1978 â?? Hammurabi

image credit: atariarchives.org 

Hammurabi was a super-simple business simulation text program that put the player in control of an ancient Middle Eastern kingdom. As king, you had to decide how to use your kingdom's resources to keep your subjects happy. The object of the game was to stay in power as long as possible by keeping your subjects happy with your leadership decisions. If your subjects did not like your decisions, they impeached you and the game ended.

1984 â?? Star Trader

image credit: mobygames.com 

Set in the distant future, Star Trader was a business simulation game that put you in command of a cargo-trading starship, travelling to and from star systems trading merchandise and ammassing intergalactic wealth. While conducting business, you had to be mindful of pirates, fuel expenses, and your overall reputation as a merchant. Star Trader had simple action and combat sequences built in to the game for fighting pirates and swindling from other trading ships but the games focused mostly on maintaining a stable economic condition in your business dealings.

1987 â?? Inside Trader

image credit: mobygames.com 

Inside Trader was an IMB/PC game that put you into the role of a Wall Street day trader on the Securities and Exchange Commission. The object of the game was to make as much money as possible without being noticed by the SEC regulators. Negotiating terms and making deals with SEC regulators were built into the game so you could decide how risky your strategy would be and adapt as your trading gained more attention.

1989 â?? Black Gold

image credit: mobygames.com 

Black Gold was a multiplayer business strategy game for IBM/PC. Up to four players, computer or human, vowed for domination of the oil industry, using a variety of honest and dishonest strategies to accomplish their goals. Competitors could be sabotaged, bought off, and private contractors could be used to help you achieve domination.

1994 - Detroit

image credit: wikipedia.org 

Players planned out an entire automotive business model from the ground up, including everything from where production was located around the world to what parts were used in assembling the vehicles.

1996 â?? Capitalism

image credit: wikipedia.org 

Complicated and intricate, the Capitalism series of games were released from 1995 through 2001 for PC and Mac. Capitalism allowed players to start their own business, or begin with a ready-made business, and a large sum of start-up capital. From there, the game involves growing your business by purchasing raw materials, building manufacturing plants, setting up sales channels, and reinvesting money into your company.

2000 â?? Business Tycoon

image credit: mobygames.com 

A business game for Windows, Business Tycoon was a business simulation game which allowed for players to compete against computer opponents or other Business Tycoon players through internet servers. Business Tycoon gave players the opportunity to choose from one of several industries and then choose a business specialty to focus on. Gameplay consisted of building up a business by constructing new buildings, hiring employess, setting up manufacturing, and selling products.

2002 â?? Donald Trump's Real Estate Tycoon

image credit: amazon.com (they're still selling this for $43!) 

Even as Mr. Trump was climbing further and further into debt, he sponsored a real estate business simulation game with hos own voice-overs included. The object of the game is to beat Trump at his own game and create a larger real estate empire than he does.

2009 â?? Business Tycoon Online

While there are many other modern business simulation games being played right now, Tycoon Online is as good an example as any for a cutting-edge business simulation game. Tycoon Online has grown massively in the few months since its release, with hundreds of thousands of players online building, collaborating, and competing in the business world.