Summary
Management gamesare arguably one of the most saturated and popular genres on Steam, packed with all kinds of experiences, from colony simulators likeRimWorldall the way to business sims likeTwo Point Hospital. With a genre so saturated, it can be hard to find the diamonds in the rough, especially when searching for games with a specific theme and style.
Arguably due to the fact that management games often feature an abundance of simulated elements, they usually incorporate themes that are grounded in reality or science fiction. However, there are a variety of unique management experiences on the market that embracethe fantasy genre, too.
Taking clear inspiration from life andfarming sims likeStardew Valley,Travellers Restprovides players with a management-heavy RPG experience that tasks them with expanding and managing their own tavern in a fantasy world.
AlthoughTravellers Restis more like aHarvest Moon-inspired life-sim than it is a full-on management game, it consistently gives players a lot to manage. Overall,Travellers Restprovides a more user-friendly experience that may not appeal tohardcore management fansbut offers a satisfying and accessible affair for newcomers thanks to itsStardew Valley-adjacent approach.
ThisDungeon Keeper-inspired strategic management game tasks players withbuilding and managing a dungeon. InWar For The Overworld, players excavate an underground cavern, building traps and managing their various minions efficiently in order to defend against bloodthirsty heroes.
War For The Overworldtakes clear inspiration fromDungeon Keeper, both the original and its sequel. Unfortunately,War For The Overworlddoes little to differentiate itself from its predecessors, despite its fresh coat of paint. However, for those looking for more of whatDungeon Keeperhas to offer,War For The Overworldis the perfect fit.
Thisfantastical city-buildersimulation game takes place in a fantasy post-apocalypse. Players lead a colony of survivors who live on the back of a colossal creature and must manage both their colony and their relationship with the colossus in order to succeed.
InThe Wandering Village, players must use the limited space on the back of the colossus efficiently if they’re to succeed. The world ofThe Wandering Villageis extremely hostile, and players will have to manage a multitude of systems at all times, all while doing their best to plan ahead.
This fantasy city-builder tasks players with defending their ever-expanding Kingdom from Viking raids and vicious dragon attacks. Each of these enemies requires a different strategy to take down, and players will have to simultaneously contend with plagues and starvation while maintaining a steady income.
Kingdoms And Castlesgives players plenty to manage, including creating a steady supply of food, managing taxes, and even ensuring their Kingdom has a solid firefighting force. Finances, happiness, and the strength of the player’s armies are all integral to success inKingdoms And Castles, making every aspect of the game’s management systems equally important.
This tactical turn-based sandbox RPG tasks players with leading and managing a company of mercenaries in a dark, low-fantasy world. The game features a gritty atmosphere and tone, tabletop-style visuals, and deep RPG character progression.
Battle Brotherscanbe brutally unforgivingat times, and the game is often unafraid to wipe out the player with a nasty ambush. AlthoughBattle Brothershas a steep learning curve and its gameplay is more focused on combat than management, it features deep management systems that allow players to heavily customize their company of mercenaries.
This heavily stylized fantasy management game combines the city-builder genre with a roguelite structure that emphasizes the honeymoon phase of city-builder games.Against The Stormcondenses the fun of setting up and managing an efficient settlement intoshort play sessionspacked with tough decisions and strategic choices.
This innovativecombination of genresis both well-crafted and, at times, difficult.Against The Stormgives players plenty to manage, but its progression system ensures that those playing can make progress between runs.
After over a decade of time in development,Dwarf Fortresswas released on Steam in 2022 with a polished tile set that makes the game more visually pleasing and a plethora of other quality-of-life changes that drastically increase the game’s accessibility.Dwarf Fortressmay have been an experience for a niche demographic, but after the success ofRimWorldand the added alterations, the game is finally appealing to wider audiences.
InDwarf Fortress, players build an ever-expanding fortress using a colony of dynamic dwarves, each with their own personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.Dwarf Fortressfeatures an abundance of interconnected systems, deep colony-sim management, and massive replay value that makes it worth learning.
