5 Best Isometric Management Games, Ranked

The world of management gaming is chock-full of addictive simulations to discover. Such games provide intellectually stimulating challenges for players, demanding long-term thinking and an eye for profit.

The isometric brand of video game graphics often serves as a perfect fit for management simulators. Allowing the game world to sit at an angle, the isometric mode of visuals allows management game players to fully view the world around them. Avoiding the usual flat, side-on, and bird’s eye angles most commonly associated with gaming, the isometric view manages to encompass the game environment more completely. Of the many management games over the years to make good use of isometric graphics, a select few have managed to stand out from the rest.

5 SimCity 2000 Is A Landmark Moment In Management Simulation Gaming

Metacritic: 62

• Initial release date: December 1993
• Platforms: SNES, Amiga, MS-DOS, Playstation, Sega Saturn, GameBoy Advance, Nintendo 64, Windows Mobile, Windows 95, Mac OS
• Developer: Maxis

This iconic city-building simulation arguably set a new standard for management games moving forward. This classic entry in the long-running series marked an exciting change as it ventured into the isometric instead of the top-down style that had come before.

The straightforward main goal of the game is to develop a successful city from the ground up. Every aspect of city life and management is covered, as players must address finances, home development, urban development, power supplies, and more. With an emphasis on sensible money management, this richly detailed, thought-provoking masterpiece broke ground in almost all areas, from its inventive, well-paced gameplay to its sharply realized graphics.

4 RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 Sharpened Up The Formula Of Its Predecessor

Metascore: 74

This construction-focused management game thrusts players into the world of amusement parks. While similar to its predecessor, this well-regarded sequel garnered praise for boasting a much more detailed, immersive approach to building and development.

The isometric viewpoint is seemingly tailor-made for the amusement park setting, as players get full-on views of the enormous rides and attractions on offer. A variety of landscapes and scenarios are also on offer, providing replay value as players move through the many different options and layouts to be discovered. Earning a positive reception from critics and players alike for expanding on the gameplay and style of the original, this sequel proved to be an excellent, all-around management experience at the time of its release.

3 Tropico 4 Is An Intricate Look At Running An Island

Metascore: 78

The city management genre is jazzed up with the thrills of political intrigue in this fun look at life in a banana republic. Players take control of an island and can customize and develop it from scratch.

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These developments include dealing with the island’s resources, safety, and crops. Fully in charge, players must deal with the well-being of their population, covering everything from religion to food. In order to keep the people happy, players must often cater to their demands, which can come across all manner of issues and can lead to difficulties and even protests if they’re not appeased. With factions, rivals, and rebellions all at the risk of sullying the player’s leadership, this is a surprisingly tense nation management gaming experience.

2 Planet Coaster Is A Masterclass In Theme-Park Gaming

Metascore: 84

Frontier’s return to the theme park subgenre of management gaming saw the developers perfect their craft. Through four rewarding gameplay modes, Planet Coaster provides a well-rounded, incredibly detailed management experience.

Of the gameplay modes on offer, Sandbox in particular proved to be a hit with both critics and gamers alike. The straightforward setup sees gamers develop a theme park from scratch. Encouraging players to be creative and expansive, the game’s intricate level of developmental detail sometimes requires patience but is frequently rewarding. For RollerCoaster Tycoon fans, this spiritual successor largely perfected and developed the concepts of the old series, taking them in exciting, detailed directions.

1 Theme Hospital Is An Eccentric, Medical Classic

Amazon rating: 4.3

• Initial release date: 28 March 1997
• Platforms: MS-DOS, Playstation 1, Microsoft Windows
• Developer: Bullfrog Productions, Krisalis Software

This classic business simulation game introduces players to the high-stress nature of running a hospital. To start with, gamers must develop their medical facility from scratch.

From there, a surprisingly comedic approach takes hold, as patients are admitted to the hospital with bizarre, completely made-up ailments. This decision adds a light touch to what could’ve been a high-pressure management game, providing a fun atmosphere to the gameplay. With distinctive, isometric graphic designs, this absurdist management simulation manages to deliver the building and development goods on top of providing players with some laughs.

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