In the past, a PC or mobile game was synonymous with entertainment. Not anymore! There are many options that go beyond leisure, such as business management games, recommended for those who want to stand out in such a competitive job market.
The Most Traditional Business Management Games
You have probably heard that online games, also called video games, can be great sources of exercises and skill-building for the job market. Keep in mind that even major international universities apply this methodology.
But then a question comes up: what are the best business management games out there, thinking precisely about gaining an edge to reach higher positions, such as manager? We have the answer. Or rather, the answers. And you can see them below!
1 – Sim City
Almost everyone knows this online game. Sim City is a true classic of the gaming world, considered a pioneer in the field of business management games. Or rather, city management games. After all, the player is a mayor or a department secretary who runs the city government.
In this game, you have to build an entire city with the resources available from citizens’ taxes – yes, exactly as in real life. You have to take into account power distribution, water supply, garbage and sewage collection, zoning, etc.
The great challenge lies in managing the city while looking after the public coffers, which increases the responsibility of the job. It is fun because it is a game, yet it is close to what a manager must do at the company where they work. A great way to simulate the job market!
Another real-life management game very similar to Sim City is Cities: Skylines, as well as The Sims. The ideas are very similar, with only a few concepts and/or tools changing.
2 – Capitalism
The game was so successful that it is now in its second version, Capitalism II. It is very focused on entrepreneurs who want to launch their ideas on the market. So much so that it has the nickname Business Simulator. In other words, it fits right in with what we are talking about here.
The focus is strategy. And want to know the truth? It is quite complex, to the point of demanding a lot of logical reasoning from players. So it is well worth devoting a few hours a day to building your company, hiring managers and watching the results take off.
Oh, do you know a differentiator of this online game for administrators? It allows stock trading, as happens on the stock exchange, which relates to the market value of the brands. So, besides strategy, you will be able to train financial skills.
3 – Age Of Empires
Age of Empires should also make your list of games worth playing to learn even more about the administrator profession. It is a favorite among young people and, believe it or not, some companies have used the game to select candidates. Can you believe it? It’s real!
In the game, the player chooses the empire they want, which can be from various cultures, such as Spaniards, Turks, Byzantines, Celts and so on. Then, from scratch, you have to build the kingdom using armies, taking care of food, natural resources and other matters.
The biggest problem is that, at any moment in the online game, you can be attacked by an enemy – and your effort goes down the drain. Many entrepreneurs who play this game say it is a “cold-blooded test for moments of crisis”.
4 – Minecraft
That’s right, that game of little blocks that seems to serve no purpose! Minecraft is a sales hit and can be used in the corporate environment in a very effective way. The secret is simple: the ability to adapt to change and find solutions.
That is because in the Minecraft world you have to survive. And to do that, you have to use the tools, objects and whatever else is available. A good idea is to use the pickaxe to start mining – in the mines, you find coal, iron, gold and diamonds.
Without a doubt, one of the most playful and fun business management games you can find. Especially for those who want to play online and with friends. By the way, cooperating can be a good idea in this game, increasing each player’s performance.
5 – Farm Simulator
At first, this may not seem like one of the best business management games. But even though it is set in the countryside, it offers an interesting way to test strategic skills, which are important for the administrative field.
Those who work in the countryside should also venture on this journey of organizing work, only the setting changes, obviously. In Farming Simulator, the player is responsible for taking care of the farm and its resources, such as tractors and farm machinery. It is a very real experience.
In fact, an experience that puts you in a farmer’s shoes. They have to do everything, from learning to operate a machine to facing daily challenges, such as a lack of resources for planting. It is a true test for training the coordination of actions.
With a focus on the rural sector, Fazendinha de Negócios is another idea for PC games for administrators. It can be played right in the browser and has missions that will lead the farmer to success.
6 – The Corporate Machine
Just as there are management games focused on the rural sector, there are those that target other markets. In The Corporate Machine, you can choose among automobiles, airlines, computers or beverages. The idea is to dominate the market, of course.
To do that, the player needs to think strategically about areas of the business, such as marketing and finance. It is a very old game, very interesting, and it will activate your entrepreneur skills. It is backed by Steam, one of the major game developers.
For those who like another theme, which is soccer, there is the game Championship Manager. It is very different from what you know from FIFA or PES. In fact, the focus is on managing the company, that is, the soccer team, and not on the matches themselves. It’s worth it!
7 – Landlord Tycoon
The name may seem less common than the others on this list, but here we have a rare gem. If you have ever played “Monopoly” in your life, you will understand what we are talking about – because it is a virtual version of that world-famous board game.
The goal of Landlord Tycoon is to make the player a great dealmaker in the real estate world. To do that, you just buy and sell properties. But in a smart way. The board is the real world and the game uses real geolocation, can you believe it?
In other words, it is like what Pokémon Go did, bringing this connection between the real and the virtual. So the properties are in places that exist in your city, state, country or the world. It is a great financial game for learning sales strategies.
Similar to Landlord Tycoon, there are other business management games, such as RollerCoaster Tycoon, do you know it? It is a kind of best seller among online simulators, where the idea is to build your own amusement park. And, obviously, besides that, you will also need to manage the business. Another option is cashflow.
8 – Plants Vs Zombies
From the name, you wouldn’t believe it, but yes, this is a game for entrepreneurs that you should know about because it can help you think more strategically about your career. It is great for training planning, focus and decision-making concepts. Take a look!
Everything takes place in a post-apocalyptic universe, in which the player needs to protect themselves from zombies that attack constantly. To do that, you have to use an army of plants that defend the base. It is a lot of fun and requires planning to set up the best scenario.
The zombie game is in its second version – that’s how successful it was. And EA, which created the game, says tests are still being done to improve gameplay. If you don’t know this option yet, you can watch the trailer online.
9 – World of Warcraft
WoW is one of the most amazing MMORPG games in the world. It lets people play with each other from various parts of the world, and that is already good because it improves teamwork ability, or rather, social skills.
The player will choose a class to control and that influences the whole game. Each class has a specialization, with attacks and spells. So there are mages, druids, monks, demon hunters, etc. Which means segmentation is fundamental.
What happens is that the player is a character in an imaginary city called Azeroth. From there, the game becomes about adventure, action and a lot of fighting. Obviously, you need to use strategy to win in addition to those elements. The analytical side is worked intensively.
10 – Don’t Starve Together
The last of the business management games is Don’t Starve Together. In Portuguese it is translated literally as “Não Morram de Fome Juntos”. But what is it about, and why is it recommended for administrators? Let’s go. It takes place in a fantasy world, where the cooperation of friends is needed to reach success. Collectivity, friends!
So, what happens is that in summer food is scarce and the sun is very hot. In winter, there is a lot of ice and deadly obstacles. So, with the monsters and other creatures that appear, players need to team up to achieve nothing less than “surviving”.
It is true that it is one of the least strategic games on this list. Even so, it is worth thinking about the organization of actions, collaboration among those involved and teamwork. All to overcome the adversities of the battlefield, just as happens in the real world.
Which Colleges Use the Gamer Methodology?
All over the world, colleges are increasingly betting on this methodology and using business management games, but still in the testing and implementation phase.
At Fapuga, which is in the East Zone of São Paulo, the Hospital Management and Business Administration programs have used this method since the first year, making it one of the few institutions in Brazil that offer this differentiator.
Gamification is a way of using game elements in situations that go beyond entertainment, that is, in real life. This makes it possible to motivate students to train their skills and be ready for the job market.
Learn more about Fapuga’s undergraduate programs and the methods used!
