Jurassic World Evolution 2. 32 best tycoon and economic video games in 2023

The visuals of Jurassic World Evolution 2 overshadows most of the tycoons described in our list.

It has been known for a long time that good video games and good movies usually don't go hand in hand. Throughout the history of video games, there have been very few successful adaptations of blockbuster movies (as far as game-based movies are concerned, the result is even worse). One of the first and few tycoons based on the license of the popular movie series was Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis from 2003 by Blue Tongue Software studio. Although this title, released on PC and consoles of the sixth generation, cannot be called a masterpiece, it still has a large number of fans.

Fifteen years after the launch of this game, we have received another tycoon set in the Jurassic Park universe, - Jurassic World Evolution. Thanks to the seasoned Frontier Developments studio, known earlier from the RollerCoaster Tycoon series (including the present-day Planet Coaster), it turned out to be a really successful production. At the end of 2021, a second installment was introduced. Certain problems and bugs of the first entry were solved, and the developers added more personalization options. In short, Jurassic World Evolution 2 is more of the same. This is enough to warrant good fun.

The game's action - just like in the case of the film original - takes us to the near future, where mankind has developed a technology that allows to recreate dinosaurs from DNA and bring them back to life. During the game we play the role of Jurassic Park manager, a kind of zoo where visitors can admire the legendary prehistoric reptiles on their own eyes. The list of our duties includes presenting dinosaurs to a wider audience and acquiring more species of these animals, and also taking care of the entire infrastructure associated with tourists and providing them with a number of side attractions - such as souvenir shops.

The safety of visitors is also important, so while playing we must keep an eye on our animals that may pose a real threat to customers, only if they manage to get out of their secured den. As would befit a tycoon, we have to pay for everything, and the key to success is proper budget management that should allow for stable development of our park.

If we've got you hooked by now, the game can be easily purchased both on PC and on eighth-generation consoles. Also, there is no doubt that high quality 3D graphics overcomes and beats most of other games described in our compilation of tycoons. But is it so important in the tycoon genre? To answer this question, we'll simply mention that one of the most frequent criticisms of Jurassic World Evolution 2 are the over-spiced visuals above purely economic mechanics.

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

Timberborn

This isn't a simple game - every action must be well thought out.

There is no shortage of city builders on the market. Timberborn also belongs to this type of game. However, this title stands out in several ways and brings a bit of freshness to the ossified genre. The game was developed by the Polish Mechanistry Studio. The high quality of this game was of utmost importance when composing this list.

One moment with the trailer or gameplay is enough to notice that the inhabitants of the cities in Timberborn are strange. Upon zooming in, it turns out they are... beavers. The Homo sapiens species has gone extinct, and now it's animals that are building metropolises. When planning a city, the available space must be properly managed from the very beginning. A crucial matter is water and the irrigation system. There is also a possibility of placing and modifying already existing river beds.

The colony will sooner or later be haunted by various natural disasters. You can expect, among other things, floods and droughts. In such situations, the well-being of a community is determined by the proper management of food supplies gathered during a time of relative prosperity. Relative, because weather conditions can make life difficult. It's not easy, especially since all buildings here are mainly made of wood - after all, the constructors are beavers.

Fortunately, the lives of these charming animals aren't just about the hardship of everyday work and fear of potential threats. They also crave entertainment. That's why carousels should be built alongside workshops. There's no point in delaying this because a happy worker is a productive worker. Good mood is also influenced by the city's decoration and a proper, healthy diet.

The game is currently in Early Access, but the full version is expected to be released soon this December. It's certainly worth waiting for the game, although you could be tempted to buy it right now. This title is indeed refined and looks quite good. Polish developers have prioritized graphics, so the stylized setting looks good now and should not be a deterrent in a few years.

1. The game's page on Steam
2. Game's page on the GOG.com
3. Game's page on Epic Games Store