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| An image showing the game Project Hospital and the Steam logo. |
If you're among the legion of gamers who love to be buried in spreadsheets, optimizing workflows, and mastering complex systems, the management sim genre is your home. And for those who’ve dreamed of running their own medical center, Project Hospital has been a standout title since its 2018 release. Developed by Oxymoron Games, this isn't just a simple building simulator—it’s a detailed, often intense, plunge into the world of healthcare administration and diagnosis.
But with thousands of games vying for your time and wallet, does this particular hospital pass its own health check? Let's take a closer look.
More Than Just Building: A Dual-Layered Challenge
At its core, Project Hospital tasks you with a deceptively simple goal: build a thriving hospital from the ground up. You’ll lay out departments, connect utility lines, and choose every chair and wall color. But the game truly shines in its second layer: the medical simulation. You don’t just manage the hospital; you can zoom in and actively participate in diagnosing and treating patients.
This means you’re constantly juggling two perspectives: the macro view of an administrator ensuring finances, staffing, and logistics are sound, and the micro view of a physician following a patient’s case from the waiting room to treatment. You’ll hire staff based on their specializations—a cardiologist isn’t just a “doctor”—and ensure the right specialists are available to handle the influx of specific illnesses.
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| An image showing gameplay in Project Hospital. |
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| An image showing a hospital during the night in Project Hospital. |
Content & Modes: How Will You Play?
The game wisely offers multiple entry points for players of all commitment levels:
- The Tutorial: A near-essential starting point. The mechanics are deep, and the tutorial does a solid job of unpacking the complex UI and systems.
- Campaign Mode: This narrative-driven mode throws you into crisis scenarios, tasking you with saving failing hospitals. It’s a great way to experience structured, goal-oriented challenges.
- Sandbox Mode: The ultimate freedom. Here, with all options unlocked, you can build your healthcare empire without limits, testing optimal layouts and strategies. This is where hundreds of hours can easily disappear.
The depth is a major reason why the game boasts an impressive "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with 88% of over 8,800 reviews praising it. Players consistently highlight the satisfying complexity and the "just one more hour" pull of its gameplay loop.
For those ready to take on the challenge, you can find Project Hospital on Steam.
The Prognosis: Strengths and Notable Flaws
While the game is deeply rewarding for the right player, it’s only fair to discuss some persistent symptoms reported by the community. The major critique lies in bugs that can occasionally disrupt gameplay across all modes. Additionally, the user interface, while functional, is often described as utilitarian and dated in its aesthetics. Some players also note a desire for more cosmetic customization options and mention that the core patient management loop, while deep, can eventually feel repetitive once all medical departments are mastered.
The Verdict: A Sale Makes This an Easy Prescription
At its full price of $24.99, Project Hospital is a robust recommendation for die-hard management fans. However, the decision becomes a no-brainer during a sale. According to tracking data from SteamDB, the game is currently discounted by 60%, bringing it down to just $9.99. This offer is reported to last until February 20, 2026.
For less than the cost of a paperback novel, you’re getting a massively detailed simulation that offers creativity, strategic challenge, and immense depth. The flaws, while real, are often viewed as minor quibbles against the sheer scale of what the game accomplishes.
Final Diagnosis: If you crave a management game with genuine complexity and a unique medical twist, Project Hospital at its sale price is an incredibly healthy addition to your library. Just be prepared to learn its systems—and maybe diagnose a virtual case or two yourself.