Are You a Tycoon?

The tycoon games have been around for a long time. They've put you in charges of airports, zoos, even coffee shops. This, however, is a little different. Never before have people invested so much time and effort into fish. That's right, fish. With Fish Tycoon, turn your measly little goldfish (that you got from the local fair by tossing a ping pong ball into a glass bowl) into an unstoppable fish empire that inspires fear in the darkest depths of the ocean. Okay, well, maybe I'm being a tad dramatic. But let me tell you, this game is deep (pun intended).

Something's Fishy

In Fish Tycoon, you start out with very little. To be precise: a fish tank, some fish food, some fish eggs, and some growth formula. Plop those fish eggs in the water, drop in some formula, and you're on your way! Pretty soon, your little babies will grow up, and you can breed'em, sell'em, do whatever you like. The object of the game is to find the seven magical fish. You do this by breeding different kinds of fish, trying all the different combinations that you can think of. Once your aquatic amigos grow to adult size, you can sell them in your store, earning money for more fishy friends and supplies.

Raising your pets isn't an easy task however. You have to do more than just breed and feed them. You have to keep a close eye and make sure they don't get sick, and if they do, you have to make sure to purchase the right medicine from the supply store. You also have to maintain your tank to give its residents their best chance at surviving. You can purchase an aeration system that will pump oxygen into the water, a temperature regulator that will maintain the correct temperature, as well as various other things such as plants and helpful critters.

Time Flies

One of the most intriguing features of Fish Tycoon is its real-time engine. Everything in the game happens in real-time, meaning that your fish are just as active when the game isn't running as they are when the game is running. This means that you can't go a couple of days without checking in on your little friends, or they'll starve. This adds a very unique element to the game, and ensures that you'll want to play it day after day. It also means that you can't burn yourself out in just one sitting.

Plumb the Depths!

The one thing about this game that I just can't seem to get over is just how deep it is, and I'm not talking about the water! I'm talking about the amount of work you can put into it, and how extensively you can customize everything. You choose what fish to have in your tank, as well as what fish to breed, what to decorate your tank with, and you can even research different types of food, accessories, and advertising to help increase your chances of selling your fish!