Prison Architect is a construction and management sim about designing and running a prison from the ground up. Players lay out cell blocks, workshops, and yards while balancing security, budget, and the needs of the inmate population.

Beyond building, the game layers in staffing, logistics, and unpredictable events like riots or escape attempts that test whether a facility can hold together under pressure. Its isometric, hands-on approach to institutional design has made it a genre touchstone.