
An old picture of the iconic experience Lumber Tycoon by Defaultio from late 2008.
Tycoons are a genre of experience on Roblox in which users get to own a base, usually a business or a company of some kind, and must use “droppers” to earn cash, which can be spent on upgrades to expand the tycoon. Despite the name, it is usually reminiscent of idle genre, not the business simulation genre, which is also called the tycoon genre. These experiences often have products available for purchase with Robux.
History[]
Early history[]
In January 2008, a famous Roblox scripter, uberubert, created an experience called "Bread Factory Tycoon". This was extremely popular at the time for about four months, receiving 500,000 visits,[citation needed] considered an incredible amount for the time. Uberubert decided not to work on the experience anymore, so he uncopylocked it for other users to utilize. Hundreds of scripters took advantage of this and started creating their own tycoons. Users such as berezaa published "tycoon kits", which allowed users to create their own tycoons with minimal effort.[1] In 2011, war tycoons such as Black Ops Tycoon by CoolJohnnyboy
, were popular, while Bread Factory-based tycoons began to lose popularity, marking the start of a five-year decline in the tycoon genre.
Modern[]
In 2016, tycoon made a return, but as clickbait and “fake” tycoons and were usually themed around fast-food chains, YouTube, or other well-known businesses. Tycoons of this type aren't always real tycoons at all. They may just be obbies. Usually, these are teleport experiences, named in order to trick the Roblox's suggestion algorithm (for example, by using names such as TYCOON TYCOON TYCOON TYCOON), and they usually have more dislikes than likes.
The first instance of an sandbox tycoon experience came from developer Ashpokeman when he created Company tycoon in 2010. Starting in 2016, some modern tycoons have begun to diverge from the old model, by becoming more like simulators designed around customizability, which allow users to unlock upgrades and expand their bases and structures in new ways. Examples of these tycoons are Restaurant Tycoon 2, Retail Tycoon and Theme Park Tycoon 2. Since 2021, war tycoons in which troops are sent to fight at the center of the map have also gained increased traction.

McDonald's Tycoon, a historical tycoon that was on the front page in 2017, but has now become irrelevant and was eventually deleted, but later re-opened as McRonalds Tycoon.
Basics[]
Usually, a base is claimed by walking into a door. Then, there is generally a button to get a free dropper. This dropper requires users to manually click to create a brick. Bricks created this way will fall onto a conveyor belt, which leads to a neon material. Once a brick touches this material, it disappears and one dollar of credit is added to the user's tycoon. After clicking the button, stepping on another specified button will allow a user to collect their in-experience cash. More buttons will spawn over time, allowing users to buy more and more things. Some of these are more droppers, some of them are upgraders, which increase the dollar value of each brick passing through them, some are base infrastructure or decoration, and some are weapons which allow for combat between base-owners.
In some tycoons, such as mining tycoons or lumber tycoons, users are required to work manually. Usually, a tool is used to do this. This method usually involves going up to an object and putting the tool into the object. Another fairly common type of tycoon has cash that is automatically delivered to the player, and the cash simply comes faster more after a user buys more things.
Oftentimes, in order to purchase an advantage in Tycoons, it can be purchased with the use of Robux or, in some cases, alternatively via a lengthy process which may involve rebirthing.
Rebirth[]
Rebirthing is the act of resetting one's own current state or level in a tycoon, usually as a means to gain advantages or achievements which the tycoon offers. This is similar to New Game Plus mode in other video games.
Rebirths tend to be found around some parts of the allotted land for the base. When available and unlocked, a user's current progress will disappear and the user will have to start from scratch, but they may unlock various advantages.
Multiuser[]
There are a few types of tycoon. On top of the original single-user tycoon, there is also the 2-user tycoon, a newer type of tycoon which allows two users to collaborate on completing the same tycoon base.
Completing a tycoon[]
The tycoon ends when a user purchases the last upgrade. The last upgrade that can be bought by is usually a very expensive statue or object. At times, a badge may be given for completing the tycoon. After this, users cannot continue building their base, but may explore it or others’ bases. They may also continue to engage in combat.
Criticism[]
Users have varying amounts of dislike against tycoons for a multitude of reasons. Many users do not find dropper-style tycoons worth visiting for their style, which may be considered overused, homogeneous, and boring. Many use generalized negative comments towards tycoons, such as, "Tycoons are lazily made", or "All tycoons have Free Models". Some users also dislike that some scam tycoons change their thumbnails every day or every hour. For example, many experiences with different titles (e.g. Trick or Treat and Parkour) might just all teleport visitors to the same tycoon. Some tycoons are so poorly received that they have a like-to-dislike ratio below 25%.
References[]
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