Prison Architect

 PC
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Quarter to Three
    Oct 17, 2015
    100
    Playing will probably mean thinking about issues that you probably didn’t think about. This is something that should be valued in a videogame. I’m as content as the next guy to mindlessly shoot a hundred dudes in a Call of Duty. But I also value games that make me think about something I wasn’t thinking about yesterday. Games that make me feel a way I don’t usually feel. Games that aren’t afraid to present complex subjects in all their complexity, wrangling gameplay into a thought-provoking exercise that is both entertainment and edification. Games like Prison Architect.
  2. Guardian
    Oct 9, 2015
    100
    Once you’re in, you will – unlike many of my own early inmates – find it very difficult to escape.
  3. GamingTrend
    Oct 7, 2015
    95
    Prison Architect is a triumphant simulator that almost perfectly captures the world of prison building and administration.
  5. GamesBeat
    Oct 8, 2015
    92
    Prison Architect is arguably one of the most important and disturbing games I’ve ever played.
  6. Games.cz
    Nov 4, 2015
    90
    PA is an entertaining, comprehensive and accessible simulator of prison complex management. If you find this genre at least a little bit interesting, don’t hesitate buying it.
  7. Eurogamer Italy
    Oct 15, 2015
    90
    After five years of development, Introversion Software brings us an amazing game where we can build and manage a maximum security prison.
  8. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 6, 2015
    88
    Prison Architect is one of the more unique game releases in years. What would seem daunting at first, with building and managing a prison, quickly reveals to be both an addictive and entertaining gameplay experience.
  9. PC Gamer
    Oct 15, 2015
    87
    A complex, challenging, and grimly satisfying simulator.
  10. GameStar
    Oct 8, 2015
    87
    Plan, build, fail, sell and try again. Behind the functional graphics of Prison Architect there's a complex, motivating and very good prison simulation.
  11. Riot Pixels
    Nov 30, 2015
    85
    An excellent management simulation that will be a shining example of this genre for years to come.
  12. GameWatcher
    Nov 17, 2015
    85
    In many ways, Prison Architect feels like the ‘Theme Prison’ game from Bullfrog’s golden years that we never actually got.
  13. JeuxActu
    Oct 20, 2015
    85
    Prison Architect is simply one of the very best management games on sale at the moment.
  14. COGconnected
    Oct 7, 2015
    85
    It’s a unique sandbox game that has all the necessary ingredients to hook you, if you let it.
  15. Everyeye.it
    Oct 16, 2015
    83
    Not only did it successfully complete the early access phase, but it came out as a great gestional experience, set in an unusual environment. If you like the genre, you should really consider this one.
  16. PC Games
    Oct 15, 2015
    83
    When we played Prison Architect for the first time, we could hardly keep our hands off it. Once you started playing it, you can't stop. The quests are challenging and interchangeably, which keeps you busy the whole time. The charming Comic-Look gives no indication of how complex and earnest Prison Architect actually is.
  17. IGN
    Oct 6, 2015
    83
    After a poorly handled start, Prison Architect becomes one of the most in-depth, satisfying builder games in a long time.
  18. 4P.de
    Nov 27, 2015
    82
    Complex, but easily accessible prison builder with an interesting campaign structure, but also a few bugs here and there, while the micro management can get out of hand sometimes.
  19. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Nov 11, 2015
    81
    A rare gem that was polished to near-perfection during its time in Steam’s Early Access. [Issue#203, p.87]
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  20. CD-Action
    Mar 30, 2016
    80
    A surprisingly complex and enjoyable simulation of a correctional facility. [03/2016, p.64]
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  21. PCWorld
    Jan 19, 2016
    80
    Prison Architect's genius is in translating a real-world debate into video game terms, forcing players to make tough choices with no good solutions.
  22. Edge Magazine
    Dec 12, 2015
    80
    Learn its quirks, however, and Prison Architect's sandbox permits a dizzying breadth of options for establishing for-profit penal facilities. [Christmas 2015, p.120]
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  23. GameCritics
    Nov 30, 2015
    80
    As I end this review, I'm reminded of a phrase attributed to Oscar Wilde: "The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy." That sentence perfectly describes Prison Architect—as it is with many sims like it, it's growth for the sake of growth, and when I was done with the game and had my prison and had every little detail perfectly in place, I let it burn to the ground again.
  24. Eurogamer Poland
    Nov 5, 2015
    80
    It was worth the wait - Prison Architect is a solid, engaging game with enormous number of options, presented in a well-thought-out way. Managing a virtual prison has never been so enjoyable.
  25. Hardcore Gamer
    Oct 20, 2015
    80
    Prison Architect is a genuinely fun game that makes you think in unexpected ways. Apart from some slight campaign fatigue and an Escape Mode with plenty of potential but poor execution, it’s hard to put it down.
  26. CGMagazine
    Oct 15, 2015
    80
    The game doesn’t judge you for the type of warden you choose to be.
  27. Metro GameCentral
    Oct 14, 2015
    80
    A great simulation game that recalls the glory days of Theme Hospital et al. Although at times it almost feels like a psychology study of the player rather than the inmates.
  28. God is a Geek
    Oct 13, 2015
    80
    Although it is weighed down by some questionable development choices, Prison Architect is a break-out success due to its sandbox alone.
  29. GRYOnline.pl
    Oct 12, 2015
    80
    Prison Architect has a very weak single player campaign and is plagued with minor issues. But even if we don't forget about these things this game is one of the best tycoons in recent years. It has an excellent sandbox mode, good AI, is very complex, offers lots of possibilities and can make you forget about time passing by.
  30. Twinfinite
    Oct 8, 2015
    80
    Prison Architect is an incredibly detail-oriented game that’s an easy pick for fans of the genre. While the level of detail and difficulty may push away outsiders looking to test the waters, it’s not an insurmountable feat.
  31. Hooked Gamers
    Oct 7, 2015
    80
    If you’re a die-hard strategy fan looking for something different, or if you thought Theme Hospital was fun but lacked shivving and power drill-wielding inmates, then this game is definitely worth a look.
  32. TheSixthAxis
    Oct 6, 2015
    80
    Even if Prison Architect didn’t come with a thought provoking, if short, campaign, it’d be easy to recommend to anyone with an interest in management sims. That addition not only brings some depth to the game, but it also serves as one of the most enjoyable and comprehensive tutorials I’ve ever played in a game.
  33. Game Informer
    Oct 6, 2015
    80
    Despite its rough edges, Prison Architect provides enough depth and customization to make it compelling. Every riot, escape attempt, and execution brings you a step closer to building the perfect prison – all accompanied by the amusing (and sometimes horrifying) moments that emerge naturally in any good simulation.
  34. Games Master UK
    Dec 1, 2015
    78
    A world of grim opportunity - but you need to suffer before earning the glory of your own Alcatraz. [Dec 2015, p.79]
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  35. ZTGD
    Oct 22, 2015
    75
    Even though Prison Architect has its share of flaws and limitations, it’s still a fun experience I’m sure fans of the genre will enjoy.
  36. GameSpot
    Oct 13, 2015
    70
    The loss of humanity Prison Architect breeds in its players could be its greatest strength, but without even an acknowledgement of that loss, the game stumbles instead of teaches.
  37. Kill Screen
    Oct 6, 2015
    55
    Simulations can distort for good, and so help us resist, or ill, and obscure the forces that corral hearts and minds. Every system locks us up. But sims like Prison Architect throw away the keys.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 7, 2015
    Even if it doesn’t fully satisfy my desire for followable characters, it is still an excellent story-making game.

Awards & Rankings

35
#35 Best PC Game of 2015
61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
21
#21 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 297 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 230 out of 297
  2. Mixed: 50 out of 297
  3. Negative: 17 out of 297
  1. matheus_hk
    Oct 31, 2013
    9
    It's a 9 on alpha and very likely to hit 10 when it's finished.
    (Almost) anything is possible. From the hole with forced labor and solitary    It's a 9 on alpha and very likely to hit 10 when it's finished.
    (Almost) anything is possible. From the hole with forced labor and solitary confinement just for harassment and lots of beating to the human-rights-activists-utopia-penal-spa that will make your prisoners eager to kill someone as soon as they're released just to be allowed back in.

    Unlike what other reviews said, I didn't have any problems playing the game. The prisoners will try to escape if they're not happy and will riot if their condition makes it look worth getting beat up for a chance on escaping. That's what prisoners do. They smuggle stuff, they dig tunnels, they fight... they're not highly-educated and moralist citizens in a hotel. They want to get out. If things are really bad they'll die trying.

    But the alpha and the "early access" aren't just for show. The game is still under development and they make it very clear that they're focusing on new content rather than bug fixing. You'll notice lots of useless features (that will mention that they're useless in this alpha build). You'll have prisons stop working after monthly new release. The cool glitches you exploited may be fixed while the bugs that annoyed you are still there.

    It's really expensive. But it's fun enough to make it worth.

    If you have no problems with paying lots of money for the alpha early access, it's a good purchase. But you can always wait until the development is done and hope for price to go down or a cool sale to make it less expensive.    … Full Review »
  2. Errtai
    Sep 1, 2013
    6
    Bought on sale for $17.99 in the alpha stages. I understand exactly what buying in the alpha means, and I wasn't expecting a polished or evenBought on sale for $17.99 in the alpha stages. I understand exactly what buying in the alpha means, and I wasn't expecting a polished or even completed game of any sort. That being said, what I did not expect was not being able to play the game at all, as prisoners spend 24/7 trying to escape from the moment they entered (yes there was a double-fence around the entire compound with no cracks), or standing in their cells unresponsive to any schedule I set or orders I placed. Staff would stand there doing nothing, janitors wouldn't sweep no matter what I tried.

    I'm fine with bugs, and helping the devs find those bugs, but I was kinda hoping the game was playable for that price.

    Positives are it looks great, handles pretty nicely, and is very intuitive right up until it stops working.    … Full Review »
  3. Vyii
    Jan 20, 2016
    2
    The game is unplayable after a few 100 prisoners because it's single threaded and one core can't keep up with the game's needs. The FPS willThe game is unplayable after a few 100 prisoners because it's single threaded and one core can't keep up with the game's needs. The FPS will drop a lot because of this. This is a game breaking bug so I don't recommend this game to other people anymore. If it would be playable the game would be a very fun game though.… Full Review »
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