Lately, criminal empire management became my favorite games genre. I know, it’s basically a power fantasy, but fun nonetheless. I think you’ll love it to after playing some of the games l’ve mention below.
These games are pretty similar to the business simulation and tycoon games. Except, criminal aspects make these games much more appealing. We all aspire to be good citizens in real life. But in gaming, role-playing as a criminal is pretty entertaining.
BEST DETECTIVE RPG GAMES < Opposite ones.
Alright fellow gangsters let’s get this started. 11 best criminal empire management games to play in 2023:
1. Cartel Tycoon
Cartel Tycoon is a game where you can build and manage a narco criminal organization. This tycoon game is set in the 80s and ’90s narco trade era.
You can expand your business, conquer new territories, fight of rivals, and bribe the authorities. As a criminal leader, you’ll have to make many different choices. Will you be beloved by the common people, or feared?
If you’ve watched Netflix series Narcos, this game will be a blast for you. It’s one of those RPG management games that makes you feel like a cartel boss.
2. Moonshine Inc.
Let’s continue with another criminal production business game. This time instead of drugs, you’ll be producing good old moonshine.
For those who don’t know, moonshine is a high-proof liquor that is usually produced illegally. Its production boomed during the prohibition-era United States.
So, what are you waiting for? Take control of bunch of red-necks and start producing!
3. The Guild
In Guild series, you start as the patriarch of a family. After a while, you marry, have children, grow old and die passing on your businesses to your offspring.
The Guild 2 has a rogue class that lets you run brothels, thief dens, mercenary camps among others. You can kidnap people, waylay them on the roads, pickpocket, steal, and hire thugs to carry out criminal activities.
REALISTIC MEDIEVAL RPGS < The Guild like games.
The Guild 3 also have roguery path but it’s kind of limited now. Still, you can build gravedigger, robber, smuggler, and mercenary businesses. It’s even possible to extort money from honest citizens.
All in all, The Guild franchise is the perfect medieval criminal empire simulation.
4. Basement
In Basement, you play as the owner of an underground drug lab, operating an illegal business. Why though? Just to fund the development of your dream video game. What a story.
It won’t be easy to deal with gangs, cops, dealers, crazy junkies, and law enforcement.
If only your uncle knew the business you’re running in his basement…
5. City of Gangsters
In the management tycoon game City of Gangsters, you play as a gangster in 1920s Atlantic City. Which is the start of Prohibition in the USA.
You’ll be building your criminal empire and competing against rival gangs. Of course, many hard decisions regarding business will have to be made, as well as resource management. In the end, it’s a rewarding experience.
6. Empire of Sin
This time you’ll be taking the role of a powerful crime boss in prohibition-era Chicago. Looks like there are many games regarding the criminal boom of prohibition.
In Empire of Sin, gangsters are fighting for control of the city’s underworld. You manage your crew, engage in real-time tactical combat, and make strategic decisions to expand your criminal empire.
Also, this game features historically inspired characters and events, which is nice if you find history interesting.
7. Evil Genius
Up next, Evil Genius, a less serious criminal game. Basically, it’s a satirical spy-fi lair builder where you are the criminal mastermind!
In this game, you play as a cunning mastermind bent on world domination, building and managing an evil lair. In which, minions are equipped and trained to be send to mischievous missions.
Without delay construct your base, train your minions, defend your operations from the forces of justice, and achieve global domination!
8. Life of a Mobster
Life of a Mobster is a text based RPG. Meaning there are no graphics or anything, just text. You can also call it an interactive novel.
You play as a member of the mafia, working your way up the ranks to become a powerful don. So many different choices and consequences to make. Will you be a celebrity mobster, or rule from the shadows? Will you be feared or respected? Decisions are everything in Life of a Mobster.
BEST VILLAIN PROTAGONIST GAMES
All in all, it offers one-of-a-kind experience in the dangerous and unpredictable world of organized crime.
9. Drug Dealer Simulator
In Drug Dealer Simulator, you play as a street-level drug dealer, managing your inventory, making deals with customers, and avoiding the attention of the authorities. Eventually, you will grow big to the point when someone ask you is it the money business or drug business, you can say it’s an empire business.
DD Simulator features city exploration, customers hunting, inventory management, and various upgrades. Since it’s the only first-person view criminal empire management game on this page, I suggest you try it.
10. Omerta – City of Gangsters
In Omerta: City of Gangsters, you’ll start as a fresh-from-the-boat immigrant, with dreams of the big life. Afterwards you’ll climb up the criminal hierarchy of 1920’s.
Omerta is a Southern Italian code of silence and code of honor and conduct that places importance on silence in the face of questioning by authorities or outsider. – Source: Wikipedia
Game features:
- Turn based combat.
- RPG elements such as character development, customization, etc.
- Unique historical characters.
- +15 hours of gameplay.
- 20 unique maps.
11. The Commission 1920: Organized Crime
Let’s finish this list with another prohibition era game called The Commission 1920: Organized Crime.
It’s a 4x grand strategy game which is quite fitting the genre. Rome wasn’t built in a day after all. Creating these organizations takes a lifetime.
So, in The Commission you play as a rising mob boss in 1920s New York City, competing against rival gangs to become the dominant force in the city’s underworld.
Choose to align with one of the of five criminal families and stake your claim on the city of New Shore.