What are management games? The name is not that well known in the gaming world, but it has become an increasingly common expression in companies. They are also being encouraged to simulate life at a company, especially for managers!
What Management Games Are
Management games are those games, that is, online games, that offer challenges built around running companies, places, islands, cities, or other ideas that may come up. They allow the player to think strategically to find solutions.
They are also called simulation games or business games precisely because they are good options for professionals who want to improve their skills in corporate management. That way, it is possible to get a kind of experience that covers areas such as production, finance, marketing, human resources, and more.
Among the many possible goals, consider that these games serve to train teams, motivate the business environment, and bring more knowledge among employees. The reason is that they stimulate various actions and abilities, such as creative, productive, and collective ones. You may even have played some of them already.
What Are the Best Games for Managers
The list of management games is huge if we consider all the options on the market, from the oldest to the most modern. But we did the work of selecting the best of today, ideal for anyone thinking about moving up and taking on a management seat in corporations.
1 – Rimworld – People Management
Rimworld is one of the most popular titles for those looking for management games, even though it is not as traditional as the other names on the list. It was released in 2013 and quickly won a large audience, becoming a modern classic.
In this game, the player must manage a group of survivors of an aircraft accident in a completely unknown world. The focus is on taking care of the people and not just the resources available in that situation.
Each colony that is formed has its own characteristics, from aspirations to relationships. Players who manage to manage people create their own stories, while events can be completed and complemented flexibly.
2 – Frostpunk – Human Resources Management
Among all the management games you will read about here, this is one of the most confusing because of its complexity. The beginning seems easy, but it becomes very dynamic from the first episodes and stages onward, in a post-apocalyptic vein.
What the player has to do is take care of refugees living in a new Ice Age. After the premise, the player is stuck for hours with few resources available, and that is where the biggest challenge comes in, which demands faster decision-making.
This is a game from the creators of This War of Mine and bills itself as “the first society survival game.” If you think you can build the last city on Earth and secure all the human resources needed for it, this game is for you.
3 – Stardew Valley – Business Management
At first glance, Stardew Valley is a simple farming game, like those that became famous on Orkut and Facebook. However, it has dungeons, which must be explored through relationships and items available in the game.
It is one of the online management games with diverse resources. The player must manage the entire place, paying attention to things like the seasons of the year, the time periods, and other factors that can influence tasks.
Stardew Valley was initially released for PC, becoming one of the most played PC games among fans of this theme. Now it is available on a variety of platforms, including smartphones.
4 – Dawn of Discovery – Commercial Management
Here is a classic from the Anno series, very traditional but with many fans to this day. There are recent, modern versions that bring cutting-edge graphics. The game has a unique identity and turns the player into a merchant.
For those who do not know, Anno is a real-time strategy city-building game for Nintendo. It is the sequel to the game Anno 1701, which is the evolution of Anno 1404. In each version you can expand the territory more and more.
That merchant will have to take care of the islands, and the focus is on trade routes. These take place by ship and at production sites with various items and resources. You even have to consider relationships with other leaders in order to enrich the empire.
5 – Northgard – Strategic Management
It is a game very similar to the others, except that in addition to strategy, it also brings in the concept of a board game. Everything takes place on a Nordic continent, where you need to explore the world around you and conquer lands.
So, to have some things you need to give up others, including buildings. And that is where strategy comes in. What is yours? Working with the right people also generates good results for your empire. So it is a great way to learn in practice!
Another management game that is a hit on PCs and consoles. Among the activities, the player must: build settlements, assign roles to the Vikings, manage resources, and expand territory through the opportunities available.
6 – Two Point Hospital – Hospital Management
Now, one of the best games for hospital managers. It is a classic that became famous a long time ago, back in 1977, under the name Theme Hospital. The goal is to build and run a hospital efficiently, quickly, and profitably.
Two Point Hospital was a kind of sequel, a new version, a spiritual successor that arrived in 2018. The game follows the same line as the original and is even more recommended for those who work or want to work in the hospital setting.
The success was incredible, and it is now available on several platforms, such as Linux, MacOS, and Windows, as well as the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch consoles. Some colleges use the gamer methodology and encourage the use of Two Point Hospital.
7 – Prison Architect – Public Management
The title is great for those who prefer the public sector side of management. It is a management game that follows a line from basic to advanced level; the start is an existing prison that you “only” need to improve.
Later, with more knowledge acquired, it is then possible to create a facility, following new missions and opening up unseen areas. One of the goals is to improve inmate satisfaction, the security system, profit, and everything else.
One of the coolest points has to do with the challenges that arise throughout the management game. For example, when there are dark times involving the life and death of inmates, which demands attention to a moral side within the game.
8 – Factorio – Industrial Management
Even if you have never thought about it, consider that this is one of the best games for industry managers. Not to mention it is also quite addictive. Factorio is a title that shocks players, who tend to get quite anxious about results.
As the stages go on, consider that you can do many things, such as making discoveries and adjustments. It is a paradise for those who like to solve problems and make decisions. After all, there will be no shortage of challenges in this industrial factory. So, are you ready to manage this place?
The truth is that a manual factory, with the good work of the manager, can become a huge automated industry. The electronic construction and management game began to be developed in 2012 and was released 4 years later.
9 – Kingdoms and Castles – Construction Management
Just as there are games that end up more focused on certain areas, such as hospital management, consider that others let you choose. That is the case with Kingdoms and Castles, which seems quite simple and minimalist but offers a lot of learning.
In addition to letting you build an army to defend against dragons and enemy Norsemen, it has the option of setting goals only in construction. That way, you can think about raw resources, such as wood and stone, as well as gathering places, such as farms and orchards.
In the synopsis, the game was created for players to build cities. It was initially released by Lion Shield as a PC game. After receiving mixed reviews, it became even more played and today is a hit even on mobile.
10 – Planet Zoo – Sustainable Management
Animals, plants, and other living beings are important for administrators and managers to be able to consider the planet’s sustainability. Planet Zoo is a great game for those who want to focus on zoos, which have these resources to be managed.
What happens in this game? The player must set up the zoo however they like, paying attention to the requirements to keep everyone satisfied and safe, from the animals to the patients. It is important to consider that there are demands, such as food, water, and cleanliness.
On the internet, the subtitle of this game is: “Animal Simulator.” This makes its goal clear: to simulate the management of a place like this, which involves various sustainable characteristics, allowing professionals in the field to specialize.
Is It Worth Playing These Games?
This type of game has been increasingly used in today’s market and is even promoted by major universities around the world. The reason has to do precisely with the results they bring, such as quick thinking in the search for solutions, both in the game and in the company.
Some authors like to speak of an “opportunity to learn experientially the systemic process of business management in an integrated and collective way.” In other words, it is about taking theory and getting hands-on. And you, did you already know any of these games? Leave a comment!
