SimAirport

A consistently fun simulation game, SimAirport is the ideal title for gamers who enjoy managing every little aspect of their buildings in tycoon simulators. Add to that the ability to create all kinds of silly situations and relive some of the best elements of other classic sim games and you got yourself a veritable gem in this genre.

The AI might not be up to the rest of the game’s standards, but don’t let that get in the way of your fun. Players looking for a challenging tycoon sim will find plenty to do in SimAirport, and it’s all presented with a simply perfect UI that’s welcoming for veterans and newbies alike.

Build from Scratch

Experienced players coming from games like Cities Skylines know that the hardest part of any tycoon sim is building the first pieces of your empire. In SimAirport’s case, your empire happens to be an international airport, where every service and vehicle must be kept up to date to ensure maximum efficiency.

When we think of airports we might immediately think of planes; the thing is, there’s more to a successful airport than just planes. Small things like bathrooms and fuel all add up to create the ultimate airport, so players will have to keep a close eye on everything going in their creations.

As with many sandbox-style games, SimAirport features a career mode where players aim to fix specific airports according to a set of goals. For those players who want a more creative experience, the sandbox mode provides an unlimited amount of resources to play around with.

Control Towers

Keeping your passengers happy is key to a successful airport. This doesn’t just mean that you have to make sure that their flights arrive on time, but also keep them entertained while they wait, making sure that the entertainment doesn’t make you lose revenue or delay the queues.

Speaking of queues, SimAirport has a quite robust queue system that lets you multitask with ease. It also lets you design waiting queues for your passengers and restrict which ones can use them – for example, you can set an express queue that can only be used by first-class passengers. Also, players will have to keep a close eye on how the passengers’ baggage are handled. An unhappy client can delay the operations for the entire airport, so it pays to always make luggage your priority.

Fight the AI

One of the only negative aspects we noticed in SimAirport is the weak AI. Passengers are confused all too often, no matter how efficient your airport seems to be. This iffy AI can also be found in other parts of SimAirport, like in pilots, flight crew, and even in the garbage trucks.

It feels like you’re fighting against the game instead of playing it. This makes creating a working airport plan all the more difficult, considering that, no matter how well everything seems to be working, there’s always the possibility of everything falling down due to a single passenger that couldn’t find the right gate to embark, or a rogue garbage truck that collapses every flight for the day.

Pros:

• Solid customization options
• Entertaining sandbox mode
• Great 2D models

Cons:

• Clumsy AI
• Some rare bugs and glitches