Top 10 Open-World Games That Let You Build Your Business Empire!

Summary

Mafia 3 and Scarface: The World Is Yours offer the opportunity to manage criminal businesses and yield significant daily profits.
Dredge and Elite Dangerous offer more unique approaches to business in open-world environments.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon allows players to own multiple businesses, diversify, and tackle shareholder meetings for profits.

Numerous aspiring business owners worldwide are eager to establish their mark and amass wealth simultaneously. Countless video games have been developed that mimic the corporate management realm, emphasizing business expansion within a particular sector, outsmarting rivals to achieve triumph, and ultimately reaping substantial earnings.

Some open-world games even venture into the world of commerce, enabling players to handle their own products for sale and manage related processes. At the same time, these games offer an expansive map for free exploration. Below, you’ll find some top-rated titles in this category, with rankings based on a mix of the game’s overall excellence and the significance given to business aspects.

8. Mafia 3

Various Criminal Enterprises To Delegate And Grow

In my gaming adventures with Lincoln Clay in Mafia III, I find myself gradually seizing control of numerous businesses scattered across the city of New Bordeaux. Being a part of this criminal underworld, it’s only natural that these ventures I establish are less than legitimate. From seemingly respectable endeavors like waste management and construction, to shadier operations such as smuggling and gambling – it’s all part of the game.

Assigning these illicit businesses to the three lieutenants does reduce daily profits, but Lincoln can still make tens of thousands of dollars every day from each racket. On the other hand, the Faster Baby DLC expansion adds Herbalism as a new feature, which ultimately proves to be the most lucrative venture for Lincoln as he cultivates and expands his cannabis business, earning approximately $100,000 per day when maximally upgraded.

7. Scarface: The World Is Yours

Taking Over Miami

Set a year after the original 1983 film in an alternate scenario where Tony Montana lives, “Scarface: The World Is Yours” is often praised in similar terms to the popular “Grand Theft Auto” games of that era. Similarly to “Mafia 3”, the game primarily revolves around Tony’s efforts to establish his empire, gradually seizing control of Miami from Alejandro Sosa.

In essence, Tony’s main focus is illegal drug trafficking, yet he needs to acquire cover businesses like a cigar store, a nightclub, and a drive-in theater to mask his illicit activities. Before these fronts can be established, tasks need to be accomplished in the four districts of Miami. Moreover, Tony needs to improve these businesses to safeguard them from competing gangs.

6. Dredge

Survive The Horrors Of The Sea And Make Money In The Process

A thrilling game for adventurous business-minded players, Dredge immerses you in the role of a fisherman navigating treacherous waters surrounding isolated islands. Beginning with minimal equipment, your humble fishing boat will progressively be enhanced as you catch more fish, particularly rare species, resulting in larger catches over time.

A significant focus lies on safety due to the treacherous nature of the seas, with hidden rocks in shallow areas adding to the danger, not even mentioning the terrifying, Lovecraftian sea creatures that roam, seeking blood. The primary settlement and traveling merchants are essential for necessary repairs and upgrades to our growing fishing enterprise, while the merchant can provide valuable guidance on advancement and locations of rare fish species.

5. Elite Dangerous

Interstellar Trading

In the vast expanse of a galaxy far beyond our current timeline, roughly 1000 years from now, the space epic known as Elite Dangerous is nothing if not daring. Commencing with a humble starship and a scant fortune, players are granted autonomy to traverse and participate in an array of activities they find appealing, either in a single-player setting or within the shared space of a multiplayer server.

In games like Elite Dangerous, resources can be obtained through activities such as mining, running errands, or less ethical means, which can later be sold at space stations or outposts. This enables players to enhance their spaceships. One of the many professions in this game is that of a Trader, and those who closely monitor market trends and price changes in various locations tend to thrive the most.

4. My Time At Sandrock

Building A Business In A Post-Apocalyptic Desert

300 years later, My Time at Sandrock puts players in the role of rebuilding a deserted town following a catastrophic event. As the proprietor of a workshop, they’ll accept tasks from locals and businesses alike while unraveling an engaging narrative, restoring civilization, and perhaps even finding romance along the way.

As you advance through the game, the contracts for crafting and construction assigned to you become increasingly complex and offer greater returns, making it extremely rewarding to watch the town’s growth unfold. To handle the intricate tasks ahead, it is essential to upgrade your workshop to accommodate the advanced jobs that lie ahead.

3. Kynseed

Three Shops To Own

In the realm of Kynseed, legacy plays a significant role for us gamers. To keep my adventures going even after my character bids farewell, it’s crucial to have offspring. And here’s a smart move: invest in one or more shops. This way, the prosperity I build can be passed down through generations, ensuring lasting success in this captivating world.

As a gamer navigating the vibrant world of Quill, I’ve noticed that each haven houses three distinct types of shops: apothecaries, blacksmiths, and general goods stores. With enough brass in my pocket, I have the exciting opportunity to buy these businesses and manage them according to my own vision. This involves hiring staff, maintaining well-stocked shelves, and perhaps even specializing a store to sell just one unique product. Reputation matters greatly here, as does keeping my employees content, and ensuring we always have enough supplies to meet customer demands.

2. Yakuza: Like A Dragon

Hot Properties And Shareholder Meetings

In many Yakuza games, characters have been seen managing businesses or taking on additional jobs for extra income. However, the business management aspect in Yakuza: Like a Dragon stands out as particularly engaging. Initially, Ichiban Kasuga invests in one property, Ichiban Confections, and over time, he can acquire up to six different properties altogether. To maximize profits, it’s advisable to diversify the types of businesses, as each one experiences varying seasonal fluctuations in income.

The importance of an employee’s skills and morale cannot be overstated, particularly when dealing with the shareholder meeting game, which works much like a series of strategic battles. As your assets expand and promising ventures arise, it is often advantageous to cash out for substantial gains and invest in those more profitable opportunities.

1. The Sims 3

Own And Run A Business

To this day, The Sims 3 remains the sole open-world game in the Sims series. It provides a variety of business options, though they may not be as detailed as other games within the life simulation genre. A Sim can establish and manage a shop right on their home property or opt for a separate lot to launch their small retail endeavor.

In the Sims world, there’s an option for business-minded Sims to buy established companies and improve them as they see fit. They can decide who to hire or let go. The Ambitions expansion pack introduces numerous new career paths, but more significantly, it allows Sims to become self-employed and capitalize on their unique abilities by creating profitable ventures.

2025-03-27 18:38