political RPG game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Suzerain.

The world is roughly a futuristic game in which you play as a "human will" rather than God. The main description of the game is an uncertain fate, macro diversity of the future world. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to World Process.

Controls:Click to say yes, double click to say no. Keep everything ambivalent. Try make as many decisions as possible before it all falls apart to earn a high score.---CEO Simulator 2024 plunges you into the high-pressure, fast-paced world of corporate leadership, where every decision you make has the potential to lead your company to unprecedented success—or devastating failure. As the CEO, you’l… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to CEO Simulator 2024.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, optimization

85% User Score Based on 371 reviews

Sumerians is a city building game set in ancient Mesopotamia. Attract new citizens and grow by expanding your irrigation system, building walls, temples and ziggurats. Manage your production, hire workers, and trade. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sumerians.

48%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

48% User Score Based on 1,990 reviews

Welcome to the metaverse! A shared social universe where both casual users and creators coexist. Play and explore with your friends, collaborate with your coworkers or grab powerful building tools and create something new right inside VR. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Neos VR.

From nobody to famous game producer in 3 years: that’s the journey you will live! Experience the trials and tribulations of game development in this life simulation game: live through the process of founding a small team and learning how to work together to develop a successful game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Vertical Slice: A Game Dev Story.

Are you tired of building theme park rides on fixed tracks when you could be cultivating living ecosystems? Have you felt the tension between the story you want to tell and the surprising, unscripted stories your players are trying to create? This book is a manifesto for a new kind of creator. It is a guide to becoming a System Architect—a designer who trades the rigid safety of the blueprint for … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Perfect Game.

It's Not a Bug. It's a Blueprint. Ever felt a game was designed to be intentionally frustrating? That its economy was engineered to create problems only a cash shop could solve? You were probably right. Those aren't accidents; they are the result of a coherent, data-driven, and often deeply cynical design philosophy. Manipulative Game Design is a codex of forbidden knowledge, a hands-on guide th… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Manipulative Game Design.

35%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability

60% User Score Based on 10 reviews

Global Business Tycoon is an immersive strategic management simulator where you build and command a global commercial empire. As the CEO of a powerful holding company, every decision you make will determine your financial legacy. Multiplayer – Up to 8 Players Play online with up to 8 players in competitive or cooperative sessions. Build rival corporations, negotiate, and outmaneuver friends i… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Global Business Tycoon.

100%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, replayability

100% User Score Based on 481 reviews

Master time in this story-rich time-bending puzzle game. You travel back in time to be in two places at once, to solve puzzles impossible to complete alone. Your success hinges on your ability to collaborate with yourself. Can you learn to manipulate time to save humanity? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Chronigma.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding

74% User Score Based on 77 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 12 reviews

Your Kingdom’s fate relies on you… you… and you. Rewind time to create clones of your past-selves, and fight with an army of your own. Become legion and triumph over hordes of monsters to rescue Antala in this Hack'N'Slash game with a tactical twist. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior.

60%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:monetization, gameplay

60% User Score Based on 88 reviews

Blackout Rugby is a modern, multiplayer, social, world class Rugby Manager Game. Take control of a novice rugby club and sidestep and fend your way to glory. Take on people all around the world as you strategise, conquer the league, battle your way up the ladder, and build up your club infrastructure. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Blackout Rugby Manager.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:character development, grinding

95% User Score Based on 676 reviews

Sacred Fire is a narrative RPG in which your humanity and emotions impact your fight for survival and inner freedom. Inspired by ancient Caledonia, the story follows a group of resistance fighters and their rise to power. Choosing motives, ideas and feelings is as important as choosing your actions. Develop your personality and compete for influence to change the story and avert a tragic ending. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Sacred Fire.

75%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

75% User Score Based on 671 reviews

A city building game that let you create a micro-nation from scratch and experiment with your own political ideals. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Citystate.

69%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding

72% User Score Based on 848 reviews

Critic Score 50%Based on 1 reviews

Relive the pioneering spirit of the Golden Age of Steam, by establishing your own railroad empire across 19th Century North America. Build the lines, buy the rolling stock and prosper in the cities you connect - compete against other railroad tycoons and work your way to the top. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Railroad Corporation.

64%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability

64% User Score Based on 122 reviews

Crash-landed in the universe of Cantata, will you expand your empire or bring peace to the war torn planet? Grow your army, manage resources and discover the colourful planet of Shoal, its people, and the armed forces overrunning this land in this genre-defining Grand Tactics game. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Cantata.

78%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

79% User Score Based on 177 reviews

Critic Score 76%Based on 6 reviews

Imagine a world of your own creation... in miniature form! In Tinytopia use charming toy-like structures to design your ideal city. Build a quaint town and grow it into a soaring metropolis. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Tinytopia.

Are you tired of building digital museums filled with lifeless statues when you could be cultivating wild, unpredictable gardens? Have you felt the creative limits of the pre-written script? This book is a manifesto for a new kind of creator. It is a guide to becoming a Gardener—a designer who trades the rigid safety of the architect's blueprint for the vibrant, emergent life of a living world. … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Sentient Engine.

Stop Guessing What Your Players Want. Start Knowing. In the competitive world of game development, understanding your players is the key to creating successful, engaging, and beloved games. But how do you move beyond assumptions and gather actionable insights into the player experience? Games User Research Methods is your comprehensive and practical guide to the world of games user research. Thi… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Games User Research Methods.

Orbit Maze invites players into a unique maze world where they manipulate the direction of gravity to progress. Levels take place on cubes, spheres, and other geometric surfaces, challenging your spatial awareness and puzzle-solving skills. Players must walk across these surfaces, avoid falling, and reach the exit gates. Each level introduces a new mechanic, requiring quick reflexes and strategic… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Orbit Maze.

Graphictoria is a free-to-play online platform where creators and players come together to build, share, discover, and earn. Create your own experiences, publish them to the community, grow your audience, and explore a constantly expanding universe of user-made content. Whether you want to design games, interactive worlds, social spaces, experiments, or something entirely new, Graphictoria gives … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Graphictoria.

In this Plinko-style roguelike, you'll send your ball through a board of pegs to rack up points. Harness the magical powers of a variety of unique items to boost your score output. Use these items to craft diverse and creative strategies, pushing your scores beyond limits. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Pop to Win.

40%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, monetization

42% User Score Based on 45 reviews

Free-to-start VR JRPG. Play Chapter 1 free, then team up with up to two friends to finish Fiona’s 6-chapter story. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Knights of Fiona.

95%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, music

95% User Score Based on 998 reviews

It takes a while to go back to sleep, but inevitably, you return. To dream of the Fallstruktur. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to FALLSTRUKTUR.

84%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, stability

84% User Score Based on 57 reviews

Discover and colonize the world, Allocate your labor force, Monopolize markets, Fight tactical battles, Survive the age of imperialism... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Imperial Ambitions.

81%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, story

81% User Score Based on 1,344 reviews

Enter a novel digital universe with infinite possibilities. Whether you resonate with people around the world in a casual conversation, playing games and socializing or you riff off each other when creating anything from art to programming complex games, you'll find your place here. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Resonite.

68%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, music

68% User Score Based on 281 reviews

ABOUT THIS GAMELights, camera, your action! Ever dreamt of ruling the cinematic universe but lacked the perfect hair or overpriced sunglasses? Fear not! Movies Tycoon lets you dive into the high-stakes world of film-making. Take on the challenge of producing blockbuster films that captivate audiences worldwide. From building your very own studio, hiring the best in the industry, to sitting in the … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Movies Tycoon.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization, grinding

80% User Score Based on 801 reviews

The business simulator Plutocracy gives you the chance to become wealthy and powerful to take control over the America. Join the race with the first billionaires and squeeze them out of the market. Use your brilliant mind and indomitable will to do it or dirty methods of a competitive struggle. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Plutocracy.

87%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, replayability

87% User Score Based on 279 reviews

Year 1976, the stormy Cultural revolution has died down, hard times of hongweibing and public critics are coming to an end. Old and sick Mao Zedong will soon leave China to his comrades from CPC. The Cold War is coming into a new phase... If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to China: Mao's legacy.

94%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, humor

Most mentioned negative aspects:music, replayability

94% User Score Based on 156 reviews

The Democratic Socialism Simulator lets you play as the first socialist president of the United States. Can you redistribute power and wealth while addressing the climate crisis? Enact radical reforms, tax the rich, transform the economy, tackle the most pressing issues without alienating voters or bankrupting the government. But beware: the ruling class won't give up its power easily. Even your c… If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Democratic Socialism Simulator.

76%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, replayability

80% User Score Based on 578 reviews

Critic Score 72%Based on 9 reviews

Experience the obsessive life of a mid-level stockbroker, pursuing wealth and success at the cost of everything else… possibly even your freedom. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to The Invisible Hand.

85%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay

91% User Score Based on 44 reviews

Choice-based RPG in a dark fantasy world. Apollyon is narrative-driven, and features occult magic, spirit summoning, a deep universe, playable characters, and story progression alone or in multiplayer! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Apollyon: River of Life.

100%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, music

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, story

100% User Score Based on 80 reviews

Play in a cosmical toybox packed with arcade platforming, rhythmical contraptions and colourful worlds. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Amberial Dreams.

52%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, stability

52% User Score Based on 182 reviews

Common’hood is a community building and economy management game with highly customizable base building tools. Scavenge for materials, grow your own food, research new technology, craft new tools, build a home, make friends. Form your community and take it from surviving to thriving! If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Common'hood.

82%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, graphics

Most mentioned negative aspects:replayability, stability

82% User Score Based on 750 reviews

Try your hand as a global planner of a future society. Play with a wide range of technologies and policies spanning different fields and ideologies. Will you lead the world to ecological utopia or planetary ruin? If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Half-Earth Socialism.

80%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, atmosphere

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, story

80% User Score Based on 190 reviews

Balsa is a unique Model Flight Simulator where you can design, build, fly and battle with model aircraft. Created and developed by the creator of Kerbal Space Program, Balsa is a virtual flight experience like no other. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Balsa Model Flight Simulator.

91%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, gameplay

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, grinding

95% User Score Based on 7,072 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 4 reviews

Explore a beautiful Escheresque world where the laws of physics are different. Geometry repeats infinitely in every direction, and falling down leads you back to where you started. Manipulate gravity to change your perspective and see the world in new ways. Master the rules of the universe and restore a barren world with vegetation and life. - KEY FEATURES - ◽ An expansive and visually striking … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Manifold Garden.

60%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:gameplay, story

Most mentioned negative aspects:stability

60% User Score Based on 96 reviews

Explore the deepest caves with a cup of tea in your hand, reach the heart of the jungle with your finger on a globe, send your highly educated employees to uncivilized tribes and don't let them convince you it's a certain death! The worst case scenario? You will hire new ones. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Archeo:Shinar.

ReuniunO A simple game where you collect orbs using only the left click as input. It's a probability-based experience where the goal is to find 7 orange orbs that unlock the final event. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to ReuniunO.

Build a global industrial empire on a 3D planet earth. Mine resources, manufacture complex goods, trade across continents, and shape your company’s reputation through powerful policies. Control every step of the supply chain and turn industry into influence. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Factory Default: Build, Trade, Repeat.

nothing If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to DeMonkey.

This book is a manual for crafting worlds that linger in the mind. It offers a fundamental shift in approach for game developers, moving from the philosophy of a tour guide to that of an archaeologist. Instead of creating silent worlds that are museums of a history you're told, this guide helps you design environments that tell their own stories through ruin, ambiguity, and deliberate design. The … If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Atmospheric World-Building.

60%Game Brain Score

Most mentioned positive aspects:graphics, emotional

Most mentioned negative aspects:story, optimization

60% User Score Based on 215 reviews

Modern Naval Warfare is the next generation naval combat simulator, which will immerse you in the dark and unforgiving world of the modern high-tech naval battlefield. If you enjoyed this game, see our list of games similar to Modern Naval Warfare.