Smartphone Inc. — Price & soundtrack

Ever wondered what it would be like to be the CEO of a tech giant right when smartphones started conquering the world? In Smartphone Inc., that's exactly your role. You'll manage your own company, investing in research, upgrading your factory, and expanding your global office network to crush the competition and maximize profits. It's an economic simulation Eurogame where strategy is everything.

The heart of the game lies in its planning system. Over five rounds, you don't just choose what to do; you 'program' your actions. The standout feature is the layering (patching) mechanic: you combine plan cards and development tiles to build your action schedule. What you plan now strictly defines what you can perform in the subsequent phases of the round.

Each round follows a flow of eight phases: planning, pricing, production, development, research, expansion, selling, and profits. The most tense moments happen during pricing and selling. If you lower your price, you sell faster and secure your market spot, but earn less per unit. If you set a high price, you might make a killing, but you risk being blocked by cheaper rivals who 'fill up' the region first.

Additionally, researching new technologies unlocks special powers and opens doors to new customer segments. Expansion allows you to open offices in neighboring regions, creating the necessary infrastructure to sell your devices. In the end, the player who dominates the accessory market and ends up with the most cash wins the battle. It's a game of constant optimization, where every cost-benefit decision can be the difference between global success or bankruptcy.