Prison Architect

 PC
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

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  1. MartinAtome
    Oct 11, 2015
    10
    I bought this game over 2 years ago and still playing it every 2-3 months.
    I've seen good reviews on the game itself so i'll just spend a couple of words about the development, these guys did a wonderful job going from the first alpha to the full version (1.0) released this month: monthly updates via youtube videos, scheduled bug bashing and performance improvements always on time and    I bought this game over 2 years ago and still playing it every 2-3 months.
    I've seen good reviews on the game itself so i'll just spend a couple of words about the development, these guys did a wonderful job going from the first alpha to the full version (1.0) released this month: monthly updates via youtube videos, scheduled bug bashing and performance improvements always on time and true respect for community feedback, this game is a model of how the "alpha" concept should be used, during the last year I've purchased 2 extra copies of the game as birthday gifts for friends and will surely consider buying any new product introversion puts out in the future given this positive experience.

    Developers promised to add new features to the game in the next months and given how they behaved in the last 3 years i've no doubts they will.    … Expand
  2. Number213
    Nov 30, 2014
    7
    Even thought Prison Architect is an unfinished product, it is pretty solid build: with little amount of bugs, great style and wide variety of gameplay features.
    The game itself is your typical tycoon, but with original and really interesting setting. You should definitively give it a try.
  3. Shahzaky
    May 20, 2014
    7
    Lets start things off by saying that this game is not finished yet and so it should not be reviewed as one. On the other hand, "Early access" seems to be the way to go for devs/publishers to bring in all the cash without finishing the game *cough* DAYZ *cough* so its fair to review the progression.

    Prison architect is a pleasant experience and the idea of being able to build a prison is    Lets start things off by saying that this game is not finished yet and so it should not be reviewed as one. On the other hand, "Early access" seems to be the way to go for devs/publishers to bring in all the cash without finishing the game *cough* DAYZ *cough* so its fair to review the progression.

    Prison architect is a pleasant experience and the idea of being able to build a prison is just terrific. So far however, Prison Architect's actual gameplay is severely lacking. You design a prison, the end. The AI wont come up with any sort of escape plans, gangs don't exist and a lot of the things that gets stolen isn't put to use (unless your design is crap and violence occurs several times a day). The game is more of a framework that can only become as good as its ai, since the experience is completely focused around the behavior of your prisoners. "Endgame" is another thing that the devs have been talking about and rightly so, because unlike some other management/simulation games like Sim City or RollerCoaster Tycoon , a good prison needs everything at once. You cant open your prison with just a carousel, a balloon stall and expand from there, in Prison Architect your theme park needs planning but once you've opened it up for prisoners theres not so much to do except wait and see if you did a good job.

    Anyhow, enough rabbling. Prison Architect is a unique gaming experience and since its being developed by a small but devoted team I would probably recommend the game in its current state. It's tough to say how much better the game will become but it needs to improve quite a bit before becoming immortal.    … Expand
  4. iseeall
    Dec 7, 2015
    8
    8/10. A nice and funny tycoon game. To my wife I said "it's like Theme Hospital but if too many patients gather in one place they start fighting".
    The Good:
    - funny graphics, and nice sound (especially the background sound in different rooms and the hilarious prison fight/riot ambients) - it's interesting to plan rooms and build from individual tiles, not just as rectangles - the game    8/10. A nice and funny tycoon game. To my wife I said "it's like Theme Hospital but if too many patients gather in one place they start fighting".
    The Good:
    - funny graphics, and nice sound (especially the background sound in different rooms and the hilarious prison fight/riot ambients)
    - it's interesting to plan rooms and build from individual tiles, not just as rectangles
    - the game tries to give both views on whether the prison system should be more about punishing/deterring or about treating/educating
    - the game is frequently updated, and new features keep getting added, so it's worth to replay it after a few months
    - every prisoner has his own biography and personal data. One biography even said "I am a real person!"
    - the game runs pretty fast. As a programmer, I wonder how all those hundreds of characters on the screen do their pathfinding calculations so efficiently.
    - the tutorial missions are very well designed and make you feel comfortable by giving you a few already running prisons and letting you add minor stuff

    The So-so:
    - the game shows a US or Western European prison, which feels more like a student dormitory or a 0-star hotel where the only bad thing is dangerous neighbors. The prison itself gives you food, a separate room with a TV, even free education and medical treatment - things 3/4 of working people in the word might not have. So I guess for players outside the golden billion the game creates a strange feeling of absurdity - but at the same time it is an educational experience, like "gee, those rich guys are nuts!". Even work is done voluntarily and for payment! And a prisoner who kills a guard doesn't get an electric chair, just solitary for 8 hours?! The main source of revenue is Prison Grant (taxpayers' money), and the prisoners themselves produce very little. I guess I could go to the US and kill somebody just to save on rent :) I guess they'd let me place a PC in my cell? I heard in German prisons they even get a free session with a prostitute once in a while :)
    - the story is pretty mediocre, but honestly I don't think one could come up with anything better because we've seen tons of crime movies and most crime-related real-life stories are pretty banal.
    - it's a sandbox game like Mincraft, and you can share your prison with others. I checked a few dozens, but it's either just some random prison you can get when you play without any special purpose - or a prison which tries to look like something well known (e.g. Star Trek spaceship). Apart from aesthetics, this doesn't change the game much, suggesting that, as good as it is, it's a pretty much fixed experience which you will get on most replays.
    - the Escape mode is completely broken but it's nevertherless fun for an hour.

    The Bad:
    - given the complex systems this game has, much is left unexplained. E.g. what defines how many prisoners can work in a Laundry? Or what at all defines the efficiency of a Laundry? How many wash machines I need, how big the room should be - all that I had to find out in online wikis. Nothing is explained about CCTVs, remote doors and phones (does one have to connect them or not? Why do some CCTV links become red?)
    - it seems that the Programs scheduling is bugged somehow. Often I'd have lots of "Queued" prisoners for a program but none would participate - pretty annoying when you can't start any Workshop production without training first. I guess this might be due to overlapping classes, or if you add/remove objects into rooms there will be more/less places, or some prisoners may be a few days into a program already and their progress is taken into account somehow etc. This system is overcomplicated - even if it worked bug-free, most players would be overtaxed by it. And I'd wish to have the option to send any prisoner to obligatory training and obligatory jobs, even if that makes him angry.
    - I was surprised when the game ended after just the 5th episode. I did have a prison for 300 prisoners already with all rooms built, but I expected at least one more mission where CCTVs and other maximum-security elements were explained.
    - Dormitories don't work well. Is there a minimal 4-tile requiement for a prisoner to live in a dorm? The game should say that or there should be no minimal reqs.    … Expand
  5. Maltxe
    Jun 7, 2014
    8
    This game is one of the best kinds of managing a prison, even if it is currently in alpha. You can build a prison as you want, manage at better or let it burn in the flames from your prisoners.
    A few bugs to fix, but you can safely play.

    Good gameplay, discrete graphics and pretty funny. Good game.
  6. Hoodinski
    Sep 30, 2014
    8
    Excellent stuff- innovative, entertaining and very addictive. The mix between building and keeping the prisoners in order is a very enjoyable task. And I love the way this game looks.
  7. VidyaBum
    May 3, 2015
    7
    Fun, fun, and fun.

    All the tycoon elements are here to make this a great load of fun. Lots of rooms, designs, items, principles and rules to follow to succeed. It's got everything to please, even if the building tool is a little simplistic and just does the job(apart from walls and foundations, you have little options, like no partition walls/cardboard walls to cover some things).    Fun, fun, and fun.

    All the tycoon elements are here to make this a great load of fun. Lots of rooms, designs, items, principles and rules to follow to succeed. It's got everything to please, even if the building tool is a little simplistic and just does the job(apart from walls and foundations, you have little options, like no partition walls/cardboard walls to cover some things).

    Making money can be seriously hard but that keeps the game very fun. With that said, I find the whole thing to have a rather severe programming plague. It glitches many times, the wall/foundation construction can be a massive pain, you have lots of little items that the game just lets around for no reason, and there is a definite sense of amateurism.

    That doesn't take any of the fun away, in fact it gives this pleasant feeling of being a game full of broken things that you can play with, but it gets annoying sometimes, especially visually when foundations are never finished.    … Expand
  8. musicman01597
    Nov 4, 2015
    10
    I was not expecting much when I bought this game a few weeks ago. Even though I had heard good things about it, I did not think it would be very entertaining. I WAS WRONG. This game is taking me back to the RCT years. It's definitely the best Tycoon game I've played since Rollercoaster Tycoon 2. I am drawn to the art style, and the sounds and music are very nice as well. The game also hasI was not expecting much when I bought this game a few weeks ago. Even though I had heard good things about it, I did not think it would be very entertaining. I WAS WRONG. This game is taking me back to the RCT years. It's definitely the best Tycoon game I've played since Rollercoaster Tycoon 2. I am drawn to the art style, and the sounds and music are very nice as well. The game also has a nice atmosphere to it.

    If you are a fan of tycoon games, and are tired of the many crappy micro-transaction tycoons out there, get this game. You will NOT be disappointed. :)    … Expand
  9. bobant92
    Nov 18, 2015
    9
    so many features, and the updates are still coming. one of the best strategy management games of all times for me. the best thing about this game, that the developers actually care about the game next to the dough they make with it and it received so many content updates since i first played with it that i was really impressed with the end result.

    in this game, you can build your own    so many features, and the updates are still coming. one of the best strategy management games of all times for me. the best thing about this game, that the developers actually care about the game next to the dough they make with it and it received so many content updates since i first played with it that i was really impressed with the end result.

    in this game, you can build your own prison, big or small, maximum or minimum security or anything between, manage it, and the timetable of your prisoners and staff and make sure the prisoners stay in there and dont kill too much of eachother and your staff.

    they included a lot of the aspects of prison life which are important from a management standpoint. there are gangs which can gain power and cause trouble, contraband, smuggling, riots, escapes and a whole lot of other things. you will also recieve a bunch of tools and cash with your prisoners to stop them from misbehaving.

    you can house extremely dangerous murderous scum in a 1x1 cells with only a bucket to do the deed and extreme security measures with an overkill amount of guards patrolling 24/7 or you can go the rehabilitation way with people who commited something petty, rewarding them with big cells, televisions and other luxuries if they behave. they might also get a parole hearing if they are really good and you build a parole hearing office. if you are really skilled, you can try to rehabilitate murderous scum also, but it will take some patience and skill.    … Expand
  10. Rarted
    Jan 6, 2021
    7
    It's a really nice game. It has its story but it's about 2h long, and nothing particularly new. On the other hand, it is a really good simulator and it is fun.
  11. Potatobot
    Jul 12, 2014
    9
    This game is awesome,Im pretty much whinot words,But they need to add protective custody,death row,supermax,So the game gets more a prison look,Its in alpha,but its pretty good to play.
  12. 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 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    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.    … Expand
  13. kosciuszko
    May 17, 2014
    5
    Nice little game, it should have been labelled Theme: Prison to be honest, as its in that same line of games. There's nothing in the way of progression, even though I liked the idea of selling your prison, it has no bearing on the game other than to start again with the money you received selling the former creation.
    Becomes tedious rather quickly
  14. gyrate
    Aug 2, 2014
    10
    If you're interested in this game, just buy it. It has workshop integration with an active modding community. Earlier tonight I changed the theme to star wars with a press of the button. This is a very addictive game where real time begins to speed by in a blur. 5 minutes becomes 5 hours and you only noticed because you need to use the restroom. There is a wonderful charm about it and theIf you're interested in this game, just buy it. It has workshop integration with an active modding community. Earlier tonight I changed the theme to star wars with a press of the button. This is a very addictive game where real time begins to speed by in a blur. 5 minutes becomes 5 hours and you only noticed because you need to use the restroom. There is a wonderful charm about it and the fat little characters. There is a lot of micromanagement so if you're the kind of person that hates to think, can't oil your brain because it hurts, well then you should pass. It's not overly complicated but the game doesn't hold your hand starting out. It's like bam build a prison. The only downside is struggling to figure out why things aren't being built, or populated. This may further confuse someone since it is alpha which makes it difficult to distinguish between a bug and something you aren't doing correctly. Other than that you should enjoy this game.… Expand
  15. blackbird1
    Oct 24, 2015
    10
    this game is awesome, if you are in managers you need to play it!
    if you are in builders you need to play it!
    if you are in simulations you need to play it!
  16. SQG_Slasher
    Jan 23, 2014
    8
    For an Alpha version, this game certainly has accomplished a lot. The mechanics and gameplay are pretty simple with little to no complexion within the game, that is, until you make your prisons massive! It also handles similar to that of a real prison, with the player having to create a daily regime for his or her prisoners, as well as hiring certain staff to do special things for yourFor an Alpha version, this game certainly has accomplished a lot. The mechanics and gameplay are pretty simple with little to no complexion within the game, that is, until you make your prisons massive! It also handles similar to that of a real prison, with the player having to create a daily regime for his or her prisoners, as well as hiring certain staff to do special things for your prisons.

    It is a little buggy though, but you would expect that as it is an alpha, but these bugs aren't too nasty or annoying and in no way spoil the art of this great game. Introversion Software have done a great job at creating 'The World's First Lock-'em-Up' and I hope that this game will be successful as soon as it comes out of alpha and onto Steam's featured game's list and Game's game shelves.    … Expand
  17. tykeman3
    Nov 11, 2015
    10
    great game so much fun to play building your prison never mind the escape mode ! good time killer .... i have ran out of things to say so i am just typing to fill the 150 words ..... potatoes
  18. ahutt23
    Jun 12, 2015
    10
    prison architect is a prison based simulation that is not only a prison "game" but a micromanagement game ive played this for months on end and i never get bored or angry at the game
  19. Thumb
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    Now that the final version has been released, I can say for sure that this game is excellent and worth anybody's time who enjoys simulation and management games. Yes, there is some micro, but as you get better and start to understand how the tools in the game work you will become much faster. I haven't played the campaign, just sandbox mode and escape mode (recently added, tons of extraNow that the final version has been released, I can say for sure that this game is excellent and worth anybody's time who enjoys simulation and management games. Yes, there is some micro, but as you get better and start to understand how the tools in the game work you will become much faster. I haven't played the campaign, just sandbox mode and escape mode (recently added, tons of extra fun) but those two modes alone are enough for me to call this one of the better games I've ever played.… Expand
  20. 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 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.
  21. Evae
    Oct 7, 2015
    10
    TL;DR - A very well-done simulator.

    I have owned Prison Architect for nearly 2 years while it was still in its alpha stages. I loved the concept of building and managing my own Prison. Every update added new features and bug fixes, modeling the game to its final release which was October 6th of this year. Since its final release, Prison Architect has become one of my favorite games to    TL;DR - A very well-done simulator.

    I have owned Prison Architect for nearly 2 years while it was still in its alpha stages. I loved the concept of building and managing my own Prison. Every update added new features and bug fixes, modeling the game to its final release which was October 6th of this year. Since its final release, Prison Architect has become one of my favorite games to play, and with Workshop integration, the fun never ends.    … Expand
  22. thegreanbean
    Mar 4, 2014
    10
    Honestly they say that the social violence and gore makes it no game for kids.but from having a look and playing it myself I would say this should be from 12-18. some say from 15 up.listen its really not that bad at 12,13 and 14 your child has grown up now,a game like this is not that bad at all. but from my experience I am just loving it!
  23. thekillergreece
    Oct 4, 2013
    10
    The best game ever!Currently in alpha however. But still worth to buy, with 1monthly updates!!!

    Pros:
    Excellent gameplay, graphics, sandbox mode.
    Cons:
    Nothing
  24. Boltonhero
    Sep 14, 2013
    8
    Loving the game! Even though it's in alpha I rarely found any bugs, but the bugs I found were game breaking but even though this game has some bugs it is very fun and addicting to build your own prison!
  25. Eskaton
    Oct 6, 2015
    10
    This is a great game. There are so many interacting systems it genuinely makes you feel like your prison is "alive" and your design choices matter.

    I have to call out this Kill Screen review which appears to be the only one dragging the reviewers metascore down. The reviewer appears to be upset for the following reason: "For everything Prison Architect gets right about prisons where    This is a great game. There are so many interacting systems it genuinely makes you feel like your prison is "alive" and your design choices matter.

    I have to call out this Kill Screen review which appears to be the only one dragging the reviewers metascore down. The reviewer appears to be upset for the following reason: "For everything Prison Architect gets right about prisons where other games have failed, the absence of race as a meaningful game mechanic is a glaring and disturbing oversight." I think its more disturbing that you think race should be a meaningful game mechanic.    … Expand
  26. 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 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 noBought 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.    … Expand
  27. Arkan01d
    Nov 14, 2013
    9
    This game is just great! You design and build a prison. Sounds simple right? Not so much. You learn along the way at just what works and what doesn't. The more you play the more you will find yourself designing and considering every room. If you like a game that tests your logic while being charming and sometimes frustrating then this is a game for you.

    Also, it's nice to get regular    This game is just great! You design and build a prison. Sounds simple right? Not so much. You learn along the way at just what works and what doesn't. The more you play the more you will find yourself designing and considering every room. If you like a game that tests your logic while being charming and sometimes frustrating then this is a game for you.

    Also, it's nice to get regular updates from an indie developer. No other Steam, Early Access game updates as much as Introversion. They have been in the industry for many years now and their veteran-ship shines through.    … Expand
  28. Peeto
    Jan 7, 2016
    4
    It is a little decent game, but after a while I put this game down quickly. I recommed you to buy some better tycoon game, for example theme hospital, which is much cheaper, more charming and plays greatly.
  29. SX_Predator
    Sep 26, 2013
    7
    Pretty fun game with lots of features, even when still in alpha. hardly any bugs that i know of. A tad bit expensive at 30 dollars though. I would definitely recommend buying it on sale.
  30. FPSSucks
    Dec 28, 2013
    9
    I strongly recommend this. It controls fantastically, great UI and great fun. It may be in alpha but I hardly come across any bugs. The only problem is the price. $17.99? NO. Buy it in the Steam sales.
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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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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. CD-Action
    Mar 30, 2016
    80
    A surprisingly complex and enjoyable simulation of a correctional facility. [03/2016, p.64]
  2. 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.
    Read full review
  3. 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]
See all critic reviews »