
Management games occupy a special place in the gaming landscape and are generally more accessible than other genres. Far from relying on speed or adrenaline, they invite players to take a step back, analyse and sometimes even orchestrate complex systems. Whether it’s building a thriving city, managing a desert planet, or running a business, these games stimulate reflection and an appreciation for calm. Let’s discover our selection of the best management games in 2025.
One publisher has managed to make a name for itself in this field and boasts multiple renowned titles: Frontier Developments. The famous dinosaur licence Jurassic World Evolution, the animal licence Planet Zoo and Planet Coaster for amusement parks are among this studio’s successes. Widely appreciated by the community, these games offer an impressive diversity of worlds and management possibilities, even though all three involve building a park.
For a more indoor experience, look no further than the Two Point franchise. The latest instalment, Two Point Museum, allows players to develop their own museums, each with its own themes and gameplay mechanics. While the design and management options are less advanced than in Frontier games, the content available is quite substantial and easily keeps players engaged for around 50 hours.
Let’s start with some of the more unusual titles. Let Them Trade has a paper-like visual style. The aim is to build a network of towns that produce and trade resources, improve your castle and protect the towns from bandits. Also set in a medieval world, Manor Lords has enjoyed considerable success since its release. Timberborn immerses us in a world filled with beavers. Don’t be fooled by these cute rodents, as the game is more complex than it appears, but it has received extremely positive reviews to date. Finally, another interesting offering in the cute genre is Town to City. Released very recently, it involves building a 19th-century Mediterranean city in a simple cubic style, but with sumptuous lighting.
For those who want to combine management with optimisation and machines, check out Satisfactory or Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure. In the latter, you have to design automated workshops and put your little creatures to work transporting and manufacturing everything you need. In the same vein, Factorio offers an interesting experience with a top-down camera view. Here, you have to build ingenious structures while fending off the alien threat.
In conclusion, there is quite the diversity in the management game genre. Although it has not evolved radically over the years, it has been able to reinvent itself and offer increasingly diverse titles in terms of game mechanics or simply design. More than ever, management games are establishing themselves as a popular field for experimentation and escapism, reminding us that behind each of our decisions lies a world just waiting to be shaped.
1. Planet Coaster 2
- Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
2. Two Point Museum
- Available on PC, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
3. Planet Zoo
- Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
4. Let Them Trade
- Available on PC
5. Jurassic World Evolution 3
- Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
6. Manor Lords
- Available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S
7. Timberborn
- Available on PC
8. Town to City
- Available on PC
9. Satisfactory
- Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
10. Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure
- Available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S
11. Factorio
- Available on PC and Switch
12. Surviving Mars
- Available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One
13. Schedule I
- Available on PC
14. Ground of Aces
- Available on PC
