This port of the popular PC prison-building game has been nicely executed to deliver a deep and compelling experience on consoles. Its complex menus and mechanics present a fairly steep learning curve, even with the game's effective tutorials, but once you get over it, Prison Architect is a...

Breaking out.

So many options help to keep you interested; Prison Stories are surprisingly emotive and personable; So many outcomes

A lot to get used to; Observing large complexes can be awkward to do

A great simulation game that works impressively well on consoles. Although at times it almost feels like a psychology study of the player rather than the inmates.

Extremely detailed simulation, with a huge number of interconnected systems and superb joypad controls; The way your attitude and play style evolves over time is fascinating

The graphics are awful, both technically, artistically, and tonally; Unavoidably steep learning curve and some minor bugs

Strategy and management games on consoles come around every now and again, and most the time we unfortunately find ourselves having to say something about the controls. " It's a great game, but it just hasn't been thought out for console properly ", is the kind of thing that seems to get said again...

Variety in gameplay; Surprisingly deep; Decent sized text; Well thought through controls

Occasional odd AI moments; Panning across large areas can be clunky; Loading icon pops up in front of text box in story mode; Some rooms are a bit fiddlier to create

Building on the success of their main game Introversion Software and Double Eleven have released a DLC introducing the criminally insane, as well as psychopathic inmates into their prison environment.

Adds a different dynamic; Lots of additional content; Increases chaos and fun

Lack of accuracy with characters; Small issues remain

resolution is bad for console games.

Being an early adopter of this game, I had the privilege of seeing this game through thick and thin, and now it's on consoles it's awesome to see it has been a huge success. And rightly so, although it's simplistic in it's visuals, it's complex in it's gameplay.

Emerging from Early Access lean and focused, Prison Architect is one of the best management games in a long time.