Schedule One

Schedule one takes a gritty premise—the underground drug trade—and elevates it far beyond the shallow "simulator" tropes usually found in the genre. While many similar titles feel like cheap cash-ins, Schedule One strikes a perfect balance: it treats its harsh subject matter with a focused intensity while remaining genuinely addictive. At $13 on Steam, it has already captured 190 hours of my time, and I’m nowhere near finished.

Two specific elements set this game apart: the sophisticated management systems and the stunning aesthetic. To see the difference, you only need to look at the "competition" on Steam; where other games in this niche look dated or messy, Schedule One is arguably the most beautiful game of its kind. As you progress, the gameplay evolves into a deeply satisfying management loop—almost like a high-stakes idle game—where you orchestrate a growing empire of employees and dealers. Schedule One proves that even a dirty business can be a beautiful experience—one that will keep you coming back for 'just one more hour' until the sun comes up.