Prison Architect is not for the faint of heart

Prison Architect is a top-down voyage into the horrors of penitentiaries, and you’re always at the center of the chaos. Hell, sometimes you’re even the cause of it.

Developed by Introversion Software, with the final version of the game available for Mac and PC on October 6, Prison Architect is a prison management sim akin to a strategy game. As the architect, you’re in charge of building and maintaining prisons of various sizes. You start out with an empty plot of land in which you construct holding cells with water and electricity to house prisoners. This will buy you enough time to start building proper holding blocks, kitchens, canteens, yards, offices, and more, replete with guards, cooks, dogs, doctors, and construction workers. From there you can take your prison in any direction, treating your prisoners in any way you want. Want to abuse them and use force to keep them at bay? Or take the time and effort to better their lives and help them?