Build-A-Lot

Genre: Management Simulation

Players: 1

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Review:

Build-A-Lot is a Management Simulation first released on PC in 2007, then ported to the Nintendo DS in 2008 and then re-released on the Nintendo DSi via the DSiWare service in 2011, as well as being made available on the Nintendo 3DS eShop, with a version of the game coming to mobile devices in 2009. This game has players buying, upgrading, and selling properties with the overall goal of trying to make a profit.

The presentation here makes use of 2D visuals backed by lighthearted but repetitive music. There’s nothing here particularly impressive or memorable, but it gets the job done, I suppose.

For the gameplay, players are presented with a screen that has multiple lots on it, some with houses and some that are empty. Players buy and sell properties, develop houses on the empty lots they buy, earn rent based on the quality of the property, with the overall goal of making money, but with individual levels having more specific goals, like building a certain type of house or building, with these goals generally needing to be accomplished within a time limit.

This all works well enough, but it’s lacking a lot of the freedom and creativity you tend to look for in a good Management Simulation. You only have a very limited number of spaces to build on, and only a limited number of things you can do with those spaces. Often this game feels like it’s just going through the motions of busywork – waiting until rent is due so you have an influx of money to spend on upgrades and new housing, then doing so and waiting for it to happen again.

If you’re looking for an extremely limited Management Simulation, I suppose Build-A-Lot may work for you, but unless you enjoy the repetitive progression of earn-spend-earn-spend, this game won’t have much to offer you.

tl;dr – Build-A-Lot is a Management Simulation that has players buying, improving, and selling properties to meet certain conditions and turn a profit. While this game works, it’s extremely limited, and unless you’re looking for an extremely simplified entry in the genre, you’ll likely find yourself losing interest in this one soon after starting.

Grade: C

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