Beating Pirate Mode [Game Dev Tycoon Guide]
Stortebeker(25 ratings)
Jun 9, 2022 @ 5:30pm2,65450
AchievementsGame ModesGameplay BasicsWalkthroughsEnglish
Recommendation [Mods] for easier difficulty
In the screenshot you can see that Pirate Mode can be beaten into oblivion.I can recommend these mods for an easier time:
Percentager: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=296240946
Learn by Doing: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=554790111
Hit games change market share (almost no influence on difficulty): https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=301369478&searchtext=
Level 1
Do (Lvl. 1):
1. Activate Pirate Mode before starting.
(1.5. optional: Activate Hints from previous games)
2. Know good combinations for the first 3 games. (Focus only on PC)
3. Use 'Text based' for the first 3 games.
4. Save as many Research Points as possible
5. Research Custom Engines
6. When available, research Copy Protection
7. Sell parts of the company to be able to develop the Engine with Copy Protection (I sometimes sell up to 60%)
8. Choose 2-3 Genres and stick to them for the rest of the game!
9. (...) The Game started
Your first engine should look something like this:
In my runs, I mostly leave 2D Graphics V2 out for the 1st Engine beacause of the high costs. There is always a 2nd Engine where you can add it. 2D V1 is enough for the 4th until 10th game anyways.
While these are nice, don't bother getting them in the beginning:
Do not (Lvl. 1):
-Spend Research Points on anything except Copy Protection, Graphics and Custom Engine!
-Create Game Reports - They use up too much time
-Move instantly - the passive costs of the new office would kill you. Wait until you have around 3M
-Waste time
-Speculate too much about combinations or sliders. If you have no idea about the right sliders, you have to be very lucky.
Here is a combination guide:
https://gamedevtycoon.fandom.com/wiki/Game_Development_Based_on_Experience/1.6.11
Level 2+
Around 3M in the new Office you can try to risk a little bit and hire two people.
Usually I get 2 balanced ones for 200K each.
That way you get the option to research Medium Games.
Do and hope for good publishing deals. Try making published games because they will get you a lot of money; Esspecially in the beginning of Level 2.
Do not try to create a medium game on your own without enough fans. Just don't.
This will loose effect when progressing.
Also I don't research Marketing (Interviews and Publishers as well as Fans later are enough for Hype).
Stick to the chosen genres. I recommend 2 because you can min-max the game reports for these, if you do not have them unlocked anyways.
My tip: Choose RPG and Adventure. Both have a heavy Design Bias and have similiar sliders. They need Story, Gameplay and Dialoges, so it becomes cheaper for you to develop an Engine suited for this.
As you can see, many upgrades were never implemented in my best playthrough:
During the rest of the Game:
Don't waste getting useless Engine Upgrades.
Definetly get Gaphics and Copy Protection ASAP
Only consider 15 RP and occasionaly 40 RP Upgrades
Only consider Upgrades suiting your chosen genres (I love RPG and Adventure as a combination because they have similiar sliders - also both have a heavy Design Bias making it easier for training - you only have to invest in Design (and only a little in Tech)).
Alter between your chosen Genres. Only maybe think about Sequels early.
You need to save up every Research Point you can get to instantly get the new Copy Protection when available. They become really expensive (up to 250 RP), so better save early.
Do not hesitate adding the new Copy Protection to a new Engine (no matter how expensive - the game sales will balance this again).
Usually I get 2 balanced ones for 200K each.
That way you get the option to research Medium Games.
Do and hope for good publishing deals. Try making published games because they will get you a lot of money; Esspecially in the beginning of Level 2.
Do not try to create a medium game on your own without enough fans. Just don't.
This will loose effect when progressing.
Also I don't research Marketing (Interviews and Publishers as well as Fans later are enough for Hype).
Stick to the chosen genres. I recommend 2 because you can min-max the game reports for these, if you do not have them unlocked anyways.
My tip: Choose RPG and Adventure. Both have a heavy Design Bias and have similiar sliders. They need Story, Gameplay and Dialoges, so it becomes cheaper for you to develop an Engine suited for this.
As you can see, many upgrades were never implemented in my best playthrough:
During the rest of the Game:
Don't waste getting useless Engine Upgrades.
Definetly get Gaphics and Copy Protection ASAP
Only consider 15 RP and occasionaly 40 RP Upgrades
Only consider Upgrades suiting your chosen genres (I love RPG and Adventure as a combination because they have similiar sliders - also both have a heavy Design Bias making it easier for training - you only have to invest in Design (and only a little in Tech)).
Alter between your chosen Genres. Only maybe think about Sequels early.
You need to save up every Research Point you can get to instantly get the new Copy Protection when available. They become really expensive (up to 250 RP), so better save early.
Do not hesitate adding the new Copy Protection to a new Engine (no matter how expensive - the game sales will balance this again).
Final Level
When you have reached the Final Stage of the Game, you should have done everything perfectly fine.
If you keep the tips from before in mind, you should be able to play like you would in the base Game.
These were my last selling things. A third (maxed out) Console and the 2nd MMO.
Despite Copy Protection V6, I got 23% to 30% pirated (meaning a lot of income gone).
The later you get into the game, the more basic Game it becomes.
As you can see, I lost my focus on PC because I didn't have to anymore.
Yet, without mods, you should be more careful. Developing consoles is very expensive. If you lack the money (I started developing when I had 150M), just don't bother.
Well, good luck. The beginning is the only hard part about this. Don't forget to train your boys and girls from time to time. But try minimizing expensive training programs.
If you keep the tips from before in mind, you should be able to play like you would in the base Game.
These were my last selling things. A third (maxed out) Console and the 2nd MMO.
Despite Copy Protection V6, I got 23% to 30% pirated (meaning a lot of income gone).
The later you get into the game, the more basic Game it becomes.
As you can see, I lost my focus on PC because I didn't have to anymore.
Yet, without mods, you should be more careful. Developing consoles is very expensive. If you lack the money (I started developing when I had 150M), just don't bother.
Well, good luck. The beginning is the only hard part about this. Don't forget to train your boys and girls from time to time. But try minimizing expensive training programs.