Prison Architect is a private prison construction and management simulation game by the British game developer Introversion Software. It is a game based around booting and merging a US style correctional facility.

The basics of the game are to build and manage a prison. This is not a really new concept but the incredible depth you can go through in the game such as setting out classes for reform, execution chambers, and highly detailed prison information, sets this game apart from other games in the genre. You have three main prisoner types: Low Risk, No Risk and High Risk.

Probably the most impressive feature in the game are the realistic laws that govern everything. For example, you cannot just put a toilet or a light in someone’s cell without plumbing it in or wiring it up. Even when building new parts of the prison, you need to consider how long it will take to build, where your prisoners will be (they might have the opportunity to escape), and how you can keep a nice flow in the prison.

Having high traffic areas and blockages can irritate prisoners and spark up a riot. Overall, those tiny details really make the game interesting!