The best management games, according to hackers
5 management games were recommended on Hacker News between November 2025 and November 2026. We rank them by how many separate people recommend each one, and 2 earn the Hacker Approved badge.
Top picks
The two most recommended management games with the badge. Each figure is 5 people. RecommendsCriticizes One comment
Years of added features and improvements
Free, open-source Transport Tycoon successor that people praise for years of added features, easy installation and staying playable.
Long hours of replayable fun
People recommend this classic for its hundreds of hours of fun, nostalgic appeal and deep train logistics. Critics say it lacks a real economy model.
All 5 management games, ranked
Select a column heading to sort. Approval share is recommenders out of everyone who gave an opinion; the tick on each bar marks the 2 to 1 line the badge needs. Months counts the months, out of 13, in which someone recommended it.
| Rank | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OpenTTD | 44 | 8 | 85% | 9 | 20 yrs3 owners | Approved |
| 2 | Transport Tycoon Deluxe | 14 | 4 | 78% | 8 | — | Approved |
| 3 | Pizza Tycoon | 6 | 2 | 75% | 1 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | Fast Food Tycoon 2 | 5 | 0 | 100% | 2 | — | — |
| Tied 4 | Wall Street Raider | 5 | 0 | 100% | 1 | — | — |
How we rank
Rank is the number of separate people who recommend a product in a Hacker News comment over the past year. Someone who praises the same management game in five threads counts once.
The badge goes to management games that at least 10 people recommend, with recommenders outnumbering critics at least 2 to 1, recommended in at least 4 of the 13 months.
Rankings are never for sale. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. It never changes the order.