Business games: economic sims from a food stall to an empire

In every one of these games money is the main resource and the key decision is where to invest it. You start small, earn from your first customers and expand step by step. These are economic games in a casual format: no spreadsheets or reports, but a real choice about what will pay off fastest.

In Food Empire you sell lemonade, pizza and ice cream from a tiny stall and gradually grow it into an empire. Gas Station 24: Simulator gives you your own petrol pump, where serving cars quickly and keeping the queue short is what counts. PrintMaster 3D: Printing Tycoon starts with a single printer: orders bring in coins, and coins go into new workstations, materials and equipment. Mayor Simulator hands you a whole city — build districts, upgrade buildings and keep the economy from sagging.

Some businesses have more of an edge. In Street Gangster your money buys influence over city districts, and in Citadel: Fortress Siege the economy runs on six resources, from wood to residents, and decides whether the castle will stand. Most of these games don't demand constant attention, which makes them handy for short breaks.