Prison Architect

Prison Architect is a top-down construction and management sim where you build and operate a prison from scratch. You lay out cell blocks, connect plumbing and power lines, and hire staff—wardens, guards, cooks, janitors—to keep the facility running. Staff recruitment gates access to new systems, so early hires shape what you can build next. Balancing the budget matters: overspend on security and you can't afford kitchens; skimp on guards and riots break out. Inmate satisfaction is a resource to manage, not a moral choice. Unrest spreads if needs go unmet. The simulation tracks individual prisoners and staff, so failures play out in real time rather than as abstract penalties. It's for players who enjoy logistical puzzles with consequences.