Two Point Campus Review – Making The Grade

As a kid who grew up with little money, I’ve always loved the fantasy tycoon games realize: the possibility of cashing in on whimsical business schemes like theme parks, restaurants, and aquariums. It’s always been satisfying to start with an empty plot of land and then build the foundation of a business atop it, customizing small details like paint colors, furniture layouts, and walking paths along the way. 

But the genre’s bubble gum aesthetics often mask a darker side – one prioritizing profit over people. Recent big-budget titles forgo subtlety entirely, capitalize on the oppressive industries such as prisons and drug production, as well cartel operations. I’m sure those games are fun in their own right, but I’m not interested in engaging in the fantasy of generating capital from those systems.

Two Point Campus, the new business simulation sim Two Point Hospital is a refreshing follow-up. To attract international students, your goal is to build large universities and colleges. However, you need to prioritize people if you wish to earn a profit. 

Between screening qualified professors, hiring janitorial staff to maintain the premises, and expanding the interior and exterior of your campus, you’ll invest in, well, less-than-normal curricula. No, there aren’t mathematics courses or language electives in this game. Campuses host courses on many ridiculous subjects, including knighthood and chivalry, wizardry, spy agency training, and even how to become a spy agent. The exaggerated presentation of subjects such as gastronomy and athletics is not surprising. It also features conspicuous draw like large-sized hamburgers or cheese-based sports. Two Point is fun and full of laughs. 

However, don’t be fooled by this whimsical portrayal of college life. You will need to be strategic in order to face the many challenges that campus presents. Every student has specific traits and personalities, and they’ll drop out if you don’t satisfy their needs. To reach campus ratings, you must create an educational environment that is conducive to learning. This includes systems such as hygiene, food, nutrition, student interaction and campus attraction. 

Some students might be great at studying but lower your school’s rating with poor hygiene if you don’t install ample shower rooms and bathrooms. Others might drop the campus’ average grade but can become relatively low-maintenance tenants with a tutoring course or more stimulation via a music concert or jousting tournament. This is also true for faculty. Highly skilled staff come at a price, namely a salary, but they’ll also need on-site comforts like break rooms to blow off steam. As you fulfill these requests, you’ll unlock Kudosh, the in-game currency required to purchase new decorations and amenities. 

Two Point Campus faces this challenge. All these programs require money, and there’s only so much room in the budget. If you’re flippant with renovation approvals, you’ll be out of funds quickly, especially at campuses with a high-maintenance student body. In the case of an empty wallet, you can borrow loans, but it’s easy to get into hot water fast with interest payments. Although it can be frustrating, this is a great gameplay feature and one of my favorite parts about Two Point Campus. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you can change the game’s speed or outright pause, giving you time to solve problems or simply focus on designing without the pressure of the in-game calendar. 

Two Point Campus features robust creation tools, allowing me to design most things to my desired specifications – inside and outside. The new paths are a great feature, especially since I like to create food gardens and other outdoor spaces outside of my academics. Sometimes I wish that I could place decorative objects like plants and rugs more easily without having to worry about them colliding with each other. It’d be great to stack smaller assets atop larger ones like desks and tables, too. 

Despite its bleak inspirations – privatized education – Two Point Campus never feels callous. It’s more ideological than anything else, depicting a world where businesses and people flourish together. Although profit and expansion are important to the experience they can only be achieved by creating a great environment for students. This isn’t to say Two Point Campus shies away from low-hanging fruit; its signature British humor is at its best when poking fun at students and faculty. But ultimately, Two Point Campus is a deeply-engaging management sim that doesn’t force you to punch down, and it’s more enjoyable for it.