Megaquarium Reviews

Its a fun thing to do for a few hours on the side if you're studying or working

Thought it was a bit fishy at first, but when I dived in, I realised anyfin's possible!

The UI sound effects in this game are immaculate. Clicking on the graphics options was actual ASMR.

Megaquarium is a charming and deeply engaging simulation and management game that invites players to build, customize, and operate their very own public aquarium. Developed by Twice Circled, the game offers a refreshing twist on the traditional tycoon formula by combining the intricacies of marine life care with the challenges of designing an appealing and profitable visitor attraction. With its accessible yet layered gameplay, Megaquarium strikes a fine balance between creative freedom and strategic management, making it an excellent choice for fans of simulation games and aquarium enthusiasts alike. The heart of Megaquarium lies in its detailed ecosystem simulation. Players begin with a modest setup but quickly find themselves tasked with creating complex aquatic habitats tailored to the needs of a diverse range of fish and marine creatures. Each species has unique requirements in terms of tank size, water temperature, filtration, lighting, and compatible tank mates. The game forces players to carefully research and plan before introducing new animals, as improper tank conditions or incompatible species can lead to health problems or even fatalities. This level of biological realism adds a satisfying layer of challenge and education, encouraging players to think like true aquarists while managing the practicalities of running a business. Building and layout design form another core pillar of the gameplay. The grid-based interface allows players to construct tanks, filtration systems, lighting rigs, and decorative elements with intuitive drag-and-drop controls. Beyond aesthetics, these choices impact visitor satisfaction and operational efficiency. Well-designed exhibits attract more guests and generate higher income, while poor layouts can cause crowding, reduce visibility, or increase maintenance challenges. The sandbox-style freedom to customize each exhibit fosters creativity, allowing players to experiment with thematic designs or realistic biomes. The thoughtful UI and clean graphics make the design process enjoyable without overwhelming newcomers. Economic management adds a strategic dimension to the experience. Players must balance the cost of acquiring new species, upgrading facilities, hiring and training staff, and marketing their aquarium to the public. Staff members have distinct roles such as cleaners, caretakers, and researchers, and managing their schedules and skills is crucial for smooth operations. Hiring too few can lead to neglect and unhappy visitors, while overspending risks bankruptcy. Marketing campaigns and research unlock new species and equipment, providing long-term goals that keep gameplay fresh. The gradual progression through multiple campaign scenarios offers a steady difficulty curve and varied challenges, from tight budgets to unique environmental restrictions. The game’s pacing is deliberate and rewarding, encouraging careful planning rather than frantic micromanagement. Players are often rewarded for thinking ahead, such as anticipating tank expansions or diversifying species to appeal to different visitor interests. The AI-driven visitors add a dynamic element to the simulation, reacting realistically to exhibits, crowding, and amenities. Their behaviors can inform player decisions about layout adjustments or facility upgrades. While some of the economic systems are simplified compared to hardcore management sims, the balance feels just right for both casual players and those seeking a moderately deep simulation. Visually, Megaquarium is bright, clean, and appealing. The aquatic creatures are animated with charming detail, swimming gracefully within their tanks, while the visitors move fluidly through the exhibits. The art style is colorful and approachable, avoiding the hyper-realism that can sometimes feel sterile in other simulations. Sound design enhances immersion, with gentle bubbling water, ambient aquarium noises, and light background music contributing to a calming atmosphere. The game’s interface is well-organized, with clear tooltips and tutorials that ease players into the mechanics without feeling patronizing. Despite its many strengths, Megaquarium does have some minor limitations. The depth of the simulation, while satisfying, may leave players craving more complex biological or behavioral interactions among species. Additionally, the campaign mode can sometimes feel a bit linear, and once the player masters basic mechanics, the challenge might diminish without the addition of custom scenarios or mods. However, ongoing updates and community-created content help keep the experience vibrant. Occasional technical hiccups or AI quirks, such as visitors clustering oddly or staff pathfinding issues, can momentarily disrupt immersion but rarely detract from the overall fun. In summary, Megaquarium is a thoughtfully crafted and thoroughly enjoyable management sim that delivers both the joys of aquarium hobbyism and the satisfying challenges of running a successful business. Its blend of accessible design tools, realistic species care, and economic strategy creates a compelling loop that keeps players invested in building and optimizing their underwater worlds. Whether you’re drawn to the calming aesthetics, the strategic depth, or simply the unique setting, Megaquarium offers a richly rewarding experience that stands out in the crowded field of tycoon games. For anyone who has ever dreamed of curating their own marine paradise, this game is a captivating dive into aquatic entrepreneurship. Rating: 9/10

The gameplay is smooth, easy to understand, the customization is fun and I can always appreciate a first person mode in builders. Plus they got nurse sharks.

If you are into micro managing, stressing out about the lively hood of your creatures, staff, and aquarium...then YES! This is the game for you! HIGHLY recommend doing at least the first couple story missions to get the hang of the game and how it all works. The workshop is awesome, so when you do sandbox, have at it!!

I LOVE this game. I have clock over 300 hours easy on this game. about 200 hours on my other account. This is a simple fun aquarium building sims game. Simple game where Some challenges later on get a little harder [ Level 8 where you can only have one fish per speices in tank ] but nothing over complicated. What you do get is a game where you just get so focus that You build this mega aquarium ( XD said the title of the game!!!!), Now its dark outside. The best part of it all is you can zoom right on in and walk around in your masterpeice view all the fish and be apart on what you built. Feels so good. This game is not over complicated the fresh water dlc adds some depth with ph balance. some fish cant be housed with others, Some are greedy eaters, fin nippers, It has a right amount of depth that its not over complicated, but you have some thinking. Like planning out your workers, Zoning, leveling up your staff, gift shops ect. You level up and get new spieces of fish, and tank parts from guest giving tech points and plant points. In all if your looking for a fun simple aquarium building game This is your game. Not over complicated but complicated enough to keep you engage. Also when you beat a mission nothing feels amazing then zooming down and walking around the hours you spent on your masterpeice. 10/10 game Also sand box Give you total freedom to do as you want.

This game has a good balance of management and relaxing game play, that makes this a fun game to pop into for a few hours to do something little bit of a challenge, but nothing that gets tedious or frustrating. I really like the in-depth Campaign mode. And there are also optional challenges in the sandbox mode, if you like a little guided game play while still being more creative. I thought this would just be a fun, quick-play through, but I keep coming back to it and really enjoying it.

Great first impression - runs super smooth, lightweight, really cozy, and gives me original zoo tycoon nostalgia .

I've been addicted to playing this game for a long time. Some goals in career mode can be slow going and frustrating, but my love for aquariums, simulation games, animal games, and building games far outweighs the downsides that I've experienced.