Casino tycoon

Developer Aerosoft's Grand Casino Tycoon brings players into the world of gambling and challenges them to build and run a successful casino that caters to a variety of gamblers. To become profitable, casino managers must develop a strategy to manipulate their guests' behaviors and encourage them to continue parting with their hard-earned money. Casinos must fulfill a list of requirements to attract customers and then must continue to satisfy customer demands to improve the popularity of the establishment.

The most unique feature of Grand Casino Tycoon is the sorting system. Gamblers are profiled into several different types. These include humorous stereotypes like the Posh Gambler, the Compulsive Gambler, and the Slot Zombie. Each gambler type follows a specific routine upon entering the casino. Each gambler type also has a list of requirements that must be met before they will be attracted to the casino and a list of likes and dislikes. If gamblers encounter something they dislike, it can bring the popularity score with that gambler type down. These requirements, routines, and likes and dislikes will help inform the way casino owners set up their casino.

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As gameplay progresses in Grand Casino Tycoon, it becomes increasingly obvious that the elements of design, income management, and employee management featured in most tycoon games are less emphasized. Instead, players are encouraged to build based on strict parameters, and in-game finances don't appear to have much, if any, effect on what players can and cannot research and build in their casino. Because of the focus on the gambler types and manipulating the guest experience, the game grows repetitive quickly. Grand Casino Tycoon feels more like a puzzle game than a true tycoon experience.

The lack of autonomy to build a business empire may alienate fans of traditional tycoon and management games. In Grand Casino Tycoon, casino owners are constantly guided and cajoled to add specific items to their casino, whether by the gambler type profiles or from the checklist of goals provided in the tutorial and in each round. These goals are fairly stagnant and can grow tedious quickly. Gamblers become annoyed and offended by the smallest issues, like not having enough speakers so their favorite music covers every inch of the casino, or having a camera that players were required to place feel too close to their table game.

Once a few goals have been checked off the list, players unlock their next casino and can begin the process over again in a new location. This can be disappointing, especially if players hoped to unlock more items, gambler types, and design possibilities for their current casino. With many items locked based on each casino's location, players lose a lot of the expected freedom to save up for the items they want to purchase and use. Additionally, because each gambler type only likes one or two kinds of food, drink, and gambling experience, options for how players design their casino are further restricted.

Casino owners are encouraged to section off their casino to accommodate different gambler types and their likes and dislikes. This system begins to pose a problem, however, because there is no way to prevent gamblers from crossing to a section of the casino other than their own and disturbing the guests there. In theory, the routine system can mitigate this problem. If players see that Posh Gamblers always start with a drink and Compulsive Gamblers or Slot Zombies always start with the low-stakes slot machines, they can set up one section of the casino to have a bar close to the entrance, and the other section to have slots. Gamblers typically find the spot nearest them to begin their routine and will seek out and stay in their designated sections. It doesn't always work, however, and if all slot machines or bar seats are busy, gamblers may cross to another section to find the nearest available item. Additionally, this system restricts a player's autonomy to truly design the casino.

Grand Casino Tycoon offers an innovative blend of management sim and puzzle game, but fans of traditional tycoon games may find its lack of autonomy jarring. The gambler type system is deep and unique, offering an intriguing and often immersive challenge for players to solve if they want to keep guests happy. Right now, however, gameplay can become extremely repetitive, and the emphasis on manipulating gamblers' experience restricts a player's creativity. The in-game economy also feels underutilized, as players can purchase any items or research they want without much difficulty or thought. Without a few updates soon, it will be difficult for Grand Casino Tycoon to compete with other popular titles in the tycoon and management genre.

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Grand Casino Tycoon is available for PC. A Steam code was provided to Screen Rant for the purpose of this review.