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Prison Architect

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Steam Page
Developer
Introversion Software, Double Eleven
Publisher
Paradox Interactive
Release
October 6, 2015
10 years and 302 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive74,062 reviews88.9%

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Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Paradox Interactive is part of publicly traded Paradox Interactive.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Paradox Interactive is part of publicly traded Paradox Interactive.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Paradox Interactive provides the corporate publishing relationship for this release.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Prison Architect and Introversion Software and Double Eleven?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
Paradox Interactive is listed as a separate publisher for this release.

Media

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About the Game



Welcome Wardens!

Only the world’s most ruthless Warden can contain the world’s most ruthless inmates. Design and develop your personalized penitentiary in Prison Architect.

Key Features:

Customized Confinement

Allocate resources to optimize your compound, but don’t restrict the flow of the crowd lest you encounter a flood, fire, fight, or full-blown riot.

Invest and Innovate

Tap federal money with grant applications & direct your funds to combat disease, gang activity, litigation, and more!

Management and Muscle

Ensure your prison is *mostly* ethical and safe with top-notch staff including armed guards, psychologists, doctors, lawyers and snitches.


Detention by Design

Each prisoner’s criminal history requires custom treatment programs, labor schedules, and reform workshops.

Lockdown Showdown

Attempt a high-stakes escape of your own supermax prison in Escape Mode, or try Online mode to test one of 12,000 player-created prisons. Expand your empire limitlessly in Sandbox mode.


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