There are many reasons why you would want to play a particular video game. To feel like a hero saving the world from alien invaders, or to relax with a casual racing game. But sometimes the best way to forget about the workday is to pretend you’re working a completely different job.
If you’re in that mood, why not dive deep into the genre and play a game where you become the owner of your own business? Entrepreneurship can be scary, but it definitely relieves some of the stress when everything is virtual. Whether you’re looking to start a new life as a roller coaster engineer or have always wondered what it would be like to be a space bounty hunter, these are some games you should check out.
10 Roller Coaster Tycoon
The Tycoon series has been bringing workplace joy to countless players for decades, and it all started with Rollercoaster Tycoon.
The amount of detail and creativity you can have with even the basic version of this game is absurd. Who hasn’t wanted to have their own amusement park, watch families run around having fun, and maybe catch a few unruly guests in an endless loop?
Whether you love capitalist business strategy or just want to try your hand at being a roller coaster engineer, this is a game that will sink hours into you.
9 Two Point Hospital
Healthcare is a serious and often complex industry. What better way to try your hand at it than building a hospital from the ground up in Two Point Hospital?
It’s also literally from the beginning. From floor to floor, make sure your hospital does everything you think is important. There are many patients awaiting care, and other emergencies will require your attention. It’s a fun yet challenging take on a business simulation game that you won’t soon forget.
8 Dev Tycoon game
What about playing a game…making a game? If that’s not too meta for you, then Game Dev Tycoon is worth checking out.
This is a pretty bright and cheerful game about starting your own game development company. It’s a lot of fun making decisions about your game and guiding it through different stages of development. However, deadlines can be stressful and may even lead to a greater respect for current and past developers of the games you love to play.
7 The Rise of Industry
Sometimes when you want a game about your own business, you want to think more than just a gas station or a hospital. Rise Of Industry is the game for those moments.
You start your profitable series of business routes from scratch. Supply lines, crops, production, money; it’s all here for you to find out. There is something so satisfying about seeing your business grow from a small beginning to a hands-on empire. If you want to feel like a powerful entrepreneur, this is your best choice.
6 Stardew Valley
Owning a farm can be messy work, but it’s a little easier when all the dirt is virtual. Stardew Valley is the perfect game for those who want a farm management game that is also very healthy.
Your grandfather’s death was sudden, but it meant a new opportunity. Plant crops, rebuild and improve the family farm, and even chat with local villagers. It’s definitely a less stressful version of running your own business.
5 Prison architect
It’s not a game for those with negative thoughts about the prison industrial complex, but Prison Architect is an oddly fun game to dig into.
It’s an unusual concept, building and managing your dream prison that doesn’t age quickly at all. It’s rendered in a witty cartoony way, but the needs of your prisoners and guards will often seem too serious when you see your graphs start to drop. It’s a fun and quirky twist on management games that’s easy to get into.
4 Industrial giant 2
Sometimes you just want to get big. If you’ve dreamed of being the next Rockefeller, Industry Giant 2 can show you what that dream would be like.
You don’t deal with the small stuff in this game. Instead, you always look at the bigger picture. Watch the stock market, surpass your rivals and become an all-encompassing economic power in this game. But be careful; there are many complexities and problems that can hinder you.
3 Eve online
It may not be marketed as a business game, but managing one of the many space businesses in Eve Online is something you can easily spend hours on.
MMOs are great for immersing yourself in a role-playing character of your choice. bounty hunter, ship sales agent, informer or guide; there are many options to play in this game. The best part: as long as you’re serious about it, other players will probably be happy to accept you in whatever role you choose.
2 Hardspace: Shipbreaker
Sometimes average modern works get a little boring. Sometimes you dream about the jobs of the future. Hardspace: Shipbreaker has just the answer to these questions.
Think of working on junk, in space. This is the basis of the game, but it’s a lot more fun than it sounds. Dismantle high-tech spaceships to gain valuable resources and use them for even more impressive tools. It may not be the sci-fi action foray you’re used to, but it’s still a lot of fun.
1 SnowRunner
Blue-collar jobs also deserve their representation. Why not get comfortable at your desk or sofa and pretend you’re a rescuer in the rough wilderness?
SnowRunner is a great simulator-like game where you balance materials and different types of vehicles to tame the snowy paths you find yourself on. It can get surprisingly deep for a simple game that forces you to really think about the physics and what certain vehicles can do. others cannot. If you want a gritty alternative to racing games, look no further.