Tired of riding the real estate rollercoaster? Take a break from the mortgage crisis and regain your faith in property ownership with these risk-free real estate games.
Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe
Flipping houses is hard, ugly work, but beautifying properties in the great Build-a-Lot games is both fun and easy. With an addicting blend of time-management and strategy, it's the leading home renovation game for a reason. All three games in the series thus far have been big hits -- and expect the same from the impending fourth version due later this month, which goes green by introducing all-new power management features.
Also Try: Build-a lot (original) | Build-a-lot 2
Monopoly: Here and Now
Old money gets a fantastic facelift in this updated classic. Ditch Boardwalk and Park Place in favor of contemporary treasures like Times Square and Fenway Park as you vie for control of the turbulent market. If you're worried about finding the time, don't stress -- Here and Now plays a heckuva lot quicker than the long, drawn out board game.
Also Try: Monopoly (classic)
Jane's Realty
Turning land into cash is a two-step process: first you have to build something, then you have to make it attractive to buyers. Jane's Realty lets you do both, tasking you with major construction challenges followed by clever home remodeling chores. Handle both well, and you'll rule the town in no time.
Also Try: Jane's Hotel | Jane's Hotel: Family Hero
Dream Day First Home
Dealing with a brand new home can be trying, but in this charming hidden-object hunt, it can also be a good deal of fun. Locate items in gorgeous backdrops while solving the occasional crisis...or six. Hope that house is worth it.
Also Try: Dream Day Wedding: Viva Las Vegas | Dream Day Honeymoon
Plan It Green
Environmentally-friendly living is all the rage these days, so get with the times and go eco in Plan It Green. Transform a depressing disaster of a town into a thriving, sustainable city by adding parks, eco-homes and energy efficient upgrades. Who knows? Maybe you'll learn a thing or two, too.
Create A Mall
Commercial space is just as important as residential -- and it doesn't get any more commercial than a giant, bustling shopping mall. Populate your plaza with all kinds of money-earning shops, then use that cash to buy bigger, better malls. Capitalism at its finest.
Build in Time
Remember the good old days? You will once you boot up this historical home builder. Craft houses for countless customers as you make your way from the quaint Americana of the 1950's to the not-so-quaint craziness of modern living.
Sims Carnival: SnapCity
City planning meets city puzzling in this clever blend of genres. Place falling blocks to create industrial, residential and commercial zones of a sprawling city. And it wouldn’t be a SimCity game without plenty of man-made and natural disasters to keep you on your toes.
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Posted: 5 Aug 2009
