Games Like Theme Park Tycoon That Should Have Sequels

Key Takeaways

• Building & managing structures in tycoon games engage players, with tutorials keeping them hooked.
• Popular tycoon games may get sequels, while others like
  Cities XL
  deserve a refresh.
• Classic simulation games like
  OpenTTD
  could benefit from modernizing visuals & gameplay for a wider audience.

As someone who has spent countless hours lost in the labyrinth of city-building simulators and transport tycoon games, I must say that these two titles have left an indelible mark on my gaming journey. The Patrician series, with its historical depth and engaging gameplay mechanics, took me on a fascinating voyage through the Hanseatic League, while OpenTTD, the lovechild of Transport Tycoon Deluxe’s dedicated fanbase, has proven to be an unending source of entertainment and creativity.

Games such as Theme Park Tycoon captivate not only dedicated gamers but also those who aren’t typically into gaming. The allure lies in the opportunity to construct and manage massive structures, which draws people in. However, engaging tutorials and beginner-friendly scenarios keep them engaged for hours, if not years. A standout tycoon game like RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 allows players to unleash their creativity, designing their parks and cities according to their own preferences, rather than focusing on efficiency.

After players move past the introductory level, intricate management dynamics maintain their engagement. Games such as SimCity and Theme Park Tycoon continue to have sequels, but not every exceptional tycoon game or business/construction simulation receives a continuation, even if it merits a remake or update.

10 Cities XL

Focused More On City Planning And Development Than Simulation

City aficionados with a fondness for large urban areas often hold a special place in their hearts for the game series called Cities XL. This game truly delivered as advertised by providing expansive populations and progressive development choices. Players have complete control over building, zoning, and road design, but they must also consider how different social classes impact the city’s RCI zones.

Sadly, it was flawed by technical issues, an inconvenient digital subscription system, and a lackluster approach to addressing community complaints. If developed by another creator, a follow-up to Cities XL could offer a good choice for a city building sim that emphasizes urban planning and development.

9 SimTower: The Vertical Empire

Building An Empire Into The Sky

As a dedicated enthusiast, I’d say SimTower was my go-to for vertical gaming excitement. The challenge lay in strategically placing facilities, ensuring they complemented each other, and thoughtfully filling the spaces between them to maximize profits. Moreover, managing elevators effectively was crucial, as haphazard pathing could significantly impact the cash flow.

Illicit game-hosting platforms continue to circulate the classic game SimTower, but locating a legitimate version that functions without extensive effort is virtually impossible. It’s easy to envision an updated sequel of SimTower with flexible zoning options for mixed uses, which could appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers alike and sell quite well.

8 Sid Meier’s Railroads!

The Successor To Railroad Tycoon That Leans Into Economics

Sid Meier’s Railroads! provides an abundance of features for a train simulation game. By employing strategic planning, additional aspects such as the stock market or managing industries can be set aside to concentrate solely on expanding train routes. Keeping an eye on cargo rates and values, along with strategically constructing train routes, leads to increased earnings that enable you to build railroads that are enjoyable to observe.

2023 saw the release of a mobile version of the game “Railroads!”, but there’s currently no sign of a sequel. However, if the mobile port performs well, it could spark interest in a new installment. In the meantime, other games such as “Transport Fever 2”, “Mini Metro”, and “Railroader” can cater to the needs of train simulation enthusiasts.

7 Dungeon Keeper

Foil Adventurers And Grow A Dungeon Worthy Of An Evil Lord

In the ’90s, it was a delightful experience to take on the role of the villain, and Dungeon Keeper granted us this opportunity by letting us assume the life of a dungeon master. Players could command imps and other creatures to excavate a vast underground network, strategize against intruding heroes by managing rival species, setting traps, performing sacrifices, and hindering other dungeon masters’ objectives. Additionally, multiplayer options enabled players to either compete or collaborate in 15 distinct levels against one another.

Many games that resemble Dungeon Keeper’s real-time strategy (RTS) dungeon management and dark comedy have emerged over the years, yet few can truly be considered its successors, with the exception of its 3D sequel. Its 2014 release may bear the same title, but it doesn’t carry on the original game’s legacy in essence. For the present, enthusiasts might find solace in the forthcoming Dungeon Tycoon, where they can outwit adventurers to expand their wicked dungeon enterprise; however, even this game is not a true sequel itself.

6 GearCity

10-Year-Old Business Simulator Still Going Strong

For automobile aficionados who’ve long nurtured the ambition to lead their own automotive enterprise but lack the necessary funds, there’s an alternative route available in the form of GearCity. Positioned as a comprehensive business simulator, GearCity encompasses all facets of administering a car company.

As a game enthusiast immersed in this virtual reality world, I’m responsible for designing my cars, managing the production line, handling dealerships and marketing, keeping track of finances, and funding my racing team. The original version is still fun to play, but a sequel could take it to the next level, enhancing both the vehicles and user interface. Studio VENT could collaborate with other creators to refresh its graphics while retaining control over its exceptional simulation technology.

5 Ceasar 3

Complex But Rewarding City Management & Diplomacy

In the game Caesar 3, players are tasked with mastering various aspects such as urban planning, resource management, diplomacy, crisis management, and defense during sieges. To prevent overwhelming newcomers, the Career Mode begins by placing them as citizens within the Roman Empire. As they progress from a citizen to an architect or governor, they learn how to design cities and manage resources, cope with divine blessings or hardships, and initiate military operations.

To this very moment, gamers continue to revisit the classic title, Caesar 3. Its unique blend of mechanics, progressive challenge, and semi-mythical aspects are scarcely found elsewhere. A future installment, Caesar 5, could expand on the groundwork laid by the initial three games in the series and refine the concepts that Caesar 4 attempted to introduce.

4 The Movies

Become A Producer, Director, Writer, And Movie Studio Owner

In The Movies, you step into the role of a movie studio mogul, where you’ll oversee various aspects such as maintaining the health, skills, and addictions of actors, hiring skilled staff with specific genre expertise, and meticulously managing your budget to create an exceptional studio lot. For those who crave creativity, there’s the Advanced Movie-Maker, allowing you to input personalized scripts and craft truly distinctive films.

Regrettably, only a few simulation games have managed to touch upon the extensive topics that The Movies aimed to explore, with Blockbuster Inc., Hollywood Animal, and Movie Tycoon being some of them. These games share similarities with The Movies, with Movie Tycoon standing out as it bears a resemblance to Lionhead Studios’ creations.

3 Capitalism 2

Used By Stanford & Harvard To Teach Economics

In the sequel of Capitalism, players embark on a journey starting with a basic retail store where they learn essential skills like managing inventory, choosing suppliers, pricing merchandise, and catering to a wider customer base. The game subsequently delves into intricacies such as land value, optimal store placement, understanding client demographics, calculating production costs, employee training, advertising strategies, logistics, and much more. Notably, Capitalism 2 is so comprehensive that it serves as a teaching tool for university professors in advanced business and economics courses at the MBA level.

Originally intended to create Capitalism 3 under Ubisoft, Trevor Chan, the mind behind Capitalism 2, didn’t get that opportunity. Instead, he chose to independently develop Capitalism Lab, an enhanced version of Capitalism 2. With a larger team, Chan aims to transition this classic spreadsheet tycoon game into either Unity or Unreal Engine for a fresh, updated appearance with numerous quality-of-life enhancements.

2 Patrician (Series)

Historical Empire Management, Trading, And Strategy Simulator

Enthusiasts of history and city-building simulations share a common ground in engaging with the Patrician series. This collection of games delves into the Hanseatic League, offering insights into the politics, trade conditions, piracy, and everyday life during the 1300s. Gameplay-wise, each sequel boasts visual enhancements, refinements to profitable goods, overall game balance, events with repercussions, and smarter AI.

Despite the gameplay being straightforward, the series culminated in 2010 with Patrician 4. A sequel could attract a new fanbase today, given the rising popularity of stylized historical dramas on streaming platforms, and historical simulation games like Anno 1800 and Victoria 2 continuing to thrive.

1 OpenTTD

20-Year-Old Game Developed By Loving And Dedicated Fans

In the game called OpenTTD, players immerse themselves in an exciting transportation tycoon adventure spanning from 1950 to 2050. The objective is to connect cities, resources, and industries by creating transport networks using land, air, and sea travel options. To succeed, players must plan and construct efficient infrastructure for timely cargo delivery, upgrade their railways and vehicles, and engage in some strategic terrain modification.

Without a doubt, OpenTTD stands out as the go-to business simulation game for those dreaming of constructing their perfect train network. In essence, it’s the evolved version of Transport Tycoon Deluxe, which has been under open-source development by an enthusiastic community for over two decades. If this dedicated group were to embark on a sequel someday, they could revamp its appearance, formally include popular mods that players can’t live without, and continue developing the game for another 20 years or more – much like they have with the original version.

Read More

• SOL PREDICTION. SOL cryptocurrency
• BTC PREDICTION. BTC cryptocurrency
• USD ZAR PREDICTION
• CKB PREDICTION. CKB cryptocurrency
• USD COP PREDICTION
• LUNC PREDICTION. LUNC cryptocurrency
• EUR ILS PREDICTION
• MDT PREDICTION. MDT cryptocurrency
• UFO PREDICTION. UFO cryptocurrency
• WELSH PREDICTION. WELSH cryptocurrency

2024-09-23 05:24