Best Games About Hollywood – Investment Policy

Considering how much of an impact Hollywood has on our culture, it’s surprising that so few video games actually focus on the movie industry itself. It’s much more common to see movies about making movies, which can sometimes feel boastful, but often provides a sharp look at the problems within the film world.

Video games rarely focus on Hollywood, and it’s not always obvious why. But if you search, you can find a few games set in the world of movies. Many of these games let you be a Hollywood insider – like a producer, studio boss, or actor. Other games take a more playful approach, often poking fun at the extravagance and superficiality of the movie industry.

The Movies

Suit Up, Spielberg

If you’ve ever looked for games where you create movies, you’ve likely come across The Movies. Though it was released 20 years ago, it’s still considered one of the best movie studio simulation games, largely because of its fun, *Simslike gameplay. It’s more than just a movie-making game—it’s about building an entire studio from the very beginning.

To really succeed, you need to manage all aspects of your movie studio. While building new sets is important for creating fresh scenes, don’t forget things like snack stands – happy actors are productive actors! You make movies by choosing scenes and combining them to tell a story. Then, critics review your film, your studio earns money, and hopefully, you’ll have enough to make another one. The game doesn’t have strict rules for what makes a good movie, so feel free to try different things and have fun.

LA Noire

It’s A Bad Town, Cole

While LA Noire isn’t just about Hollywood, the burgeoning film industry and its stars are central to the story. As Cole Phelps climbs the ladder within the LAPD, the influence of Hollywood – both the location and the celebrity scene – is strongly felt from the beginning.

Cole continues to work as a traffic officer, but a fast-paced accident involving actress June Ballard draws him into a different kind of case. Things really change when Cole gets promoted to the Vice desk at the Hollywood Police Station. From there, all his investigations take place within the world of Hollywood, and the game truly captures the atmosphere of Los Angeles.

Hollywood Animal

Whatever It Takes To Get This Movie Made

Platforms	PC, macOS
Released	April 10, 2025
Developer	Weappy Wholesome
Genre	Simulation

While The Movies and Hollywood Animal share some basic concepts – like building a studio, creating films, and managing actors and finances – Hollywood Animal presents a much grimmer and more unsettling view of the industry. There’s a hidden undercurrent of negativity and complexity that makes this version of Hollywood feel far more manipulative and disturbing.

The game will also present challenges stemming from social issues caused by conflict and hardship. You’ll have to decide whether to address these sensitive topics in your films or avoid them. Expect unpredictable events like run-ins with the mafia or dealing with actors who’ve made problematic public statements. Currently in Early Access, Hollywood Animal aims to eventually simulate every era of Hollywood filmmaking, potentially becoming one of the most detailed and realistic movie-making simulators available.

The Executive – Movie Industry Tycoon

A Day At The Office

Platforms	PC, macOS
Released	May 16, 2024
Developer	Aniki Games
Genre	Office Simulator

If you’re like me and love games like Game Dev Tycoon or Office Management 101, you need to check out The Executive – Movie Industry Tycoon. Basically, you start a movie studio back in the 70s and try to turn it into a huge international success. It’s awesome because you get to decide what kind of movies to make – picking the genre, director, and even the lead actor. Then you produce the film and try to release it at the perfect time to make it a blockbuster! It’s a really fun office sim with a cool Hollywood twist.

If you’ve ever enjoyed games like Game Dev Tycoon, you’ll quickly find The Executive just as captivating. This $15 game offers a lot of replayability and is great for passing the time – whether you’re on a long flight or have a few minutes during a coffee break.

Dead Island 2

These Zombies Are… Kind Of Full Of Themselves

The core of Dead Island 2 is, unsurprisingly, all about fighting zombies – hitting, burning, shocking, and slicing them up. But don’t overlook the game’s location: a zombie-filled, ruined version of Los Angeles. The game features a good portion of the city, including iconic Hollywood landmarks.

As a fan, I’m really excited about the non-playable characters! You’ll meet a bunch of former celebs who’ve become monster hunters – think actresses, social media influencers, and even rappers. They’re all remnants of the old Hollywood scene, which is a cool detail. But it’s not just about the people; the zombies themselves tell a story. Where you find them, what they’re wearing, and even what they’re holding will give you clues about their lives before everything went down. Like, if I find a zombie in a fancy dress in a mansion in Beverly Hills, it paints a pretty clear picture, right?

Hollywood Visionary

Text-Based Production

Platforms	PC, macOS, Linux, Android
Released	May 1, 2015
Developer	Choice of Games
Genre	RPG

Unlike strategy or simulation games, Hollywood Visionary is a purely story-driven experience. It’s almost entirely text-based – as you can see from the screenshots, there are no animations or sound effects, just the story and your choices within it.

The developers call Hollywood Visionary an interactive novel with 150,000 words, but it’s actually quite a bit more than that. Like other visual novels, your decisions shape the story. Although it doesn’t have animations, the game makes up for it with incredibly detailed world-building. Set in the 1950s, Hollywood Visionary lets you interact with famous figures like Alfred Hitchcock and Greta Garbo as you climb the ranks. With five different endings possible, this text-heavy Hollywood story offers a lot despite its simple visuals.

The Sims 4: Get Famous DLC

From Sim To Celebrity

With many expansion packs available for The Sims 4, the Get Famous DLC is the one to choose if you want your Sims to achieve stardom as an actor or actress. The new location included in the pack, Del Sol Valley, is clearly based on Hollywood.

The Get Famous DLC adds a “Fame” stat to the game, measuring how well your Sims are doing as public figures. Sims gain Fame through their careers and actions, and their “Reputation” affects how other Sims treat them.

Hollywood Mogul 4

Like Football Manager, But For Movies

Platforms	PC
Released	April 22, 2025
Developer	HMdesigner
Genre	Strategy, Simulator

If you enjoy analyzing data and numbers more than actually seeing the results of your creative work, then Hollywood Mogul 4 is the perfect game for you. It’s designed for people who like games like Football Manager and want a detailed, numbers-focused experience in the movie industry, rather than one that emphasizes visuals.

This game is like other studio management games where you build a movie studio and try to become a Hollywood powerhouse. What sets it apart is the incredible level of control – you’ll manage every detail, from budgets and hiring to finding the perfect filming locations, all through charts and numbers. It’s the most realistic filmmaking simulator available, but it’s so complex that it’s really only for hardcore fans. For those players, Hollywood Mogul 4 is the ultimate film production experience.

Blockbuster Inc.

The Movies, Modernized

For years, fans have been asking for a new version of the game The Movies, whether it’s a remake, an updated version, or a completely new sequel. Since the original came out in 2005, those requests have been ongoing for over a decade – and likely even longer. While not a direct continuation, the game that comes closest to capturing the spirit of The Movies today is definitely Blockbuster Inc.

The game lets you create your own movie studio, build sets, hire actors, and film movies by selecting and combining scenes to tell a story. What makes Blockbuster Inc. stand out is how detailed everything is. You don’t just pick shots – you control the camera. You don’t just hire actors – you can change their appearance and outfits. After filming, you get to fine-tune things like sound and special effects, all while expanding your studio. It’s not quite The Movies 2, but it’s a fantastic alternative.

Manhunt

Subtly Gratuitous

Despite its intense violence, Manhunt is actually a sharp commentary on Hollywood, our obsession with entertainment, and the appeal of shocking content. Even though it was released 22 years ago, the game’s themes remain relevant today—and in some ways, are even more impactful than they were in 2003. The story follows James Earl Cash, who fakes his own execution and finds himself in Carcer City. Guided by a mysterious figure known only as The Director, James must survive by eliminating Hunters—gang members sent to kill him. The disturbing twist? Everything is filmed and broadcast as entertainment for an audience that craves violence.

Although Manhunt is built around stealth, it’s famous for its intense and brutal violence. This directly connects to the game’s premise – players, as the character Cash, are expected to commit gruesome murders for the enjoyment of a twisted audience craving snuff films. The game offers commentary on the filmmaking process, but its deeper connection to Hollywood lies in its exploration of ambition and the limits of entertainment. It asks difficult questions: How far are people willing to go to achieve their goals? What level of violence is acceptable for entertainment? And does the distinction between reality and spectacle even matter? These are questions Hollywood producers grapple with constantly, and Manhunt simply pushes them to their most shocking extremes.

2025-12-18 02:39