Reef Resort Tycoon

Remember the tycoon games of the early 2000s? Reef Resort Tycoon is a modern take on them, set on a living 3D island with a real day and night and a whole ocean to play with. You start with an empty tropical island and a single jetty. Lay the paths, put up the rooms, open the restaurants and the beach bar, and watch the guests roll in. Then fix whatever they're grumbling about and build something bigger.

GUESTS WITH SOMETHING TO SAY Backpackers, families, couples and the odd yacht owner all have their own budget and their own idea of a perfect holiday. Every one of them is simulated: they get hungry, go for a swim, queue for a table and tell you what they thought of their stay. Some arrive with a story of their own and a favour to ask. Your island adviser always knows what they're missing, and every good review brings bigger spenders through the door.

AROUND A HUNDRED THINGS TO BUILD Start with a family cabin and work your way up to reef-view suites, a yacht club hotel and a full integrated resort. Add a marina, an airport with a lounge and scenic helicopter flights, a golf course you lay out hole by hole, a dive centre at the old shipwreck, deep-sea fishing, jet skis and whale watching in season. When night falls, put on a drone show over the hill.

MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL Plant palm groves, flower beds and manicured lawns, run a boardwalk along the sand, light the paths, draw your own pool and hide the generator behind a fence. Then zoom right in and watch your guests enjoy it. A busy island is a genuinely lovely thing to leave running.

KEEP THE LIGHTS ON An island runs on diesel, wind and solar, fresh water and a supply barge that sails to a timetable. Hire the staff, house them, and keep them happy enough to turn up. When a storm rolls in, the sky darkens, the palms bend, the thunder rolls and the paths wash out.

PLAY IT YOUR WAY Pick Casual for flat land, sunny weather and money in the bank. Step up to Experienced or Expert for hillier, wilder islands and cyclone season. Or play as a Venture Capitalist with a huge cheque, every building unlocked and investors who want results by a deadline. A 12-step guide gets you started, and you can skip it if you know what you're doing.

ONE ISLAND, IPHONE AND MAC On iOS 26 and macOS 26 your islands sync through your own iCloud account, so you can start on the Mac and carry on from the sofa. Nothing to sign up for.

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