How to Find the Best Business Strategy Game for Your Class

Adding a business strategy game to your curriculum can transform how students engage with business concepts like competitive analysis, pricing strategy, product development, marketing decisions, and financial forecasting. Instead of relying on lectures alone, your students can gain hands-on experience running virtual companies and analyzing outcomes. 

Why Use a Business Strategy Game in Your Course?

Business strategy games are much more than just educational simulations. When used right, they act as dynamic learning environments where theory meets practice. Stepping into the role of a company executive forces students to think critically as they analyze markets and make decisions with real consequences — all within a controlled, risk-free setting. 

Strategy games offer a hands-on way to reinforce your course material while testing student understanding in a format that mirrors real-world business challenges. Whether students are managing product launches or navigating competitive markets, they gain both knowledge and the confidence to apply it. 

The best part is that you can tailor the experience to fit your course length, class size, and learning objectives. 

How Does a Business Strategy Game Work?

A business strategy game places students at the head of a virtual company, where they are responsible for making decisions that influence its success over time. These decisions typically span several functional areas (marketing, operations, finance, product development, and more), mirroring the complications of real business management. 

The game unfolds over several rounds, or business cycles. In each round, students analyze performance data and respond to competitors’ moves — whether those competitors are classmates or computer-generated firms. The results of each decision are reflected in certain business metrics like market share, profitability, and customer satisfaction. 

Students must be constantly adapting to the simulated, dynamic environment. Unexpected outcomes (or rivals who play more aggressively) might force them to reevaluate their assumptions and shift strategies accordingly. It’s an immersive way to teach concepts such as strategic planning, forecasting, risk management, and competitive positioning. But it also helps students build soft skills like teamwork, leadership, and communication. 

Match the Simulation to Your Course Structure

One of the most valuable features of a business strategy game is its flexibility. Whether you’re teaching a 16-week semester course or a compressed two-week intensive course, there’s a simulation that can meet your needs. 

Some professors prefer to integrate the simulation throughout the term, using it as an ongoing reinforcement for course content week by week. Others opt to dedicate a focused portion of the semester — such as the final few weeks — to the game. This allows students to apply everything they’ve learned up to that point in a culminating experience. For shorter courses, intensive modules can be completed in as little as ten days. 

Compact Microsimulations can provide even greater adaptability. These short-form modules each focus on a specific business concept — like product positioning or break-even analysis — and can be completed in under 25 minutes. They’re ideal for reinforcing key topics or filling instructional gaps without requiring a major time commitment.

With game durations ranging from as little as two hours to more than 60, you can fine-tune the simulation’s scope to match your teaching timeline. 

Class Size Considerations

The structure of your course will shape how you use a business strategy game, but class size plays an equally important role in determining the best setup for maximum engagement. 

In smaller classes, the ideal format is peer-to-peer gameplay. Students are grouped into teams (typically three to five students per team) and compete against other teams in the same game. 

This setup introduces real-world unpredictability into the simulation since classmates may undercut pricing, flood the market with product, or take risky marketing approaches. These unscripted moves mimic the volatility of real-world competition, which is great for teaching students how to respond strategically under pressure. 

Larger classes may require a different approach. With only so many teams able to participate in a single game (usually six at most), instructors may need to run multiple concurrent games — or consider having students compete against computer competitors instead. 

This option significantly decreases administrative complexity while also maintaining steady progress through the simulation. It can also minimize disruptions caused by delayed decision submissions. Having students compete against computer competitors is particularly helpful for asynchronous or hybrid course formats. 

Learning Goals

Selecting the right business strategy game starts with clear instructional priorities. Are you looking to reinforce topics students have already encountered in lectures and readings? Or do you need a hands-on way to introduce new material and deepen conceptual understanding?

For reinforcement, strategy games offer students an opportunity to apply abstract theories in a more concrete environment. Concepts like market segmentation or supply chain logistics take on new meaning when students have to rely on them to guide their strategy and defend the results. 

Microsimulations are especially useful for targeted concept development. Each module is designed to focus on one essential business principle, and they can be completed in a single class session — or assigned as homework. 

More complex simulations are available for broader learning outcomes. These allow students to manage an entire business across multiple rounds, making decisions that reflect long-term strategic thinking. This makes them a good option for capstone courses or interdisciplinary programs that bring together concepts from finance, marketing, operations, and leadership. 

Meet Assurance of Learning Standards

Professors in accredited business programs often need to do two things at once: keep students engaged and meet Assurance of Learning (AoL) requirements. Fortunately, a well-designed business strategy game can help with both.

Marketplace Simulations are designed with AoL in mind. Each full-enterprise game includes Assurance of Learning assessments to measure students’ understanding of and engagement the material. Built-in analytics tools track student performance across key business areas such as marketing, operations, finance, and more. These results can be downloaded as clear reports for both internal assessment and accreditation reviews.

Professors can use these tools to spot patterns, measure progress, and support both individual students and the class as a whole.

While accrediting bodies don’t mandate what assessments should look like, they do expect programs to show that learning is happening — and improving. By embedding performance measurement directly into the learning experience, Marketplace makes it easier to meet those expectations without creating additional grading burdens or standalone testing structures.

Consider Your Support Needs

Even the most thoughtfully designed simulation won’t make an impact if it becomes a burden to manage. That’s why reliable support for both faculty and students is essential.

Marketplace Simulations stands out in this area by offering 24/7 support for instructors and seven-day-a-week assistance for students. Whether it’s a late-night question before a Monday class or a technical hiccup mid-gameplay, help is just a phone call or email away.

For professors, this means no more fielding panicked student emails over the weekend or becoming the default tech support for every login issue. Marketplace’s team handles setup, onboarding, troubleshooting, and even provides guidance on integrating simulations into your syllabus. The goal is to make the platform an extension of your teaching, not an additional task on your to-do list.

Choose a Business Strategy Game That Works for You

Marketplace Simulations offers a wide range of options to fit just about any instructional scenario. Whether you’re looking for a 25-minute Microsimulation to reinforce a specific concept, or a semester-long strategic experience that ties together multiple disciplines, there’s a game that matches your needs.

When selecting a simulation, consider the following:

• How much time can you allocate? Short modules or full-term simulations are available.
• How large is your class? Small groups may benefit from peer-to-peer competition, while large lectures might run more smoothly with computer competitors.
• What level are your students? Introductory courses may require guided decision-making, while advanced or graduate-level students thrive on complex, multi-variable strategy.
• What are your Assurance of Learning requirements? Choose a simulation with built-in analytics to support assessment and accreditation.

No matter your goals, the right simulation can transform your course from a lecture series into a truly immersive, applied learning experience.

Enhance Your Course with Marketplace Simulations

The best business strategy game doesn’t just supplement your syllabus — it elevates it. By combining academic rigor with real-world application, simulations create a more engaging experience for students while giving instructors powerful tools for assessment, instruction, and support.

Whether you’re teaching first-year students or capping off an MBA program, learn how Marketplace makes it easy to meet your goals and exceed student expectations.