Management games – a place where you point, click, and read hundreds of pages of information irrelevant to your everyday life – are a fascinating and wonderful world.

Put your management skills to the test with the best management game you can find on our list. Create a successful business, manage theme parks, take care of a rollercoaster tycoon, or just be great with time management – all of that can be done with those titles!

Don’t you believe us? Well, why won’t you check out our list of the best (offline and online) management games and see if you can go hand-in-hand with the best? Starting with…

• Release date: 2014

• Developer: 3909 LLC

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems, PlayStation Vita, Linux

• MetaScore: 92

…an instant classic! Papers, Please is unlike any other management games you will see on this list. The central concept is pretty simple, but the execution is outstanding. You are a border officer for a fictional country Arsotzka. It’s a tyrannical world based on the former Soviet Union, where you must keep all the potentially harmful people out of your country.

How do you do it? Look at the signs, see if the people are twitching, ask them questions to throw them off guard, and prevent the enormous number of spies from other countries from infiltrating your motherland.

It’s grim, sad, and all you would like to have in management games about tyrannical government. And it’s so up with the times! If you like a good story with a nuanced point of view, you should check out Papers, Please, as the execution in this game is just outstanding.

• Release date: 2022

• Developer: Monomi Park

• Platforms: Xbox Series X and Series S, Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft Windows

• Meta Score: N/A

Next on our list – is Slime Rancher 2! The sequel to the awesome slime-catching role-playing game is back and still incredible. What it’s all about? – you may ask, unfamiliar with the first game. Well, let us introduce you to the beautiful world of slime-catching. The central premise of the game is really in the title. You are catching slimes. And those can be slimy, so be sure to get on your best behavior while trying to find them all.

You may also ask – but how is it a management game? Well, it is a management game because after catching all the slimy slimes, you need to organize them, they need different pens, and you need some farming and new gadgets. It’s a strange alien world with its slime stock market and everything. You thought it was some kind of game?

• Release date: 2016

• Developer: Eric Barone, ConcernedApe

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Android, PlayStation 4, macOS, iOS, PC, XboxOne

• Meta Score: 89

Stardew Valley took the gaming world by storm, as no one thought this pretty little game could be so entertaining. Well, it turns out that people love some relaxing farming experience, preferably somewhere other than a farm, and that is what Stardew Valley provides!

If you ever thought – what would happen if I inherited a farm and now I would need to become one of the farmers who stays out of the city life and just lives on the farm, far from everyone? Well then, you have one thing going for you for sure!

When it comes to management sims/farming simulators, you will not find anything much more significant than this! You have your local community to deal with, farm, finances, and those darn tomatoes that just would not grow – it’s a whole ecosystem, and it’s all for you.

Stardew Valley is a fantastic experience and can be recommended for anyone who wants to get some piece of mind somewhere far from the city. Worth checking out!

• Release date: 2018

• Developer: 11 Bit Studios

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

• Meta Score: 84

Frostpunk is on the more serious side of our list, as it is not only management but also survival. You are the leader of the last city on Earth, as everything has frozen, with scraps to get by. Still, keeping everyone alive is on your shoulders. There will be some tough decisions to make as not everyone can survive, so someone must stay hungry.

Frostpunk is a pretty exciting experience as you can’t have thousands of options, level up, and attack other villages to prosper. No, there is always a deficit of something and someone unhappy, on the verge of death. It’s a world that takes you by the head and never lets you go as you try to have at least some morality in this god-forsaken world. It’s a must-have if you enjoy survival/management-style games.

• Release date: 2018

• Developer: Ludeon Studios

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Mac operating systems

• Meta Score: 87

The next on our list is a cult classic – Rimworld. People spend hundreds of hours of their spare time to finally get their sci-fi colony going. After a crash landing on a foreign planet, you must deal with the pretty unpleasant reality that the Rimworld presents you with. It’s not the most accessible place to live, and you don’t have the resources to keep going, so you need to start fighting for your colony’s survival.

The hands-down best thing about this game is the story. It’s presented in such a way that you can’t help but feel immersed in this deep-space survival drama that the AI storyteller presents to you. Every play feels different as the world is shaped individually for each play. Thanks to that, the story is rich with crazy events happening all the time and can genuinely surprise even the most advanced Rimworld players. One of the best games on our list, for sure.

• Release date: 2015

• Developer: Colossal Order

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Google Stadia

• Meta Score: 85

Next up is Cities: Skylines! The true heir to once beloved Sim City, the king of city management, is still a great game, even after almost a decade (on the other hand, 2015 was nearly a decade ago – mind=blown!).

This game is one of the “truest” management games as there are no added elements; you just manage a city and have fun with it. If you want to focus on growing your career as a politician, you can create some populist infrastructure elements. If you don’t want bad things to happen to your citizens, create good policing and keep order. That is also possible if you just want to introduce mayhem to your city.

Cities: Skylines offer many different ways to play, managing budget, creating roads, building, keeping your citizens happy, dealing with some political friction, and just overall – taking care of the city with money and respect. If you think you would be a great mayor (as most people tend to), Cities: Skylines is something you will surely enjoy.

• Release date: 2000-2022

• Developer: Maxis

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, Java ME, BlackBerry OS, Bada, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Windows Phone

• Meta Score: N/A

Next up on our list – Is The Sims franchise. We couldn’t pick just one, so we thought that including the whole series would suffice. The Sims is an ultimate management game, as it manages life itself.

Create your avatar, find a job, follow your passion, and be alive overall! The Sims is one of the most successful franchises ever because, unlike most management games, there is no end to it. You control the living and breathing being that has to eat, use the toilet, and have their needs and worries – it’s a complete package.

They say that someone could play until the end of this game, but it’s still not confirmed. As it stands, it is one of the most exciting games ever created, so if this slice-of-life gameplay feels like it could be fun – you should definitely check it out!

• Release date: 2018

• Developer: Two Point Studios

• Platforms: Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch. PlayStation 4, Xbox One

• Meta Score: 83

The next one on our list is Two Point Hospital, a critically acclaimed game where you manage a hospital. It’s been a long time since Theme Hospital was crowned one of the best management games ever created, so an update was necessary.

In Two Point Hospital, you essentially do what you would in any hospital – take care of some pretty dreadful hospital work as you navigate the world of some of the weirdest illnesses and pretty crazy patients.

The game is relatively light-hearted, so don’t expect a deep-dive into criticism of the insurance in the United States, but it is serious enough to keep you glued to the screen for days upon days. Suffice it to say you must fight illnesses, earthquakes, and even “nuclear” problems.

Multiple scenarios in the game will surely make everyone at least grin and with the excellent chain-command system, you will never get bored in Two Point Hospital.

• Release date: 2021

• Developer: Frontier Developments

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One. Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 81

Jurassic World Evolution 2 is the sequel to a surprise hit that was Jurrasic World Evolution, based on the movie with a similar title. When it comes to movie-inspired games, it’s a rough path for sure, but this one proves the critics wrong! It turns out that you can create a movie-based game that is playable and good!

Jurassic World Evolution 2 allows you to fully immerse yourself in the park management, taking care of visitors, breeding dinosaurs, and having fun with the concept. Additionally, you will meet some familiar people from the franchise, with even some of the voice actors appearing in the game.

Of course, what makes this game special is undoubtedly the gameplay, and it is just wonderful. The different branches of the park feel interconnected, and you, as a manager, can see why it was not an easy job to be in charge of such an enterprise. Even if the dinosaurs were living long ago, you could at least feel a little bit like there are near in this game. And that is worth something for sure.

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Frontier Developments

• Platforms: PC

• Meta Score: 81

Speaking of parks full of animals – Planet ZOO! It is another fantastic management game from Frontier Developments on our list! It’s a pretty cool management/tycoon game that may not have dinosaurs, but it still has a lot of heart and potential to make you scream for more!

Manage the lines, animals, ticket prices, and the overall experience of the people visiting the park. And it’s not only the management element that is well-crafted in this game. The educational aspect is also something that cannot be overlooked. You get to experience dozens of different animals with diverse backgrounds. You need to learn their habits, how they operate, interact with each other, and the importance of keeping them happy and safe. That way, you will earn conservation credits to help you get rare animals.

Of course, while still making sure that they are well adjusted. Only happy animals get visitors, so don’t be cruel and care for them in the best way possible!

• Release date: 2015

• Developer: Introversion Software, Double Eleven (2019−present)

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, Linux, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

• Meta Score: 83

And now something completely different – Prison Architect. Keep your friends close and your prisoners – even closer. You are a prison warden with the only goal in mind – to keep the prisoners safe and ready to return to society as well-adjusted and full of potential.

Of course, we’re kidding – to make money! You may believe us, but it is essentially a prison-Rimworld with AI-created narratives coming at you with supersonic speed. The system was always rigged, so make as much money while being there as you can. The best thing about running a prison is that you don’t need to be that careful about the inmates, so use them in all the sadistic manner as you wish (within some limits, of course). You can try and run it the best you can, but it’s not your main goal.

What makes this game unique is the psychological depth, with creative and exciting stories of inmates, their interactions, and overall – the whole concept of creating a prison where you test people’s reactions in the direst of circumstances.

• Release date: 2021

• Developer: Sports Interactive

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch

• Meta Score: 85

Let’s lighten up the mood a bit with the Football Manager 2022! If the most exciting aspect of a FIFA game is creating a team and playing in career mode – then the Football Manager is something you should check out.

It’s one of the most addictive games on our list, as it presents in-depth statistics about every player and how they will affect the team with their skills. If you think you can be next Guardiola or Ancelotti, this game is the closest. Some stats are so accurate that even coaches use them daily (source needed).

Choose a team, fight in your country, and shoot for the Champions League. Nothing is more exciting than winning the most outstanding trophy in all football with your local B-class league team you played with when you were little. For all sports fans – this game is a dream come true. And if you are not into football, you can still appreciate the effort that went into creating this game. For old and new players – it’s in this game for sure!

• Release date: 2021

• Developer: Rebellion Developments

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S

• Meta Score: 75

Are you tired of playing as a good guy who just wants to save the world? Well then, we’ve got a treat for you! Introducing – Evil Genius 2, a game where you play as a literal villain. As the famous Pinky and the Brian quote goes – What will we do today? The same thing as always, we’ll try to take over the world!

And it’s essentially the plot of this game. Take over the world, fight for justice, and just overall – do your evil deeds as an evil villain. Manage your evil troops, create your lair, find minions that will go wherever you want, and be one step ahead of the heroes.

The idea is pretty simple yet fun. Forces of Justice will always try to stop your evil plan, so you need to ensure they always fall short on the side of winning. It’s an entertaining game with humor and some pretty crazy concepts. Deploying weapons of mass destruction has never been more fun than in this one. Whether you want to be a more sophisticated villain or an old, Cold War-era type of general – you can do it all in Evil Genius 2!

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Frontier Developments

• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X & S

• Meta Score: 81

Planet Coaster – another gem from the Frontier Developments, unfortunately, the last one on our list. Planet Coaster is a long-awaited sequel, that is not a sequel, to the old and gold Rollercoaster Tycoon, a game that singlehandedly started the whole sim genre, along with Sim City, of course.

This is the spiritual successor of that game, and you can see that they made some pretty nice improvements. The game is big, has a lot of rides to create and management elements to keep track of, and overall – it’s the perfect successor to the old-and-gold older brother.

The central concept is pretty simple. You run a theme park with many rides, and your main goal is to attract as many customers as possible. How would you do that? It’s really up to you.

The best thing about this title is surely how advanced it is. There are hundreds of options to create your theme park with some of the craziest rides known to mankind. To ensure you understand the idea – you can create whatever roller coaster you want. And that solely is a reason to get this gem for sure.

• Release date: 2014

• Developer: 11 Bit Studios, Crunching Koalas

• Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X & S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS

• Meta Score: 83

This War of Mine is an intensive survival/management game that brings a lot out of the concept of surviving the war as a group of people who do not want anything to do with the massacre.

You will feel their fear, how they tremble, trying to get by, not to get consumed by the darkness of the times they live in. It’s emotionally exhausting to be in this game. The depth of it is something to look out for, especially if you want something that will entertain you and move you.

The group of people you care for is not a side of any conflict but just a bunch of people who try to get by and get over typical human issues like illnesses and psychological problems due to the situation.

Resource management is critical to surviving these dire times, and you must make tough decisions. It is one of the first games to so deeply present how terrible the war is and how it affects regular people. It may have some issues with gameplay, as every game does, but the emotional aspect of it will make it so much worth it that you will quickly forget about glitches and bugs. Surely worth checking out!

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Limbic Entertainment

• Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, SteamOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 78

Next on our list, on the less serious side – is Tropico 6! The one island where all dreams come true! If your dreams align with being a harsh but fun dictator on a remote island, where you govern a small community full of potential – and do some drug dealing on the side – then it’s a title for you.

Tropico is an enjoyable sim that combines many elements from the previously mentioned games but does it with a style and class that some may lack. The series is widely recognized for its humor and unique mechanisms governing the island. From fighting with the United States, and bribing protesters to fill rivers with toxic waste, Tropico is essentially a dream come true for all the libertarian ideas. And it does not treat itself too seriously so that it does not feel political.

The game overall feels like a well-crafted experience that anyone can enjoy, and you don’t need to be a dictator to do some dictator-like things. Just saying. If you want an authentic management experience that will hook you up to the computer for days – there are not many better choices than Tropico 6!

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Blue Byte

• Platforms: Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

• Meta Score: 81

Next up on our list – a game that treats itself more seriously – Anno 1800! When creating a historical city, you can’t go much better than this one. Old players who know the mechanics will be glad to see them again; new ones – will be astonished at just how well you can create a sim game.

It’s the 1800s, the world of the industrial revolution is just getting its feet into the ground, and you are using all the necessary resources to create the best city in Western Europe. Make your island the best of all of them and grow your population to develop even more advanced technology. It’s all about growth in Anno, but you cannot accomplish that without taking care of your citizens and their rights.

Industrialization comes with the workers' unions, so keep that in mind while developing your island. Send your ships all around the globe, trade with the best and make your way in the multiplayer mode. That is where everything starts once more! When it comes to some history-based management games – there are not much better than this one, that is for sure!

• Release date: 1997

• Developer: Bullfrog Productions

• Platforms: MS-DOS, Windows 95

• Meta Score: [GameRankings] 92%

Speaking of classics – Dungeon Keeper. If some games may or may not have inspired others, this is where it all started. Dungeon Keeper was one of the first management games ever created, and what a game it was! Straight from the get-go, you have your variation on the whole good vs. evil concept as you roam around the dark corridors of hell, trying to manage this hellhole, as they say.

Your main goal is to create traps for upcoming heroes. Result – always the same, they get there, ask for forgiveness, and promise they will never try to be heroic anymore. Tough luck, unfortunately.

It’s dark, fun, and just full of unique mechanics that we have never seen at that time. It was a groundbreaking game, and it’s part of the historical legacy of gaming. While many came after it, this gem managed to create a lovable antihero, voiced by incredible Richard Ridings, and create a pretty good management/sim game of its own accord.

It had to be included in this list, among other excellent games. It may be a bit hard to get around this title, as it is a bit old, but if you squint your eyes, you can see what the others saw those almost 30 years ago. One of the greats, for sure.

• Release date: 2018

• Developer: Haemimont Games

• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, macOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Classic Mac OS

• Meta Score: 76

And here we have something more recent with Surviving Mars! The red planet has never been more rad than in this colony/survival game. This sim takes place on the Mars colony, where you must gather resources and manage your team to survive on Mars.

Everything is lacking on this unwelcoming planet, so you need not only care for things like water and food (that there was none there initially) but also…air. So you may see how that can pose a potential problem.

The thing about Surviving Mars is that it is a highly addictive game, with just one more element inherently added to it. Taking care of your colonists is pretty hard, and you will fail them repeatedly, but after some time – you will get the hang of it. Even though it may have some issues, Surviving Mars is a terrific concept executed creatively. If you enjoy surviving games in unusual circumstances, this one is definitely for you.

• Release date: 2019

• Developer: Klei Entertainment

• Platforms: PC

• Meta Score: 86

Nitty-gritty details, checked; scarce resources (including – oxygen), checked; inhospitable place, checked. Is it Surviving Mars once more? Well, not really, it’s the one, the only – Oxygen Not Included, a game that many consider one of the best on the management market.

What it’s all about? Well, you have your group of people who have found themselves in the center of an asteroid. Your job? Making them survive this tragic event. And yes, oxygen is not included, so you must gather it yourself.

It is also a more brutal survival/management game as it demands to be rather strict about allocating your resources. The first thing you need to do is to create algae so that you can get some oxygen. Then, you’ll have to find some heat, food, and water; it’s just a whole thing! But, in the end, the game rewards you with some enjoyable time in an inhospitable place, so just for that reason, it’s worth checking out!

Thank you so much for checking out our list of top 20 management games! If you are a fan of clicking lots of things and an even more significant amount of detail – we were happy to serve you well. This was a real rollercoaster ride, from the cult classics to more recent experiences. It all boils down to choosing the suitable game to suit your needs.

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