Supply chain management is everywhere—even in the games we play. From bottlenecks and the bullwhip effect to manufacturing and production, video games can teach some surprisingly deep supply chain lessons.
Here’s our pick of the top five games that do a great job of illustrating real-world supply chain principles.
5. Lemonade Stand – The Basics of Inventory and Demand Forecasting
We’re starting simple with a classic—and one of my personal favorites: Lemonade Stand.
This 1970s business simulator is one of the oldest games on this list, but don’t let that fool you—it’s packed with real-world supply chain lessons. You’re in charge of a lemonade stand, and your job is to manage inventory, adjust pricing, and forecast demand based on factors like customer behavior and the weather.
Set the wrong price?
Overproduce?
Don’t have enough inventory?
You’ll either make a profit or run out of stock. It’s basic, but it nails the fundamentals of demand forecasting and business strategy.
4. Big Pharma – Balancing Supply Chain Efficiency and Costs
Now, let’s add some complexity.
Big Pharma puts you in charge of a pharmaceutical company, where you’re responsible for researching, manufacturing, and distributing medicine—profitably. That means managing a supply chain of raw materials, optimizing production lines, and keeping an eye on market demand.
Oh, and if you overproduce or waste materials, you’re burning cash!
This game does a great job of showing how real-world supply chains balance efficiency, cost, and constraints—all while keeping your business afloat.
3. Cities: Skylines – The Role of Infrastructure in Supply Chains
Supply chains don’t just exist in warehouses—they depend on infrastructure.
In Cities: Skylines, bad road planning can lead to congested highways, delayed deliveries, and struggling businesses. You have to think about railways, ports, and trucking routes—just like real-world logistics managers.
Ever wonder why your package takes longer than expected? Play this game, and you’ll quickly understand how things break down in a city's supply chain.
2. Overcooked! – Process Efficiency and Keeping Up with Demand
A kitchen is just a mini supply chain, and Overcooked! teaches you how fast things fall apart when just one step goes wrong.
In this chaotic cooking game, you’re constantly managing the workflow of cooking, plating, and serving. If one person messes up, everything backs up.
The game forces you to think about:
âś… Process efficiency
âś… Teamwork
âś… Why supply chains rely on smooth operations
Most importantly, it’s a great way to practice keeping calm when things hit the fan—a vital lesson in supply chain management.
Honorable Mention: The Beer Distribution Game – Understanding the Bullwhip Effect
Today’s honorable mention isn’t your typical video game. It’s actually a classic supply chain simulator taught in business schools worldwide.
Developed at MIT, the Beer Distribution Game is designed to teach players about the bullwhip effect, where small changes in demand can have massive impacts upstream.
In this game, you manage inventory for a simple supply chain (retailer, wholesaler, distributor), but as demand fluctuates, small miscalculations cause chaos.
It’s frustrating, but it does a perfect job of illustrating why supply chains struggle with demand variability.
1. Factorio – The Ultimate Supply Chain Simulation
And finally, our #1 pick: Factorio—the king of supply chain games.
You start with basic, manual production, but as demand scales, you quickly realize:
You can’t do everything by hand.
The game forces you to:
🔧 Automate production
📦 Optimize logistics
⚙️ Identify and fix bottlenecks
If you don’t plan ahead, things break down fast. It’s either a supply chain manager’s dream—or nightmare—depending on how you play.
Final Thoughts
So, what do you think? Did we miss any games that deserve a spot on this list?
Leave a comment below if you have a favorite supply chain-related game! And if you enjoyed this post, be sure to watch the video at the top and subscribe for more content on supply chain management and business strategy.
Until next time, happy gaming—and happy optimizing! 🚀
