Top 8 Strategy Games for Building Your Own Criminal Empire!

Summary

Empire of Sin is a gateway crime strategy game with a sleek noir design.
All In The Game lets players go from street gangs to big-time crime.
City of Gangsters is the go-to game for micromanaging a criminal empire.

Games offering players the chance to manage a criminal empire provide an unrivaled power fantasy. One such well-known game is “Grand Theft Auto“, primarily an action-adventure title. However, there are gamers seeking a more specialized experience that emphasizes strategic aspects of running their operation. Top strategy games with a criminal theme often strike a good balance between managing rival gangs, property, relationships, and avoiding the law.

It’s fortunate that we have a specific category of games centered around criminal strategies, similar to this one. For quite a while now, the criminal strategy genre in video gaming has been underrepresented, leaving its enthusiasts yearning for fresh experiences. Here is a compilation of top-tier strategy games where players can construct a thriving criminal enterprise.

8. Empire Of Sin

The Perfect Starting Point For Crime Strategy Gaming

In simpler terms, “Empire of Sin” is a tactical game about crime, set during the 1920s prohibition period. This game stands out visually among similar games, featuring a stylish noir aesthetic. The atmosphere it creates, filled with meetings between the player and various contacts, makes players feel immersed in the world of criminal management.

In this game, battles play a significant role and are displayed in a three-quarter perspective. It incorporates role-playing game mechanics with turn-based actions, many of which rely on random number generation. The objective is to tactically eliminate opponents’ bases before launching an attack on their storage facility for control.

It’s likely that “Empire of Sin” stands out as an excellent introduction to strategy simulation games for beginners. However, there isn’t much content in the game to maintain player engagement for a prolonged period. Within approximately 8 to 10 hours, players can explore and experience all that the game has to offer.

7. All In The Game: Crime Strategy

An Early Access Title With Multiplayer Modes

Released: June 25, 2024
Genre: Turn-based strategy
System: PC
Publisher: Strangelet Games

As an enthusiast, I’d like to highlight that “All in the Game” is a 4x turn-based strategy masterpiece. This game takes you on an exhilarating journey, starting as a humble street gang leader and eventually rising to become a towering figure in the criminal underworld. What sets it apart is its multiplayer mode, a scarcity in the crime strategy genre that adds an extra layer of excitement.

In “All In The Game,” players can assemble a crew of street associates, plan and execute heists, stake out territories, traffic illicit substances, and establish protection schemes across the city. However, amassing substantial wealth may trigger IRS tax investigations. For advancement, there are numerous routes players can take, such as rising through the ranks of a drug cartel or transforming into political dissidents.

2024 saw the launch of “All In The Game”, which remains an early-access title, yet it’s garnering lots of excitement. Most reviews are favorable, and gamers are eager for the game’s further development. Strangelet Games takes player feedback seriously and has been maintaining the game effectively so far. With its full release, “All In The Game” could potentially emerge as the go-to crime strategy game, but even in this early stage, it offers a superb criminal strategy gaming experience.

6. Definitely Not Fried Chicken

This Is What Breaking Bad Feels Like

Released: September 29, 2023
Genre: Management & Strategy
System: PC
Developer: Dope Games
Publisher: Silver Lining Interactive

Aficionados of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” take a liking to this game. “” offers players the chance to manage a chicken shop with an unusual facet. Players can cultivate a profitable drug business behind the cover of their chicken shop, much like Gustavo Fring from “Breaking Bad”.

Apart from overseeing the workers responsible for handling the merchandise in the game, players are also tasked with managing the legitimate aspect of the business. This dual responsibility gives the game an engaging and rewarding feel. Balancing both the legal and illegal aspects of the business presents numerous obstacles, such as thwarting burglaries and meeting demand for orders. In a genre often characterized by mobster themes, Definitely Not Fried Chicken offers a refreshing departure from the norm.

5. Omerta: City Of Gangsters

A Decent Crime Strategy Sim With Some Frustrating RNG

Developer: Haemimont Games
Publisher: Kalypso Media Digital

The game titled “Omerta: City of Gangsters” is a strategic simulation that immerses you in the world of mobsters, with its combat played out in turns, much like a board game. This intriguing title was developed by the same team responsible for Tropico 4. The story unfolds in the 1920s, where players experience the thrill of starting from scratch and turning a humble immigrant arrival into a powerful crime boss in Atlantic City.

The game incorporates combat features, however, it might be improved with a more turn-based system due to occasional glitches in the combat, where characters may pass through the environment. Nevertheless, there’s an abundance of management situations to savor, including developing relationships, extorting property owners, and influencing law enforcement. Interestingly, this game encourages players to have a notepad handy, as they’ll need to perform calculations to make sure the business transactions they strike are profitable for their enterprise.

As a gamer, I’ve found that this game incorporates a good deal of Random Number Generation (RNG) in determining outcomes, which can be frustrating and potentially spoil the strategic aspect for some players. However, for me, the unpredictable nature of RNG adds an exciting layer of unpredictability, keeping each playthrough fresh and engaging.

4. Cartel Tycoon

Takeover An Entire Island

Released: March 18, 2021
Systems: PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Moon Moose
Publisher: tinyBuild

In simpler terms, “Cartel Tycoon” is a game where you strive for dominance as the leading cartel on an island. The objective is to manage pipelines effectively, and this involves transporting your goods via airfields, but be aware that there’s a limit to how much you can overextend. Consequently, it’s crucial to secure other shipping methods too, such as ports.

Competitors will face numerous powerful groups who share the same vision, making their journey to dominance particularly tough. Many hurdles must be navigated by these players, including packaging goods, handling warehouses that have been raided by law enforcement, and laundering money through banks without causing alarm. With so many potential pitfalls, players are forced to think tactically while under stress.

3. Weedcraft Inc

It’s Not Wrong If It’s For Medicinal Purposes, Right?

Released: April 11, 2019
Systems: PS5, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC & Mac
Genre: Strategy
Developer: Vile Monarch
Publisher: Devolver Digital

In simpler terms, Weedcraft Inc is a business strategy game that revolves around building a profitable cannabis enterprise. Essentially, it’s a management simulation where players can cultivate different types of marijuana and manage its distribution. The game offers a high level of detail, featuring realistic varieties of weed.

Beyond this, individuals playing the role of a weed distributor have the power to instigate policy reforms and devise promotional strategies aimed at reshaping public opinion about cannabis. They can even advocate for medical marijuana laws.

Players may find themselves spending countless hours attempting to surpass their opponents, but it can feel like climbing a steep hill since one rival after another seems to be replaced by newcomers. However, the game is captivatingly engaging and offers a soothing soundtrack that makes playing it as comforting as enjoying freshly baked brownies.

2. Gangsters: Organized Crime

The OG Of This Genre

Genre: Strategy
Developer: Hothouse Creations
Publishers: Eidos, Square Enix

In terms of crime-based strategy games, Gangsters: Original Crime is the pioneer in its genre. Some even consider this 1998 title as the best crime strategy game ever made. Unfortunately, due to its age, it can be a bit challenging to get it running smoothly on current systems. Nevertheless, given its significant impact on the genre, it deservedly earns a spot on this list.

This game blends real-time strategy with turn-based actions, structuring each gaming session over a simulated weekly period. At the onset of the week, players issue commands to their lieutenants, and throughout the week, you witness the results in real-time as those lieutenants carry out your instructions. The game was remarkably detailed for its time, assigning specific owners and purposes to every building. Intriguingly, murders were investigated by fictional police or FBI agents, and occasionally, reporters would appear at crime scenes.

You can buy the game “Gangsters: Organized Crime” on GoG, but keep in mind you might need to find solutions to run it smoothly on contemporary operating systems. Enthusiasts of the game think it’s worth the trouble for fans of this genre. There’s also a 2001 sequel titled “Gangsters 2 Vendetta,” which can be harder to locate but is equally enjoyable. These games would undoubtedly be enhanced with a remaster or remake.

1. City Of Gangsters

The Don Of This Genre Currently

City of Gangsters can be considered the “Football Manager” of strategic crime games. Many players invest numerous hours into this game as it offers an experience akin to “Gangsters: Organized Crime” that’s currently unmatched on the market. Similar to other popular crime strategy games, City of Gangsters is set during the Prohibition era.

In Atlantic City, the character comes equipped with ties to the local criminal underworld. To ascend the ranks, they must employ various tactics, often unscrupulous ones, to reach the pinnacle of power. A significant aspect of this journey involves forging alliances with the town’s common folk, who can then provide opportunities for selling clandestine merchandise and services.

As a gamer diving into the world of “City of Gangsters”, I find myself more engrossed in the strategic nuances of managing my criminal empire rather than the raw violence on the streets. The interface, reminiscent of games like “Civilization”, offers a neat and legible layout with intuitive pop-up menus. There’s an intricate web of mechanics that keeps me hooked, making each new playthrough a fresh challenge to refine my strategies and climb higher in the criminal underworld.

In an area that’s rarely catered to, the standout choice for a crime strategy game is undoubtedly “City of Gangsters“. It’s perfect for satisfying that craving.

2025-03-27 11:35