title image

Game Dev Tycoon

Replay gaming history

Ratings

Age

4+

Category

Games

Languages

English

Game Dev Tycoon is a critically acclaimed business simulation where success depends on your creativity and willingness to experiment. Starting in the 80s, you'll design your own games, research new technologies, and hire a world-leading team. As you progress, you'll move into larger offices, unlock secret labs, and gain worldwide fans. The game challenges you to balance development priorities and manage your company's growth while navigating the evolving landscape of the gaming industry.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

92/100

As a long-time fan of management sims, Game Dev Tycoon is nothing short of a masterpiece in the genre, especially on mobile. The premise is deceptively simple: start in a 1980s garage and build a gaming empire. However, the depth lies in the hidden mechanics of game design—balancing 'Engine' vs. 'Gameplay' and 'Story' vs. 'Graphics' depending on the genre you've chosen. It’s an addictive loop of 'just one more game' as you chase that elusive 10/10 review from the in-game critics.

What sets this apart from other 'tycoon' games is the historical progression. Seeing the 'G64' give way to the 'TES' and 'mBox' brings a wonderful sense of nostalgia. The port to iOS is flawless; the touch controls are intuitive, and the lack of microtransactions or ads is a breath of fresh air in the modern mobile market. Whether you're a hardcore strategist or a casual player, the thrill of seeing your experimental 'Cyberpunk RPG' become a global phenomenon is unmatched. It’s an essential title for any mobile library.

Dinsun reviewed on: Wed Feb 25 2026

Features

1

No in-app purchases or ads

2

Replay gaming history from the 80s to the modern era

3

Unlock secret labs and conduct cutting-edge research

4

Hire and manage a world-class development team

5

Detailed game reports to help you improve your strategy

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

No, the game is a premium experience with no ads or in-app purchases.

Ratings & Reviews

AWESOME but plz add more things!!!!!!
Sun Dec 10 2017 Mariomaster09871234

Alright, first off. It's an Awesome game!!!! I now have more respect for game creators and daaannnnngggg competition is tough. I think that's how you say it right? XD anyway you should add employee personalities because it's kinda boring and what's the point of firing them? Besides to get a better employee. An example of it would be like an employee is a "bully" and yelling others and things like that. It makes a whole new purpose in firing them which makes you pay attention to your employees more. 2- You should add character/ CPU interactions just to make it real ish. It would be cool if u did add it :D. 3- at the end of the game, why don't you make up more consoles? Your able to progress more and be able to generate ideas to new gamers and inventors and maybe invent a similar model and console like that. If you keep doing that, you could evolve the company to the office place in a 3/4 floor buildings and move the research lab thing and the console builder below it and more floors of your company above it. 4- speaking of research lab, you should add more research topics because after the grid and MMO, it's basically conventions and more conventions. 5- speaking of conventions you should get something for being top in the 3G , or G3 idk. I know it's still an early game (I think) and your maybe adding more things. So these are the things I suggest you to add :D Thx!!! Ps. The Game Is AMAZING!!!!

THIS GAME IS EPIC
Fri Aug 21 2020 sussypt

This game is AMAZING! It really shows you how games are developed. In addition to that, the creativity options in this game are amazing. Whenever you make a good game you are rewarded which really makes you feel like you accomplished something. However, a bad game penalizes you in a very user friendly way. It shows you what you did wrong so that you can improve it later. You may lose money and a few fans but nothing a good game wouldn’t fix. This game is extremely balanced and for those people who think the game is short and easy, there is a piracy mode which is EXTREMELY difficult and will make veterans of the game think outside the box. Overall this game is extremely good and can be replayed over and over again. As I’m writing this review I have 10 companies fully finished and I’m working on my 11th and I haven’t gotten bored once. The achievements in the game also give people another thing to do on top of the countless of things to be explored in the game from Easter eggs, to game combinations and research. This game is countless months of fun for a day’s work. And to top it all off, there are no in app purchases and ads! Something that not many games can say. This game is definitely worth it and I thank the developers for making a game that I have enjoyed for months on end.

I absolutely love this game
Mon Dec 31 2018 Averyjjones

This is everything I have been looking for in a game in which you have to run a business. I love that I get frustrated when a game doesn’t do well or get really excited when I get the ratings and profit I want, it’s because of that, that I have been able to play to for hours on end. But now I want more and I have ideas. My one concern is that when I opened my hardware lab there were a lot of options for consoles but now I only have 2 options and there both cubes, one white and one black. I have a lot of money saved up so I don’t think it’s anything about that but I am curious as to why there was once a big selection, and now only 2. I would also love a feature where we can interact with the businesses of other players too. Maybe being able to partner with companies, invest in them, buy hardware or even license hardware and game engines, that would be very cool. Also I think if at a certain point, like maybe when player generates enough money and gets a feel for the game, what works and doesn’t, there should a feature that allows players to start teams, like the graphics team, the dialogues team and so on, I feel like that would be a good way to continue growing.

I WANT A SEQUEEEEEEEEEL
Wed Oct 27 2021 zooman6784

Okay, I'm just gonna say this game is AWESOME! And I think it’s ironic how I want a sequel for the game and there’s a review in the the game that says “can’t wait for the sequel.” So im just saying that I really want a sequel 🥺 I think what could be added in the sequel is 3D and that would definitely make the sequel amazing. If I could buy something from this game I would HANDS DOWN. Another thing is that, when you wait, after the game is finished and you want to add more to the game I would like it if you would add both Tech and Art at the same time for every week. It would definitely make the game better and not too easy. Also, I would like you to add a more accurate time line. What I mean is like adding “this takes place in 1983” or something like that. Also with the months as well. Also another thing is the comment on the reviews, I feel like some comments on 5-2 maybe 3 definitely should be changed because the comments on 5-3 just pick me apart and makes me upset. It is an amazing game and I just wanted to give you this review to say what I would want if you made a sequel. Have a wonderful day!

Great Game
Tue May 28 2019 Great app nothing but good things to say.

First of all I’d like to say how much I appreciate a game that does not use the Freemium business model, which is ruining video games in my opinion. So, I give you a 6th star for making this a buy once and own it game. I would not have giving this a second look had it been freemium. With that out of the way, I will say that this game is fantastic. Perfect for mobile. Basically you are a small business owner when you start and have to earn money by making games. You make all the decisions about what games are made, what research to do, who to hire, what audience to gear your games for etc etc. I can’t stop playing. If you like simulation style games where you have to earn money and build a business by making decisions and strategizing, you will love this game. If you have an appreciation for the history of the video game industry then that will be a bonus, but you don’t need to know about the gaming industry to enjoy this game. I just moved to my new office and hired my first employee and am looking forward to seeing how big I can make the company grow. Please keep making game like this. I will keep buying them. Cheers!

One of my favorite mobile purchases
Wed Jan 01 2020 Zer0Actual

This game is probably my favorite mobile purchase. I’ve been following it probably since it came out and just a few days ago, I got to buy it and today I just finished my first playthrough. I feel, however, there could be a few things you could add such as: • A map which you can view to buy other offices to expand your business - I think this would be good because it could add another challenge to the game. It would increase monthly costs and whatever other things you would decide to add as a challenge if you added this • Actual competition - This would add an actual challenge (such as timing game releases, not making the same style of game as another company at the same time, etc.) I feel as if it would make the game more fun and rewarding. Especially since it would be harder to grow as a company when you are starting because of the other Game Titans. The stage is already set because the names of companies are already in the game: Electronic Mass (if you lose), Vonny, etc. •• If you decided to add any of these I would gladly buy them as long as they weren’t outrageously priced, I feel $5 would work or if it required a lot of time and effort to make these, then $10 would work too and I would still buy it. Thank you for making this game and potentially, considering my ideas.

A Masterpeice. Here’s why:
Wed Nov 20 2019 SunnieBunnies

In my opinion this game is nearly perfect it’s current overall 4.9 rating is spot on. First of, as someone who is big into the game world and the game Dev world especially, this game was a must try for me & has now turned into a must buy! I’ve found that if you have overall knowledge of the different genres, you will have at least a solid game most of the time & I like that. But here’s the main points I love about Game Dev Tycoon. Also there is no in game purchases THANK GOD. No energy capping, etc. You are paying to get a full ad free game. Also you are paying to support the creators :) 1. It’s challenging. You have to learn how to make good or better games through game reports & trial and error. You also need to learn about managing your money well. learn the pricing of making games and know when you can really make a expensive game or when you can’t. 2. Great timing progression. You will gain many different types of rewards that come in the sense of topics, research, etc. in a way that isn’t too fast nor is it too slow. 3. It’s fun to watch the game catch up to where we are now in the game world. Plus, the game systems typically have clever, silly plays on the names. 4. You feel happy when you made a good game, sad when you failed & overjoyed when you exceeded. This makes me want to continue making games. I can’t really think of a true negative to the game & I will update this review if I ever find one. This game is perfect for anyone who loves games, game systems, game designing, or business.

Excellent and Addictive game
Sat Jan 06 2018 toknowyou

I originally played the PC version and became hooked! I played through it three times and found each one enjoyable. When I heard this one was out in mobile form, I had to give it a try. I have played Game Dev Story as well, and while that game is fun for a bit, it felt much more formulaic then Game Dev Tycoon, which I believe was released first. The redesign to mobile that the developers did plays well in my iPhone 6S. I can tell that thought was given to how it would look and feel as opposed to being rushed. The other part about this game that I love is Greenheart Games stance against “Pay to Play” or “In-App” purchases. When you buy it, you get the whole thing and are never pestered with advertising or nudged to buy anything additional in the game. It’s not the most profitable model of game anymore, but it makes the overall experience so much more enjoyable in my opinion. It’s an all around great game and worth the money.

Some Youtube Videos found!

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