Game Dev Tycoon

 PC
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1191 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 835 out of 1191
  2. Mixed: 278 out of 1191
  3. Negative: 78 out of 1191

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  1. Killman
    May 30, 2013
    2
    A neat concept turns out to be one of the worst 'tycoon' games I have played in a long time. The game actually starts out a little fun at first, seeing the tribute to retro gaming and whatnot is quite cool and coming with witty game titles is fun too, but this all gets extremely old and boring once the game ramps up on difficulty, very quickly. The game is too punishing. Every littleA neat concept turns out to be one of the worst 'tycoon' games I have played in a long time. The game actually starts out a little fun at first, seeing the tribute to retro gaming and whatnot is quite cool and coming with witty game titles is fun too, but this all gets extremely old and boring once the game ramps up on difficulty, very quickly. The game is too punishing. Every little mistake costs you tons of money, so don't even bother experimenting. Time passes by WAY too quickly. Seriously, a month goes by literally every 20-30 seconds, which just drains you of cash. On top of this, everything is incredibly expensive, from new engines that you constantly have to make, to staff salaries which will be raised out of your control. How is this a tycoon game again? I don't even get to choose whether or not my staff gets a raise? What if I am really short on cash and cannot afford it? Too bad, the game does it for you. Truly, this is pathetic game in terms of 'Tycoon' games. If you want a good tycoon game, go to the ultimate of Tycoon's, Roller Coaster tycoon, which can be bought for quite cheap anyway, given the quality. This game may seem 'cheap', but there is a reason. The quality just isn't there. The presentation is bland beyond belief, the interface is clunky, the way the game is executed is very poorly done, it is just a bad game. Truly though, the biggest flaw by far is the insane difficult and horrid time system, which goes by incredibly fast. I was literally losing 51K every 30 seconds or so and I really did not have much control over it. Then, it went up to 61K, just because my staff member received a mandatory raise due to leveling up. Again, how is this a tycoon game if I cannot even decided that important aspect? Another horrid detail is the 'review' system. We really are never told how it works, what went wrong in the case of a bad game, and how much it affects the sales of a game.

    $7.99 or not, I found this to be a frustrating experience that not only angered me, but, once I went bankrupt for the 7th time early on, it bored me as well. Many will disagree, but I say stay away.    … Expand
  2. im2Lagged2Frag
    May 28, 2013
    6
    An interesting game development simulator with Role-playing elements.
    Aesthetics:
    Graphics: Well done, simple and neat, and generally easy to understand icons. 8/10 Audio: simple, doesn't detract from the game, or really add to it much either. 6/10 Style: The art style fits the game well, as a 2.5D isometric SNES-era style. 8/10 Engagement: The game is frustrating and addictive. It    An interesting game development simulator with Role-playing elements.
    Aesthetics:
    Graphics: Well done, simple and neat, and generally easy to understand icons. 8/10
    Audio: simple, doesn't detract from the game, or really add to it much either. 6/10
    Style: The art style fits the game well, as a 2.5D isometric SNES-era style. 8/10

    Engagement:
    The game is frustrating and addictive. It brings you back to try to get further, do better or discover more. 8/10

    Accessibility: The game has a very limited Help function, a bare minimum tutorial. This was the biggest shortfall, in my opinion. When you failed, you didn't really understand why you failed, and when you did amazing, it was not very clear why either. The game maintains a brutal difficulty level throughout, leaving you never more than a single mistake away from Game Over. 2/10

    Appeal:
    Co-op: Not Applicable
    Competitive: You have a high score board at the end, only if you make it through a whole game, which you can compare to yourself and others. 6/10
    Expressive: The game lets you name your character, company, and each of the games you develop. 6/10
    Exploration: This game really shines here. With bare bones documentation and minimal tutorial, you have lots to discover and experiment with. 8/10

    Overall: 6/10. Recommended for people that are really interested in Game Design, or really driven to discover and experiment.    … Expand
  3. marshman516
    May 28, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an amazing game!!! so worth the money. Provides hours of entertainment. And it is pretty cheap. I would recommend this for 12+ or people who like business simulations… Expand
  4. Jake_
    May 28, 2013
    7
    I had to describe this game in 2 words, i'd choose "stupidly addictive". While the game is not technically or graphically impressive, it is extremely funny and enjoyable. Played for hours.
  5. HARBING3R
    May 24, 2013
    8
    This game is great, it ain't perfect but it's still fun and addicting. Although I would have enjoyed an award ceremony for your games, a better reviews system, some better statistics for your game and your company and some competition like some rival development studios. But regardless of that its still a deeply enjoyable game for a small price of $8. And you do get to make your ownThis game is great, it ain't perfect but it's still fun and addicting. Although I would have enjoyed an award ceremony for your games, a better reviews system, some better statistics for your game and your company and some competition like some rival development studios. But regardless of that its still a deeply enjoyable game for a small price of $8. And you do get to make your own engine, make MMO's, take on contracts, make games for other Publishers and you even get to make your own console, in my opinion this game is worth the buy. And I cannot wait for a sequel, so i give this game an 8/10.… Expand
  6. Quackit
    May 24, 2013
    7
    Quirky but good.

    Game Dev Tycoon is an interesting take on the Tycoon (AKA Business) simulation games. Game Dev Tycoon puts you back in the eighties at the wheel of the next big gaming company. Your gaming company (the name of which you will be choosing) will initially be just you sitting in your garage with your computer and your DeLorean. So once you are introduced to your garage    Quirky but good.

    Game Dev Tycoon is an interesting take on the Tycoon (AKA Business) simulation games. Game Dev Tycoon puts you back in the eighties at the wheel of the next big gaming company. Your gaming company (the name of which you will be choosing) will initially be just you sitting in your garage with your computer and your DeLorean. So once you are introduced to your garage and the way you go about creating the worlds next revolutionary games, you will be free to create whatever game you desire, from Racing/Action games to Medieval/Business games.
    The game development process is rather simple, you will go through 3 stages of development, deciding what the primary focus of your games are and choosing the features that your game will include. While you go through these three stages of development your employee(s) will generate Technology, Design, Bug, and Research points. Technology points determine how technologically advanced your game will be. Design will determine how well designed your game will be. Bug points tell you how many bugs your game has, you can remove bugs after the development period by waiting on releasing the game for a little while. You can spend research points at a later time to create new technologies, find new topics for your games, and upgrade your games graphics.
    Once you have finished, you can wait for your employee(s) to fix bugs and then release the game, or you can release the game immediately. Once your brand new game has been released, the reviews will start to roll in. Reviews are based on a 1-10 scale and are also given side comments such as: "Quirky but good,"
    "Business and Simulation are a good combination [of genres]"
    "OK" and etc.
    After the reviews come the sales, your games will sell throughout the week and you will get your pay at the very end of each week. The sales are heavily dependent on the marketing and reviews your game got, and are the difference between business success, and bankruptcy. Later you will find new ways to accumulate sales such as: going to conventions, marketing, take publishing deals, and more.
    Unfortunately success can easily lead to failure in the world of Game Dev Tycoon, as your reviews are seemingly based on your new games comparison to your last game, which means, if you make an amazing game, your next game is destined for failure, this leads to extreme difficulties and repetitive reloading in order to create one amazing game after another. Although the chain of having to create amazing games does not happen often, and the chain can be broken, it really becomes a hindrance in certain situations.
    Now although Game Dev Tycoon is a mostly well designed game and a very good start for indie developer GreenHeart Games, it is not a flawless experience as it has it's own plethora of hardships and bugs guaranteed to meet you during your time with the game, but it continues to receive support from the developers and aims to be released on Steam via Greenlight.

    Despite all of it's bugs and problems, I see a bright future for Game Dev Tycoon and GreenHeart Games and I cannot wait to see what they do next.    … Expand
  7. R3GIST3R
    May 24, 2013
    8
    Game Dev and simulation is a great combination!

    Now on a more serious note, this game was really worth 8 bucks. The large span of different combinations of game topics, genres, platforms to develop for and engine mechanics made the game very re-playable. The only problem I have with the game is the tiny amount of "immersivness" in the game. Sure you can choose the game's topics and    Game Dev and simulation is a great combination!

    Now on a more serious note, this game was really worth 8 bucks. The large span of different combinations of game topics, genres, platforms to develop for and engine mechanics made the game very re-playable. The only problem I have with the game is the tiny amount of "immersivness" in the game. Sure you can choose the game's topics and genres and adjust an engine you have made to fit the kind of game you would really create but there is just so little that goes into it.

    The only other problem I had with it was the repetitive nature of the game. Once I got really "into it" with the game I found myself taking breaks from it. But again it was definitely worth the 8 bucks, for some good ol' indie game fun.    … Expand
  8. bdube30
    May 23, 2013
    8
    Really good tycoon game.

    Caution VERY ADDICTIVE I can play many hours without see the time gone Very good game. The game is made for make us think to the best way to develop a game. Simple but good.
  9. ibrahim7009
    May 20, 2013
    10
    The guy is pure awesome. it combines between fun and seriousness. You have the chance of making the game of your dreams Sci-Fi RPG game or Fantasy MMORPG or anything you want this game is about making you having fun same time making you learn how to make a successful company. I failed the game like 3 times myself but in the 4th time i made it and now my company Esoft got more than 100The guy is pure awesome. it combines between fun and seriousness. You have the chance of making the game of your dreams Sci-Fi RPG game or Fantasy MMORPG or anything you want this game is about making you having fun same time making you learn how to make a successful company. I failed the game like 3 times myself but in the 4th time i made it and now my company Esoft got more than 100 billion. I made 3 successful MMORPG and I managed to make my console have 21% of the market share because of my intelligence. I kept making good games for the console and i made a low amount of money in the first but after some time i made a special MMORPG for each console and that brought me "Arabs monies".
    I can't wait for a future DLC. Thank you Greenheart    … Expand
  10. VincentD
    May 19, 2013
    6
    Graphics and Sound 8/10- Not much to say about the graphics because it's a fine looking game and the music that plays during the game is good and it doesn't distracts you from playing the game.

    Gameplay 4/10- The game falls a little short on some parts like the review system. The review system runs on an algorithm that calculates the score based on many factors like scores of your    Graphics and Sound 8/10- Not much to say about the graphics because it's a fine looking game and the music that plays during the game is good and it doesn't distracts you from playing the game.

    Gameplay 4/10- The game falls a little short on some parts like the review system. The review system runs on an algorithm that calculates the score based on many factors like scores of your previous game, balance between tech and design, right usage of sliders etc. and if you get a low score on your game review, your game suffers from low sales. Other than that, the gameplay is smooth with easy navigation and it is similar to Game Dev Story on the iOS.    … Expand
  11. gt13614
    May 19, 2013
    10
    A Game for the little Geek in you! For anyone wanting to have abit of fun and let the time fly by this is the game for you!

    I first saw it on Youtube, went and downloaded the Demo and enjoyed it (easy to play). Went ahead and purchased the game fully, being cheap i thought "why not?" quick and simple to start up, no problems at all! Starts out just as the Demo does, but it's more    A Game for the little Geek in you! For anyone wanting to have abit of fun and let the time fly by this is the game for you!

    I first saw it on Youtube, went and downloaded the Demo and enjoyed it (easy to play). Went ahead and purchased the game fully, being cheap i thought "why not?" quick and simple to start up, no problems at all!

    Starts out just as the Demo does, but it's more challenging. To get a good review it's more difficult meaning you do have to change things up, so if you went for Racing, Racing, Racing you will lose fans and the reviewers will get bored of your same old games.

    You play for 30 in game years and trust me it has a good balance of how many games you can/could produce in a Game Year all depends on what you plan on doing, whether it's a Large multi-genre fantasy game or a small, casual mobile game it's your choice!

    The game won't stop after the 30years have been completed, it will show you you're score for those 30years, the game that sold the most units, the game that made the most profit and after that you can carry on and get bigger and better, and create more complex games even consoles!

    My personal Score was: 32906699 which i think is reasonably good for my first day with this game.

    Worth a 10/10, and it's no Rip Off, it's an idea based on an old game, pushed onto the PC Market with everything being much much better!

    Great Game, and "all games" would give it a 10! (people who have played it will know what i mean!)    … Expand
  12. Me929
    May 18, 2013
    5
    The game seems very intriguing at the beginning of the game, and it seems as if it will gain much more depth later in the game. However, The difficulty curve is steep because of the algorithm used to calculate game scores, which rates games based not on a constant scale but on how they compare to your previous games. This means that in order to maximize a profit as you enter the 32-bitThe game seems very intriguing at the beginning of the game, and it seems as if it will gain much more depth later in the game. However, The difficulty curve is steep because of the algorithm used to calculate game scores, which rates games based not on a constant scale but on how they compare to your previous games. This means that in order to maximize a profit as you enter the 32-bit era of the game you must aim to make each subsequent game about 10% better. The game also introduces many new technologies and ideas but does not give you enough time to research them, causing your employees to become overextended because they don't understand what a cowboy is. Overall, the game is promising and looks to be really fun, but its mechanics are a bit repetitive and the way your games are reviewed is awkward and can be very difficult.

    5/10 "Has its moments" -Me    … Expand
  13. ShearForce
    May 17, 2013
    6
    This could have been so much more, it really could have, I loved Game Dev Story, and hence I do like this game, because it's more of the same, and that's a mobile game guys, you could have done a lot more with this, and I really do hope that you will, loads of potential, very little explored.

    If you know what Gae Dev Story is and you liked it, you will like this game, but don't expect    This could have been so much more, it really could have, I loved Game Dev Story, and hence I do like this game, because it's more of the same, and that's a mobile game guys, you could have done a lot more with this, and I really do hope that you will, loads of potential, very little explored.

    If you know what Gae Dev Story is and you liked it, you will like this game, but don't expect innovation and creativity here.    … Expand
  14. vixenchan
    May 15, 2013
    6
    The game is fun, yet there is nothing to it. If you are not carefull you quickly wind up in a no win situation. The tech passes you up, you are constantly behind. And there is no way to catch up. OR you push to hard and quickly outpace your own bills. There is to much little fussing to be a time killer type game. And not enough to play seriously.

    To me this game is the type you pick up    The game is fun, yet there is nothing to it. If you are not carefull you quickly wind up in a no win situation. The tech passes you up, you are constantly behind. And there is no way to catch up. OR you push to hard and quickly outpace your own bills. There is to much little fussing to be a time killer type game. And not enough to play seriously.

    To me this game is the type you pick up fuss for a while then shelve for weeks on end.    … Expand
  15. brunbrun88
    May 15, 2013
    10
    awesome! play it as much as i can!!some times it gets hard but its too fun to stop playing. buy it you wont regret it. btw if you want the research lab train all of your people a lot!! oh and have fun
  16. JackTingey
    May 15, 2013
    10
    Fantastic game!
    Game Dev Tycoon was the most entertaining game ever! I'm very picky with games, I enjoyed sitting down and becoming a game developer! I cannot wait for another game by Greenheart Games, most interesting game i have played in a long time (in my opinion).
  17. MayhemMike83
    May 14, 2013
    3
    Nice theme but poorly executed.
    Here is a quote from a wiki about the games most important mechanic the review score of your game:
    "... Good quality game DOES NOT MEAN good reviews. In this game, you compete EXCLUSIVELY against your own previous high score ....Therefore, in order to get good a review score, you need to perform slightly better than your previous high score....." Which    Nice theme but poorly executed.
    Here is a quote from a wiki about the games most important mechanic the review score of your game:
    "... Good quality game DOES NOT MEAN good reviews.
    In this game, you compete EXCLUSIVELY against your own previous high score ....Therefore, in order to get good a review score, you need to perform slightly better than your previous high score....."

    Which means the worst thing you could do is making the most awesome game ever because you will have a hard time beating yourself afterwards.

    Which makes the game pointless.    … Expand
  18. arnulf8
    May 14, 2013
    10
    wonderfull. though my vision may be blinded by the fact i think the developers sound like friggin cool guys. I am gonna say it clear. My purchase of this was impulsive(only 7.99 so why not), and as soon as i had downloaded it i stayed up most of the night just to get my buisness flurishing. But despite all this fun i feel like i would've gotten more out of it if i had actually lived in thewonderfull. though my vision may be blinded by the fact i think the developers sound like friggin cool guys. I am gonna say it clear. My purchase of this was impulsive(only 7.99 so why not), and as soon as i had downloaded it i stayed up most of the night just to get my buisness flurishing. But despite all this fun i feel like i would've gotten more out of it if i had actually lived in the 80's and 90's. since history actually has a great impact. Best game of the year:not quite. Best 8$ i have ever spent: hecka yeah.… Expand
  19. Epic_Cheese
    May 14, 2013
    7
    Quirky but Good.
    - Epic_Cheese
    This game cost me 6 euro's and already has given me a lot of fun (I only bought it 2 days ago). The Quirky humor and hidden references turns a smile on my face, while I try to recreate old-school games on old-school devices. The fact that I fail, only gives me more respect for starting game studio's (Such as GreenHeartGames), for now I have been shown a    Quirky but Good.
    - Epic_Cheese

    This game cost me 6 euro's and already has given me a lot of fun (I only bought it 2 days ago).
    The Quirky humor and hidden references turns a smile on my face, while I try to recreate old-school games on old-school devices. The fact that I fail, only gives me more respect for starting game studio's (Such as GreenHeartGames), for now I have been shown a little of game developing progress.

    I also believe that Game Dev Tycoon, shows us (the gamers) a glimpse, of how hard it is for a starting studio to get on the rails. Every step you take is a risky investment of time and money and like in the game, Major critics and reviewing agencies are not always showing an honest reflection of what a "good game" is.

    Even though this game might make me slightly more bald, I like the game and I wish GreenHeartGames good luck.

    Epic_Cheese

    P.S. Apparently, when you pirate the game, your company always bankrupts, because of pirates. I just love stuff like that. It's a new way of fighting Pirates... YARR!!    … Expand
  20. DrIron
    May 14, 2013
    0
    Absolute garbage, beyond the idea and interface. This is essentially a knockoff of the iOS game Game Dev Story and it makes no effort to hide it.

    The major issues with this game are that the ways to make a successful game are almost completely nonsensical, and a viewing through the raw data is the only way, excepting extreme luck, to have much success. These include such oddities as the    Absolute garbage, beyond the idea and interface. This is essentially a knockoff of the iOS game Game Dev Story and it makes no effort to hide it.

    The major issues with this game are that the ways to make a successful game are almost completely nonsensical, and a viewing through the raw data is the only way, excepting extreme luck, to have much success. These include such oddities as the fact that any non-action title on the NES or SNES will flop, or how the PS2 is apparently only for action games and RPGs.

    The only thing notable about this game is the guilting of pirates the devs have done in an attempt to get attention, which I find ironic considering that they've done something far worse than piracy, they've ripped off another game.

    Avoid this, play the original game (Game Dev Story) instead.    … Expand
  21. vampireboar
    May 14, 2013
    8
    Pretty good game. Overall. The visual style is extremely cute, it's got plenty of reasonably funny bits, it's just generally enjoyable to play.

    It has got a few big problems though, the scoring for your games doesn't feel connected enough to your decisions and the research system the custom engine system are just idiotically executed. If you can overlook those serious problems though,    Pretty good game. Overall. The visual style is extremely cute, it's got plenty of reasonably funny bits, it's just generally enjoyable to play.

    It has got a few big problems though, the scoring for your games doesn't feel connected enough to your decisions and the research system the custom engine system are just idiotically executed.
    If you can overlook those serious problems though, you will find a lot of fun here.    … Expand
  22. teshia
    May 13, 2013
    2
    I really didn't like this game. You can make all kinds of improvements to your game engine and become focuses on making great games in a certain genre but the game penalizes you harshly for repeating genre combinations. So I make a great fantasy role playing game and it gets amazing reviews, I improve my game engine with things like rich backstory, character development, and otherI really didn't like this game. You can make all kinds of improvements to your game engine and become focuses on making great games in a certain genre but the game penalizes you harshly for repeating genre combinations. So I make a great fantasy role playing game and it gets amazing reviews, I improve my game engine with things like rich backstory, character development, and other aspects pertinent to role playing games but when I make another fantasy role playing game it gives me terrible scores because I'm repeating myself. This isn't at all similar to what game development is like. The fact that I have to go from fantasy role playing games to making a casual virtual pet game for kids in order to have success is ridiculous. If any of this game was reality, companies like Bioware, Blizzard, and Maxis would have tanked after their first game. I'm sorry, but the mechanics in this game are ridiculous and it just makes the game feel clunky and broken.… Expand
  23. GTFOmyEGGS
    May 13, 2013
    9
    I don't know what caused me to buy this game but, I am glad I did. I spent over 12 hours ramming my gaming company to the ground and I had a blast. Creating the perfect mix of games is fun. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing your game receive tens across the board. This game makes me appreciate game developers even more now.
  24. LickTheEnvelope
    May 12, 2013
    8
    Great sim game, especially for the price. After playing for hours and hours and hitting walls, then overcoming them, but not quite understanding why i'd hit other walls I read up on how the game calculates things and at that point it becomes a LITTLE more clear as to what you have to go for.

    It's not perfect by any means but it's a great, fun time synch and that's all you can ask for    Great sim game, especially for the price. After playing for hours and hours and hitting walls, then overcoming them, but not quite understanding why i'd hit other walls I read up on how the game calculates things and at that point it becomes a LITTLE more clear as to what you have to go for.

    It's not perfect by any means but it's a great, fun time synch and that's all you can ask for in a sim game under $10.    … Expand
  25. BinKill-Ethical
    May 12, 2013
    10
    This is a great game!
    10/10 A great balance between technology and design!
    10/10 A pure masterpiece!
    10/10 Perfect!
    10/10 Amazing!
    +1 Fan

    This game is great, and I'm glad too see more game companies starting out! This game is definitely worth buying.

    Paul Burkart
  26. MrYallD
    May 12, 2013
    8
    The game is ridiculously fun. I, myself, as a young gamer had a great experience seeing at the old (1st stage) consoles and stuff. But after 12h+ of game play and getting to the end game, it got boring. 1st of all The so called End Game is too hard to reach in that 30 year development. Need to have some economical crisis random events. Game just needs some small work done to make itThe game is ridiculously fun. I, myself, as a young gamer had a great experience seeing at the old (1st stage) consoles and stuff. But after 12h+ of game play and getting to the end game, it got boring. 1st of all The so called End Game is too hard to reach in that 30 year development. Need to have some economical crisis random events. Game just needs some small work done to make it perfect. And I really would love for the game to have modding available, BUT THERE IS NOT!!! But the game is great… Expand
  27. IJBarny
    May 12, 2013
    9
    I have played the game through twice on 35 year length and the continued for another 20years (ish). This is because in the main time you are given you can't really use the RnD lab fully. The Game is well worth $7.99 as it gives you a lot of gameplay. Can't wait to see this game arrive on steam and see future updates.
  28. Beboming
    May 12, 2013
    10
    I found this game after Sips (Yogscast) played it. I downloaded the demo, and it is extremely fun! Unfortunately, I have to wait until it is on Steam to buy it. Can't wait!
  29. ImNotRicky
    May 12, 2013
    6
    The biggest problem with Game Dev Tycoon is it's crazy resemblance to Game Dev Story. Besides that, (I'll just leave that out there) it's a fun time-waster, you might spend a few hours on it (or even longer) Hard as hell, but still kind of clever. The ratings from the critics inside the game can be pretty random and it's idea that some genres don't or do work with some topics is kind ofThe biggest problem with Game Dev Tycoon is it's crazy resemblance to Game Dev Story. Besides that, (I'll just leave that out there) it's a fun time-waster, you might spend a few hours on it (or even longer) Hard as hell, but still kind of clever. The ratings from the critics inside the game can be pretty random and it's idea that some genres don't or do work with some topics is kind of broken The game hasn't any concept of niche audiences.… Expand
  30. Jounk33
    May 12, 2013
    7
    The first look and the first game is fun and is motivating to play a stage in one night.
    But after that I don'feel to replay it again, because If you know how it works, the game is no longer a challenge.
    There are no random events such as financial crises and the impact of software piracy .
    Conclusion so far, good idea, but this was presented very clumsy. Hope for a better version in future.
  31. SeveredWing
    May 11, 2013
    8
    A highly addictive business/sim game revolving around the concept of being a game developer yourself. Now while it has a sound appearance and presentation there are quite a few quirky bugs and issues that crop up. As an independent game this is to be expected, but there seems to be no response from the developers regarding these issues nearly a month later. Many of the bugs are simpleA highly addictive business/sim game revolving around the concept of being a game developer yourself. Now while it has a sound appearance and presentation there are quite a few quirky bugs and issues that crop up. As an independent game this is to be expected, but there seems to be no response from the developers regarding these issues nearly a month later. Many of the bugs are simple things too such as the music not remaining off when turned off and errors in presentation of game names (titles with an apostrophe in them are incorrectly displayed at later points). There are also severe frame rate problems for many players in the latter stages of the game when many things are happening all at once (MMO's are running, your own console is being sold/maintained, R&D is researching, you are developing a game, etc.). The frame rate problems can get so bad that they essentially render the game motionless for many minutes. As it is a Java game things like this should be quick to fix.… Expand
  32. Aayvie
    May 11, 2013
    8
    Needs more everything. More consoles, more genres, more topics, more researches, more years, more offices, etc.
    I already finished the game so I have almost nothing else to do anymore, and most Tycoon games last forever.
    It's fun though.
  33. MagSun
    May 10, 2013
    5
    Replayed the DEMO and I'm starting to like it for some of its aspects. It is really a hard to master game, after I realized how the scoring system (seems*) to work (*explained on its wikia) with very nice cross references and graphics (simple, but nice). After all I still miss parts where you do more than pick a combination of setting, genre, etc., adjust some sliders and wait until it'sReplayed the DEMO and I'm starting to like it for some of its aspects. It is really a hard to master game, after I realized how the scoring system (seems*) to work (*explained on its wikia) with very nice cross references and graphics (simple, but nice). After all I still miss parts where you do more than pick a combination of setting, genre, etc., adjust some sliders and wait until it's done. Maybe this is part of the full game, but after I don't see it in the DEMO which is to make my buy it this game remains one of those I wait for until it's on discount. Maybe the "cracked version" mentioned in the developers blog offers more insight?… Expand
  34. mitchcoll21
    May 10, 2013
    10
    This has to be one of the best games i've played in a long time I find myself making new companies just to get a bit of variety when playing.
    For the price its at as well i was shocked at how low the price is, for the amount of fun i've had and the amount of time i've played for it is well worth it !
    This is a must buy
  35. BaturTR
    May 10, 2013
    10
    I played this game 10 hours.I think this game is awasome.And Its a good game.I think very cheap. I have gotten about 10 hours of entertainment out of it in my first 80 year playthrough.Very Funny game and you can't get bored easily
  36. JTay
    May 10, 2013
    10
    It's just the best Tycoon I have played ever. It's addicting, I've been playing 10 hours straight! Success of this game is a one thing, that other games mostly don't have good concept for gameplay.
  37. Yogarpg
    May 9, 2013
    10
    Simple, fun, and after all, with lots of content, simply addictive and with a visually very beautiful. I do not see a good tycoon game style so long. I recommend.
  38. AloneBit
    May 9, 2013
    9
    Good game!
  39. bungie
    May 9, 2013
    8
    Challenging and fun game, every move you made can change the results, one day you're bankrupt and the other a success in sales into the masses. You have to read the screen prompts constantly, but also take important decisions every second, until being an expert after a few hours. Need small improvements but has great potential, is re-playable, simple but addictive. Totally recommended forChallenging and fun game, every move you made can change the results, one day you're bankrupt and the other a success in sales into the masses. You have to read the screen prompts constantly, but also take important decisions every second, until being an expert after a few hours. Need small improvements but has great potential, is re-playable, simple but addictive. Totally recommended for those who love the simulators, while you are getting real knowledge of game development and history.… Expand
  40. ZenonProject
    May 9, 2013
    10
    I consider this game a masterpiece.It is cheap,it is highly replayable,it is challenging,in one word,it is awesome!I recommend this game to everyone who likes tycoon/management games.It's simply the best of its genre!
  41. xlegend0415
    May 8, 2013
    9
    Probably the best thing I have ever spent 8 dollars on. It kept me coming back. Some of the most fun I have had gaming for a while. It kept me coming back.
  42. Appfilm
    May 8, 2013
    9
    Ever wanted to be a game developer but didn’t know how to make games or didn’t think you had the creativity to come up with an innovate idea? Well that can now be done, but within another game. And making games has never been so much fun till now.

    Game Dev Tycoon is a game made by an indie developing company known as Greenheart Games. This is their first game and what a way to make an    Ever wanted to be a game developer but didn’t know how to make games or didn’t think you had the creativity to come up with an innovate idea? Well that can now be done, but within another game. And making games has never been so much fun till now.

    Game Dev Tycoon is a game made by an indie developing company known as Greenheart Games. This is their first game and what a way to make an entrance into the cramped space that is the gaming industry. Game Dev Tycoon is simulator that allows you to develop games and release them to the world of Game Dev Tycoon. You will work your way up from being a tech genius sat in their mum’s basement to possibly working in a top end corporate building. When you start playing this highly addictive game, you will start to understand and appreciate all the hard work that goes into making games that we take for granted.

    The game works on a year cycle and every year or two years, a new console is released to spice things up. You have to keep up with the trends and age popularity and even genre trends. Due to copyright issues the console and company names have been slightly edited; for example there are companies called ‘Ninvento’ and ‘Vonny’. Quick hint, the ‘mBox’ is a great console is a great console to release your games on. The game has a 35 year limit so you won’t be seeing any 4D games consoles with built-in gaming chairs. There are 51 topics to unlock, five genres to choose from as well as numerous platforms and engines to choose from. This allows for many combinations to develop a game within, and all are capable of succeeding. When you’re not creating games, you will be able to research things that would go toward you creating a new game engine. Also there are contracts available which you can earn a quick buck by completing.

    The game is very cheap, right now Game Dev Tycoon isn’t on Steam but Greenheart Games promises that when it does become available to Steam, it will give all customers who have purchased the game, a free Steam key. On their site, they are offering the game for a small investment of £5.69 excluding VAT. The game is also being offered to those who own Windows 8 or have a windows 8 tablet, as it can be purchased in the Windows Store. Mac and Linux people can also purchase the game. An interesting thing that Greenheart Games has done is that they released a cracked version of their game on Torrent sites but with a catch, the game made people pirate the games that you created within the virtual world of Game Dev Tycoon. The irony of seeing people on forums complaining that they couldn’t make any profit because people were pirating their games. The irony. This clever trick was used as a little joke and an experiment to see how people would feel about people pirating their games despite doing the same to other peoples games.

    A problem with the game is that time seems to move too fast. It seem like new systems were being developed at an devastating speed. It became difficult to keep up your current game engine up to balance it with the latest technology available. In order to have the latest game engine you need the money and research available. The only way to do this is to sell those games. However the only way to sell successful games is to have up to date technology. So you can only sell so many racing simulators in a row. Even the game recognizes if you create the same game twice, even if you received all tens for it.

    Despite its minor problem, we love this game and have been playing it for days on end. We highly recommend you get your hands on this game as you will not regret a second of playing this perfect combination of addiction and pleasure.    … Expand
  43. Ellmaru
    May 8, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My first impressions were good and it stayed that way. The difficulty was a nice mix because it wasn't to easy or painstakingly hard. If you haven't tried this game you should, here is a quick summary; You start off in a small garage but after you have released a bunch of hit games, you move up. The main game spans 30 years but you can play for longer despite not having new consoles released. On that point, the game keeps up with real history only changing names. It may also be surprising to find out that this is Greenheart Game's first game. We can only imagine what they will make next. The only thing that would improve this game is a sequel. Hopefully the sequel wont be a follow-on but a remake since the developers resources have improved, maybe it will start earlier on at the very birth of videogames and maybe have a few more offices to move into. Maybe a more personal character creation will benefit it as well. It will be exciting to see Greenheart exploring new topics and genres. Another thing that improves the game is its good price ($8.00,£5.49) and the free demo. It is quite humorous how the developers make most of those who pirate the game get pirated.… Expand
  44. Chulo81
    May 7, 2013
    7
    Game Dev Tycoon is an ambitious & challenging game. At first look and while playing through the tutorial, the game seems like it will be a simple grind to make more money, then purchase or train to bigger and better things. This is not how the game functions.

    Don't let the name "Tycoon" fool you. It is not a "Tycoon" game like any previous "Tycoon" games. You don't slowly work your way    Game Dev Tycoon is an ambitious & challenging game. At first look and while playing through the tutorial, the game seems like it will be a simple grind to make more money, then purchase or train to bigger and better things. This is not how the game functions.

    Don't let the name "Tycoon" fool you. It is not a "Tycoon" game like any previous "Tycoon" games. You don't slowly work your way up by making more money to purchase bigger/better things until you have the biggest & best. Then attain all the biggest & best things in the game and just sit there making money. There is a strategy to the game that starts at the very beginning.

    If you stick to the tutorial, you will probably start out fine as a developer and get mediocre reviews & earn mediocre money, but eventually go bankrupt. You might make one or two successful games, but the mediocre & bad ones will kill you. This is partly due to how fast the calendar moves in the game & the monthly expenses you incur ($20,000/month for one level 2 employee?!).

    The best way to succeed at the game is learn how it works and learn what is expected of you. Unless you enjoy trying to figure this out on your own by playing & replaying the game over & over again, I would suggest using the community to help teach you. You can use YouTube videos, message boards, or wikis.

    The game uses an algorithm to gauge what review scores your game will get. This can mean big money, or not making enough to cover the cost of the game (not to mention the monthly expenses). This algorithm is what makes the gameplay so frustrating and ultimately what ruins it. I spent an hour or so reading the wiki on how the algorithm works, it tries hard to get it right, but essentially fails. I feel like I should explain further here, but there is just too much!

    (If you've read the wiki: competing against your own top review score, improper balance of development/tech means bad scores, why can't I focus more time to have great story/quests in my action game without it hurting my score? and more)

    I am not saying it is impossible to be successful in Game Dev Tycoon, but the learning curve is high. You cannot be successful if you just try to go make the biggest & best game by getting as much dev/tech points as you can on every game you make.

    There are some great features to Game Dev Tycoon, but it was too easy to focus on the biggest negative that is: trying to figure out all the appropriate combinations to be successful. But, this hasn't stopped me from playing & trying to master it.

    If Game Dev Tycoon were to review itself it would say there is too much tech, not enough development.

    Pros:
    1. One click interface
    2. Surprisingly in-depth strategy
    3. Some customization
    4. Addictive gameplay

    Cons:
    1. Algorithm that tries too hard (steep learning curve!)
    2. Very little sense that you are competing against other developers
    3. Staff salaries are way too big (Lvl 1: $8,000-11,000/month Lvl 2: $16,000-23,000/month)
    4. Minor interface glitches

    Things I hope change/get updated:
    1. Can only develop for one platform at a time and never pre-launch
    2. Weeks/months speed by a little too fast. I am not talking about adding speed adjustment, but rather slowing down the weeks/months compared to how much development is going on. (I admit this would probably make the amount of work done in a short amount of time non-realistic. But I think it would improve gameplay)
    3. Include better explanation of how reviews are scored in tutorial or in help menu.    … Expand
  45. Hamtier
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Great Game! Having a simulated game company is really interesting.
    the game follows gaming history from the earliest point of time with the PC and Commodor(called differently in the game) and while the game does not entirely accurately simulate the experience, it does come close, which is pretty impressive for a game that on the surface is relatively simple.
    on the surface its as simple    Great Game! Having a simulated game company is really interesting.
    the game follows gaming history from the earliest point of time with the PC and Commodor(called differently in the game) and while the game does not entirely accurately simulate the experience, it does come close, which is pretty impressive for a game that on the surface is relatively simple.
    on the surface its as simple as choosing the platform,Genre and name of the game.
    but after playing for awhile its pretty clear that it is a little bit more complicated then just that.
    you also run into the various events that real companies run into like Piracy(even in the legit version) but also little coding competitions within the company and the E3(called G3 in-game)
    the game's various stages,markes as Offices,add some new interesting game elements everytime you enter a new one, like getting employees to work for you and making another division to your company to research stuff.
    all-in-all. its pretty cool to see a game,simulating a game to this degree.
    if you'r a fan of Game Dev Story,then you will love this. it has some of the elements but adds TONS AND TONS of new gameplay elements that will make the experience a worthwhile endovour.    … Expand
  46. Joesmiled
    May 7, 2013
    9
    Game Dec Tycoon is a good game that has a long lifespan and won't bore the player quickly. The one 'Con' to this game is how repeated the help text can get. The game play is brilliant and I have no other faults to point out.
  47. D3F1L3R
    May 7, 2013
    9
    I gave the game a solid 9 out of 10. When I buy an indie based game I am looking for an absolute time takers. I want addictive gameplay that keeps me coming back for more. Game Dev Tycoon provided such an experience. The game has a few annoying aspects but I can not recall any other game taking 20+ hours of my life in two days. I originally bought the game because of an article I readI gave the game a solid 9 out of 10. When I buy an indie based game I am looking for an absolute time takers. I want addictive gameplay that keeps me coming back for more. Game Dev Tycoon provided such an experience. The game has a few annoying aspects but I can not recall any other game taking 20+ hours of my life in two days. I originally bought the game because of an article I read talking about the devs sort of trolling the pirate community. What they did was a masterpiece marketing aspect. I will always support indie titles over major ones however, these guys earned my $8.… Expand
  48. Tricksterzzzz
    May 7, 2013
    9
    This game is surprising addictive. I have played it for days and days on end. It can be very hard to get the hang of and there is many different combos you can do, some good, some bad. Only thing is missing is Online multiplayer then it would be complete.
  49. orosznyet
    May 7, 2013
    1
    This game was really fun for a couple hours but I was bored after that.
    CONs:
    - The notification system is annoying because each message stops the gameplay until you click on "ok" (you can't even use enter to close those messages). - Review system is nothing more than just random number generator which is not affected by actual game quality. I don't know how to improve or what should be    This game was really fun for a couple hours but I was bored after that.
    CONs:
    - The notification system is annoying because each message stops the gameplay until you click on "ok" (you can't even use enter to close those messages).
    - Review system is nothing more than just random number generator which is not affected by actual game quality. I don't know how to improve or what should be improved in order to get higher scores. (After the 30 year story line review system works as a stupid monkey.)
    - When you have Research Lab and Hardware lab the performance goes under zero. HTML5 and JS may not the best choice.
    - Why I can "update" existing game engines? Seriously, I have plenty of game engines named: 1+, 1++, 1#, 2+
    - The "click anywhere" menu system should be improved because now it's not a user friendly stuff. (eg opens slowly, instantly closes after open).
    -The game itself adds nothing to Game Dev Story's formula. Which is really sad.
    PROs:
    - The graphics is decent for a game like that.
    - Polished interface and gameplay compared to Game Dev Story. (Although not the best.)
    - Potential "Indie Bundle" game for few cents.    … Expand
  50. markrobinson89
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Very Similar to Game Dev Story on iOS. This is much polished and smooth graphics! More realistic Consoles like we get in actual life. Overall thanks but PLEASE release for iOS! Much better market for you guys Ignore these comments about copying! Only little features are the exact same but so what! Thankyou :D
  51. battousaiken
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Amazing game!!! Unbeatable prize, no in-game purchases, and, best of all, it's just damn entertaining. Do yourself a favor and pick this up for $7.99.
  52. matster2005
    May 7, 2013
    10
    I am usually not a fan of tycoon games but game dev tycoon is amazing. I bought it on Friday for a mere £6.86v (roughly) and I have played it at every opportunity since.it may not be the most detailed game but it has character which is missing from a lot of games recently.if you are new to tycoon games I recommend buying this game. I cant wait to see what else greenheart comes out with.
  53. felipedrl
    May 7, 2013
    10
    I don't remember the last time I played 6-hour-straight sessions on a game that costed me less than 10 bucks. That's how good and addictive this game is. It has neat graphics, nice sound SFX and music. You'll revive the console wars os the past 30 years, create your own game engines, hire employees, move to larger studios, design games and be anxious about the critics about them, and haveI don't remember the last time I played 6-hour-straight sessions on a game that costed me less than 10 bucks. That's how good and addictive this game is. It has neat graphics, nice sound SFX and music. You'll revive the console wars os the past 30 years, create your own game engines, hire employees, move to larger studios, design games and be anxious about the critics about them, and have lots of fun. The only thing I think they could improve is the UI. Like for instance when you want to make employee specialized in "Level Design". The UI display the pre-requisites in plain text like this: (D:560 T:360), using icons would be much better here.… Expand
  54. LincolnHY
    May 7, 2013
    10
    The amount of time that went into this game shows. It will not only entertain you for hours, but also teach you the history of gaming as you play and go through the years of your company.
  55. Badger91
    May 7, 2013
    8
    This is one of the "just one more, just one more" game. Simple and addictive. If you are "Tycoon" fan this is "must have" for you I spent about 40h in game and i won't regret.
  56. Ragethe
    May 7, 2013
    10
    I really like the game, and I think it's one of the best indie games I have ever played, and probably the best tycoon game. The mechanics of the game works really well, and I like the parodies of real life-games and consoles.
  57. rwebler
    May 7, 2013
    9
    Utterly fun game, and a highly replayable one, since we can always strive to R&D a bit more, or to pursue different tracks of console/game genres. I wish the timeline popups would be replaced by a ticker on the side. It interferes with my clicking routines. 8)
  58. yalamander
    May 7, 2013
    5
    The big plus in this game is the price, I mean it costs barely more than an App. I use the game on Mac OS and have not stumbled into a lot of bugs. There are definitely some in the end stages (final building), where the software can't differ between you clicking on a developer or just anywhere on the screen bit annoying but okay. Also a minimize function that works would be helpful.
    I    The big plus in this game is the price, I mean it costs barely more than an App. I use the game on Mac OS and have not stumbled into a lot of bugs. There are definitely some in the end stages (final building), where the software can't differ between you clicking on a developer or just anywhere on the screen bit annoying but okay. Also a minimize function that works would be helpful.
    I studied the algorithm behind the game a little bit (what makes a high rating, what sells best) and ever since just keep making ridiculous amounts of millions, prior to that though figuring out what sells best is a stupid guessing game. For example military as an adventure game on the PlaySystem will get you a horrible game, even if good configured, because the raw algorithm data shows that's a bad combination.
    Also the game gets boring quickly, you can't start again and take a different approach (like other tycoon games) since it has an extremely linear story. It was said before but updating game engines would be a good idea, also more interactions with your fans. Here are some more basic ideas:
    Being able to set up a fanshop for continuous money, being able to set the price for games, being able to release downloadable content, release games for many platforms at once, ...
    I like the game but I feel like it is far from finished, since playing it gets boring quickly due to the very limited options you get.
    The graphics are nice, music is good nothing special for a 2013 game though.
    Very excited what the game will be like in a year. I hope for major updates.    … Expand
  59. nwd
    May 7, 2013
    7
    For the price, the game is fantastic. Very addictive to begin with, almost perfect gameplay. After a few play troughs you will probably start questioning how the games mechanics work. The mechanics seem very random and there is little information available to really explain how the game comes to certain conclusions. A few things make no sense at all, for example, why do you get an optionFor the price, the game is fantastic. Very addictive to begin with, almost perfect gameplay. After a few play troughs you will probably start questioning how the games mechanics work. The mechanics seem very random and there is little information available to really explain how the game comes to certain conclusions. A few things make no sense at all, for example, why do you get an option to add a mouse or gamepad to a Gameboy game? And if you do decide to add mouse and gamepad function does it actually add to the game at all? does it help or hinder your review scores? It's questions like this that will start to gnaw at you the longer you play. My own beleif is, most of it is random and review scores are as much to do with luck as they are your design build. I understand exactly why Greenheart won't want to explain the mechanics all that much, if they do, the curtain is lifted and the illusion will probably be shattered.… Expand
  60. Troubletcat
    May 7, 2013
    7
    In Game Dev Tycoon you control a game development studio from the 1980s to the near future, making games and, hopefully, making it big. The game is a rather simplistic management sim. You hire and train staff and make games, choosing how much to focus on different aspects of the game during development. You also perform research to unlock additional features for your games and some otherIn Game Dev Tycoon you control a game development studio from the 1980s to the near future, making games and, hopefully, making it big. The game is a rather simplistic management sim. You hire and train staff and make games, choosing how much to focus on different aspects of the game during development. You also perform research to unlock additional features for your games and some other cool stuff in the late game.

    It's a fun game for a playthrough or two, but doesn't really have enough depth to have massive replayability. If you like management simulator/tycoon type games you'll probably get your money's worth out of it at $8, but don't expect to be sinking a huge number of hours in to this one. The visual style and sound/music are simple, but appealing enough and serve the gameplay adequately.

    Ultimately Game Dev Tycoon is a good buy considering the low price, but would've been improved drastically by more depth and complexity in the game. It simply is not complex enough to be as fun or addictive as the games that have clearly inspired it, but represents a decent bit of bite-sized entertainment.    … Expand
  61. joevsyou
    May 7, 2013
    9
    Great game, fun. played around 7-10 hours. you have game development, research lab and hardware lab. MANY options in the game department to mess around with. frame rate kinda goes down when you get all the departments running at max at the same time. would love to have option to combine two topics like the type of game.

    Looking forward to game dev tycoon 2 with more content!
  62. Brendos1er
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Honestly this game is around a 7. Simplistic design and very reminiscent of "Game dev story" it is still very fun at it's core and worth the price, especially seeing as how this is a small indy dev's first game. I gave the 10 because most dickheads on this site post games as a 0 if they don't like them instead of giving a fair representation of the game itself.
  63. Majeye
    May 7, 2013
    10
    As an active livestreamer on TwitchTV, I am pleased to say that Game Dev Tycoon is one of the most brilliant games I've played in quite some time. Well done, Greenlightgames, well done indeed.

    I recommend this to anyone seeking that next addiction in the video game world.

    -Majeye of Majeye Gaming
  64. TheDropBear
    May 7, 2013
    8
    Game Dev Tycoon was really fun, I've logged hours into the game already and I STILL haven't managed to keep a company out of the red, it's really hard work but it is really fun and extremely addictive!
  65. gegebel
    May 7, 2013
    9
    While you need some time to get around the system, the game is addicting from start. This game is for people who like to manage money like in classic tycoons and those who are interested in game development in general, or just like to be somewhat creative.
    This game isn't perfect for sure, how can you sell 36 million games for a system which sold only 7? This doesn't stop you from going    While you need some time to get around the system, the game is addicting from start. This game is for people who like to manage money like in classic tycoons and those who are interested in game development in general, or just like to be somewhat creative.
    This game isn't perfect for sure, how can you sell 36 million games for a system which sold only 7? This doesn't stop you from going on for hours though and try to create the perfect game. The game might seem too repetitive, especially at the beginning, but the limited time (25,30 or 35 years) and limited resources always make you go back to the game and try to make it even better.
    Achievements are a nice touch to an already great game. Let's hope the game will get a few improvements and a sequel with more features.    … Expand
  66. Obitw0
    May 7, 2013
    8
    Great independent game. I could play hours, just to do the better games ^^.
    And for its price, it does what I expected.
    Most of all, you can play it on Linux
  67. kuzlac
    May 7, 2013
    3
    I am a big fan of simulation game.

    Game Dev Tycoon is fun at first but after stage 1, it gets repetitive. It becomes a click fest after that, If you enjoy clicking and repeating over and over, then this might be the right game for you. You just keep developing games over and over to keep the money coming in in order to pay the rents. It is fun the first 20 games you develop. No    I am a big fan of simulation game.

    Game Dev Tycoon is fun at first but after stage 1, it gets repetitive. It becomes a click fest after that,

    If you enjoy clicking and repeating over and over, then this might be the right game for you. You just keep developing games over and over to keep the money coming in in order to pay the rents. It is fun the first 20 games you develop.

    No offence to the devs, this is just my honest opinion.    … Expand
  68. Murzynov
    May 7, 2013
    10
    Game is great I love it. It need some upgrades to become excellent but i can play it day and night. Easy to learn, hart to master! The free cracked game thing was a great advertisement
  69. Cudex
    May 7, 2013
    9
    At first I was a little weary about trying such an odd game, but after the first few minutes I was hooked. Every day I find myself playing Game Dev Tycoon making more and more money, still discovering more little things about the game.

    Although, the game isn't quite perfect. Only being able to develop a game for one platform only bugs me a little, and the UI is a little glitchy every    At first I was a little weary about trying such an odd game, but after the first few minutes I was hooked. Every day I find myself playing Game Dev Tycoon making more and more money, still discovering more little things about the game.

    Although, the game isn't quite perfect. Only being able to develop a game for one platform only bugs me a little, and the UI is a little glitchy every now and then.

    All in all, a very good effort on Greenheart's behalf    … Expand
  70. CrazyDane_Gos
    May 7, 2013
    8
    A very good sim-game, i already played the game twice all the way and i still from time to time wanna go back and try again, after first time I felt it was fun then when the score was put togather i found out there was alot more to the game i hadden gotten to yet so there was only one thing to do.. Play it one more time :D The game is put up for 8$ tho its abit missled since its abitA very good sim-game, i already played the game twice all the way and i still from time to time wanna go back and try again, after first time I felt it was fun then when the score was put togather i found out there was alot more to the game i hadden gotten to yet so there was only one thing to do.. Play it one more time :D The game is put up for 8$ tho its abit missled since its abit more.. when i was buying it in my own currency witch is danish krone its 50 25% so for that i aint giving max score.… Expand
  71. Locercus
    May 7, 2013
    8
    One of my favorite games. I like the beginning rush and difficulties. The history is very nice too. But after playing it for a while, you kinda run out of things to do.
  72. Riotraizer
    May 7, 2013
    9
    This is a fantastic indie game and well worth buying. It may not be free like most games of it's type but it doesn't pester you about paying RL money for coins or something similar. I would give it a 10 but this is payback for all the bad reviews I get in-game. >:-D
  73. Honeycone
    May 7, 2013
    7
    The game starts out great. But once you've learned the rather simple game mechanics, there really isn't much to the game. What I'm trying to say is, it isn't complicated enough. It needs more depth. But it's still a good game for what it is, and the modest price tag definitively helps.
  74. Korgalt
    May 7, 2013
    8
    A very fun and challenging game, especially during the first phase when your essentially an indie game studio trying to manage both a financial budget as well as a time one.
  75. sabrewingz
    May 7, 2013
    9
    Game Development and Simulation are a great combination!
    But seriously, i could (and have) play this game for hours on end. It is fun to watch your company grow from one guy in their garage to having a whole team.
  76. ettesion
    May 7, 2013
    10
    We've spent quite a few days on playing it and it's brilliant. They balanced well between technology and design :D and uploading a modified version of the game to a torrent base was a truly great idea... I'm going to spend more time playing it. There are some things that are worth improving, but overall notion and great great sense of humor makes it my #1 now :D
  77. Yeti1337
    May 7, 2013
    10
    I'm a big fan! The Game make fun. Easy to learn, hart to master! The fake game pirat thing was a great
    advertisement and i hope there will not abuse the attention. ALSO i hope there will come updates for the game.
  78. poklane
    May 7, 2013
    6
    I had a feeling I didn't have control over a lot of things, especially the rating my game got. You can't choose the time you need to develop a game and make it a good game, so in the sequel (if they'll ever have one) they should let us choose the development time (1 year to 5 years). Also the lack of being able to develop DLC. Also, after you made a lot of sequels it's hard keeping trackI had a feeling I didn't have control over a lot of things, especially the rating my game got. You can't choose the time you need to develop a game and make it a good game, so in the sequel (if they'll ever have one) they should let us choose the development time (1 year to 5 years). Also the lack of being able to develop DLC. Also, after you made a lot of sequels it's hard keeping track of what kinda sequels you have made. Also the lack of upgrading engines is horrible. Having to spend a lot of money on developing a new engine 24.7 is really annoying. I also have a feeling employees have no use. Game development takes the same time, and the game's rating doesn't increase, it's just spending more money.… Expand
  79. Kelban
    May 6, 2013
    7
    VERDICT: Recommended for fans of business simulators ("tycoon" games) and those who take an interest in the game development industry.

    It's a good game for the low price of $7.99. I have gotten about 10 hours of entertainment out of it in my first 30-year playthrough. Replayability is mediocre as the game becomes repetitive in the late stages, but this is a chronic problem of "tycoon"    VERDICT: Recommended for fans of business simulators ("tycoon" games) and those who take an interest in the game development industry.

    It's a good game for the low price of $7.99. I have gotten about 10 hours of entertainment out of it in my first 30-year playthrough. Replayability is mediocre as the game becomes repetitive in the late stages, but this is a chronic problem of "tycoon" games. Experimenting with different genre/topic combinations is a core element of the gameplay, and it can be both frustrating and rewarding.

    I would have liked to see more transparency in the way your games are scored by the critics, such as showing a breakdown of how the various aspects of your game were rated (engine, gameplay, story, etc). This would make it less frustrating when you receive a low overall score on a game. Another thing that would improve the game is for the timeline to slow down a bit, or for the passage of time to slow as the game progresses. In the mid and late game, it felt like new consoles were coming out too frequently and your game engine basically became outdated upon release. The speed of the game felt rushed all along.

    In general, the game was fun and ran smoothly with no bugs for me. I believe the game should be expanded and tweaked for an optimal experience, so perhaps a cheap DLC (2 or 3 bucks) or free patch would be appropriate in the future. I will probably come back to the game periodically and try playing through it again when the mood strikes.    … Expand
  80. WhiteTalpa
    May 6, 2013
    6
    This is OK even though it is an obv rip off. The gameplay gets boring quickly as there not much to it. The save feature does not work, and there are a number of other bugs which ruin the experience.
  81. kotekzot
    May 5, 2013
    6
    Pretty fun overall, but likely won't hold you for more than a single playthrough, which is about 12 hours long. The first part of the game gives a satisfying challenge and lets you figure out exactly what you're doing right or wrong, the middle part is surprisingly hard and the endgame is a walk in the park. The game also doesn't seem to like it when the player decides to start developingPretty fun overall, but likely won't hold you for more than a single playthrough, which is about 12 hours long. The first part of the game gives a satisfying challenge and lets you figure out exactly what you're doing right or wrong, the middle part is surprisingly hard and the endgame is a walk in the park. The game also doesn't seem to like it when the player decides to start developing smaller games, which is a shame, because huge games take too long to develop to be much fun. Hopefully the developers will be able to rectify these problems.… Expand
  82. KeiFresh
    May 5, 2013
    10
    This game is wonderful, it's fun to experience what real game devs go through when trying to make games. With 3 save spots you can create multiple development teams.
  83. AngryTrey
    May 4, 2013
    0
    This game starts out fun but as you continue the fun slowly disappears and when it decides that it's gone the game hits you like a train wreck. Suddenly games that would've been doing well are getting 4's and 5's for no apparent reason. You'll try and sink more money into the next game to make it successful however it doesn't end up mattering. In the end the game has you sinking tons ofThis game starts out fun but as you continue the fun slowly disappears and when it decides that it's gone the game hits you like a train wreck. Suddenly games that would've been doing well are getting 4's and 5's for no apparent reason. You'll try and sink more money into the next game to make it successful however it doesn't end up mattering. In the end the game has you sinking tons of money into everything it can think and you end up bankrupt. You have to pay to make game engines to take advantage of new features then for some ridiculous reason you have to pay each time you want to use the features of your game engine in a game that you're making. All of that while having to pay increasing salary to each of your staff members. This is the only game that has frustrated me to the point of actually making an account and writing a review on how bad it is.… Expand
  84. GildaTheGriffin
    May 3, 2013
    10
    I could play this game for hours and days. Hard to master as it has a unique mathematical algorithm to rate the games you make based on a number of different variety of mixing. The only problem is... the algorithm can be touchy and picky once you starts combining genres and other 'devices' to a certain topic. So it makes it a bit difficult to get around, but once you get the hang ofI could play this game for hours and days. Hard to master as it has a unique mathematical algorithm to rate the games you make based on a number of different variety of mixing. The only problem is... the algorithm can be touchy and picky once you starts combining genres and other 'devices' to a certain topic. So it makes it a bit difficult to get around, but once you get the hang of it, you might be playing it more and more.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

22
#22 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
46
#46 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Mixed or average reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 21
  3. Negative: 2 out of 21
  1. SpazioGames
    Sep 16, 2014
    65
    Taking into account the quite low price and the almost non-existent technical requirements, Game Dev Tycoon is a good and above all original game, albeit without great pretensions.
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  2. GameCritics
    May 12, 2014
    30
    However, I don't really think Tycoon really wants to be more than ‘a glimpse' at video game production, and any attempt to comment on the industry from this dull, monotonous experience fails to hit its mark.
    Read full review
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Oct 24, 2013
    80
    What is it like to start with a few thousand dollars and end up in an office full of people producing multi-million gaming hits? This game lets you find out and makes it worth your while. [Nov 2013]
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