The Executive: Movie Industry Tycoon was released on February 11, promising an immersive experience as the CEO of a budding film studio. As a fan of tycoon games, I was immediately intrigued. Seeing the word “Tycoon” in the title, I bought it without much thought. After 12 hours of gameplay, however, I was left disappointed.
Unoriginality
Let me be direct: The Executive: Movie Industry Tycoon fails to offer anything beyond a reskin of existing titles like Mad Games Tycoon 2 or Game Dev Tycoon. In fact, it feels more like an early version of those games rather than a new, innovative take on the genre. If you go back and play Game Dev Tycoon, you’ll experience the same mechanics—if not a more refined version—than what The Executive has to offer.
Despite its premise, the game does little to make you feel like a movie director. Instead of placing you on bustling film sets with cameras and actors, it confines you to an office filled with computers—more akin to a video game development studio than a film production environment. The absence of interactions with lead actors, film crews, or dynamic sets results in a lackluster and uninspired experience.
Lack of Depth
The Executive: Movie Industry Tycoon is severely underdeveloped. Decision-making feels like a repetitive cycle rather than a strategic challenge. Instead of crafting creative ways to produce high-quality films, you’ll find yourself repeating the same monotonous tasks over and over.
For comparison, Mad Games Tycoon 2 offers a dynamic interplay between staff skills, platform selection, and research investments, making every choice impactful. In contrast, The Executive takes a simplistic approach to hiring and talent development, making long-term strategy feel shallow.
Similarly, Game Dev Tycoon, despite its more streamlined mechanics, injects personality into every decision. Choosing genres, balancing development phases, and managing budgets all have tangible effects on your studio’s success. The Executive lacks this depth, providing little meaningful feedback on why certain movies succeed or fail. As a result, progression feels arbitrary rather than rewarding.
Technical Issues and Lack of Polish
Unlike Mad Games Tycoon 2, Game Dev Tycoon, or Software Inc., which have benefited from years of refinement, The Executive: Movie Industry Tycoon suffers from an array of technical issues. Frequent bugs, such as UI freezes, misplaced tooltips, and game-breaking errors during movie releases, disrupt gameplay and make it feel unfinished.
Balancing issues further undermine the experience. In Mad Games Tycoon 2, a poorly managed studio will naturally struggle, but in The Executive, success often feels random. Poorly produced films sometimes generate massive profits, while well-crafted movies inexplicably flop. This inconsistency makes it difficult to understand the game’s internal logic, leaving players frustrated.
Short-Lived Experience
One of the most frustrating omissions is the lack of an endless mode at launch. In a genre built on long-term engagement and industry evolution, forcing players to a hard stop after hours of gameplay is a major flaw. A well-designed tycoon game should offer procedural elements or evolving challenges to keep the experience fresh. Without this, The Executive quickly loses its appeal.
Final Verdict
The Executive: Movie Industry Tycoon feels like a rushed and shallow attempt at a film industry simulation. Until major updates or expansions address its flaws, players seeking a deep, long-lasting management experience would be better off with Mad Games Tycoon 2, Game Dev Tycoon, or Software Inc..
