Fallout Shelter. 32 best tycoon and economic video games in 2023

Fallout Shelter features colorful, cartoon graphics, designed in line with the atmosphere of the series.

Although the Fallout series, started in 1997, doesn't have anything in common with tycoons, being a post-apocalyptic RPG, a side title was released, which debuted on iOS mobile devices in June 2015 during the ongoing E3 expo. Inspired by such titles as SimCity or FTL: Faster Than Light, Fallout Shelter is a typical tycoon - we take control of one of the shelters inhabited by people who survived a nuclear holocaust.

The main premise of Fallout Shelter consists in providing a relatively peaceful and prosperous life to vault's inhabitants. The game is based primarily on the continuous expansion of vault by adding further rooms. Thanks to them, members of our small community have a place to live and satisfy their basic life needs. An important element of gameplay is taking care of our residents morale (for example, by assigning them to a job in which they can be fulfilled) and by proper management of population growth.

During the game, we must remember about resources that we produce in specific vault rooms or gain during outdoor expeditions (don't forget to equip your 'daredevils' with appropriate weapons and protective clothing). The whole is complemented by a simple system of character development borrowed from RPG games, thanks to which the residents of the vault may increase their statistics and cope with various dangers.

Fallout Shelter is the only free-to-play game of our list. Also, the game has a very friendly micropayment system. Moreover, this is the only title from this list that has a mobile lineage (when it comes to the present day, its also available on PCs, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch)

Several imitations of the title have seen the daylight on mobile platforms, like Westworld - developed by the same game designers. Fallout Shelter is worth noting due to its post-apocalyptic setting, which is pretty rare and unusual among tycoon games. If you searching for something similar, you may be disappointed, as there were only few titles boasting a similar atmosphere, among them Rebuild 3: Gangs of Deadsville.

1. Official website of the game
2. The game's page on Steam
3. Game's page on the Microsoft Store

Pharaoh

Pharaoh as a game is a pure copy of game mechanics well-known from Caesar series, where players had to manage territories of ancient Egypt.

Although Pharaoh is one of the four side installments of the Caesar series, the game itself was so popular that we decided to make a small exception and allowed it to enter the list of the best tycoons ever. When it comes to mechanics, Pharaoh is almost a carbon copy of the Caesar series, but the whole idea was transferred to a new, interesting background.

The action of the game was set in the Nile Valley and takes place in the years 2900-700 BC. In the game you play as the ruler of these lands, and your task is to develop them into a flourishing ancient metropolis. The key to success here is to know the needs and behaviour of your people, because it's the only way you can ensure a sustainable development for our country. By neglecting your duties towards citizens your city may end up in flames that may consume the whole economy. In turn, if you prove yourself on this high position, monumental buildings that may last thousands of years, will be erected to honor your character. Compared to the previous editions of Caesar, the most significant novelties of the Pharaoh include, among others, extended agricultural models based on the floods of the Nile, the possibility of fighting wars at sea or the option of inheriting the throne by player's descendants.

Same as with Caesar III and Pharaoh, there is a small hitch - the graphics of the productions from Impressions Games show a clear mark of time, so only the most hardcore retro fans will be able to get fun out of them. We also recommend the Pharaoh remake titled Pharaoh: A New Era, which premiered this year. It includes a rebuilt version of Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile.

The title is still available in the Golden Edition on the most important digital distribution platforms. This edition includes the basic game and the Cleopatra: The Queen of the Nile expansion. .

Graphics of Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile in Enhanced version may still be enjoyable.

If you're looking for a modern alternative to Pharaoh (although not that good), check out Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile, a 2004 production developed by Tilted Mill Entertainment - a company founded by the developers who used to be the backbone of Impressions Games studio.

1. The game's page on Steam
2. Game's page on the GOG.com