I am a big advocate of bringing as many things to as many different platforms as possible. Since the release of the Switch, that has become even more true for me. I love the versatility of the Nintendo Switch, as well as the ability to play games on the go or at home, with a variety of control schemes. However, there are some games that just do not work as well on a console as they do on a PC, and Big Pharma is one such game.

Big Pharma is a hybrid tycoon, management, and puzzle game that puts you at the helm of a pharmaceutical company. You are in charge of developing and selling medication while trying to compete with other rival companies attempting to do the same thing. However, Big Pharma takes you behind the curtain, down to the finest detail of actually sourcing ingredients, and researching new technology to develop things more efficiently.

You send out explorers to get ingredients, each with their own uses. For example, one ingredient may work as a painkiller, but may also cause nausea. By altering the concentration of that ingredient, and using machines to upgrade or enhance it, you can reduce the risk of the bad side effect, and even enhance the positive effect overall. That painkiller might become a migraine reliever, or it may even become a life-saving epilepsy medication.

To make this work however, you must hire researchers to study and develop new machines. Some medications require certain machines to alter the effects of ingredients in the right way, to produce the effect you want. This gets complicated very easily, and I found that the tutorial didn’t really help me understand why things had to be done in a specific manner. The tutorial gives you the mechanics and explains things somewhat, but I still had a hard time grasping the finer details of it.

This isn’t all that you have to manage in Big Pharma though. While your explorers are searching, and researchers are developing machines, (all of which take in-game time) you must build production lines by connecting machines to conveyor belts, while managing the limited space you have efficiently. I personally found the space management aspect somewhat fun, even if the actual product development mechanic left much to be desired. You can buy more buildings, but they aren’t cheap, and managing money is just as important as space or time.

I think this would have been a much nicer experience on PC as well, because with PC not only do you have modding support, but you can also navigate menus with your mouse. Navigating all the menus and things with the Switch controllers is not nearly as efficient or simple as one might expect. Also, it is much easier to hover over an ingredient with a mouse to investigate it, rather than using the joystick to do so in a less precise capacity.

It is also important to know that the console version of Big Pharma contains the DLC, which adds things like clinical trials, marketing campaigns, and a load of other things that change the way you play, either benevolently or otherwise. Aside from the regular levels (in varying difficulties) Big Pharma also has a sandbox mode where you can build the company of your dreams.

I won’t say that Big Pharma is a bad game on Switch. In fact, I can see people enjoying it if they take the time to learn and understand the game. The problem is, not only would it be better on PC, but the learning curve is sharp enough that I don’t think it is suitable for folks new to this sort of game. In fact, if you love the game on PC, you probably don’t have any use for the console version, unless you want to take it on the go.

If you are a fan of tycoon, simulation-style games, and you want one to take with you on the go, Big Pharma isn’t a bad option if you’re willing to put the time in to figure it out. However, if you are looking for something that is easy to dive into, this is probably not the best option for you to play around with.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Big Pharma was provided by Klabater for this review.

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Big Pharma

$29.99 USD

6

Score

6.0/10

Pros

• Deep Tycoon Sim Mechanics
• Puzzle Mechanics Managing Your Space
• Lots of Levels to Play
• Sandbox Mode
• Take it on the Go

Cons

• Tutorials are a Bit Vague
• Complex Learning Curve
• Menu Navigation isn't as Easy as on PC
• Controls Aren't as Smooth as They Should Be