College Basketball Manager

This game is a really in-depth, fun, college basketball management game. Its not as in depth as Football Manager or Out of the Park Baseball, but for a first entry and being early access, there is a lot of interesting features and mechanics. I especially love the recruiting. There is so much information provided and figuring out which recruits to target, finding gems, and figuring out when you need to back off a recruit is so much fun. Looking forward to playing this during the NCAA tournament!

I really enjoy playing sports management games. I've already spent many hours playing this one in beta. It's not a copy of any other game; it has its own unique style, which I really like. There's also a good in-game manual that explains the game mechanics in more detail. This helps even less experienced managers learn what types of players they need, for example, for their motion offense. The developer is continuously improving the game, and it's already worth the price. So, thumbs up from me!

I never write reviews -- literally. And sorry for leading you on just then because this won't be much of an in-depth review just yet but I have just over 20 hours in the game and there are a lot of things about this game to really enjoy. I will return with more detailed thoughts but will start in admitting that I am not typically a fan of most sim games (I like the idea of them usually more than I enjoy the actual in-game experience) but if you enjoy basketball and have some basic understanding of stats / attributes and the nuances involved in the business and relationships within the sport, you will absolutely find value in this game. There are some systems I am still understanding better within the game so I want to reserve any critical opinions for now -- and I can echo comments related to desiring more dynamic or unique cosmetics, but for the price, this is a no-brainer. I think whether I undertake 4 or 5 or 20 seasons in this game is going to depend on how dynamic things feel and how I'm able to feel my growth in metrics impact my in-game and admin decisions, but this is clearly made by someone who knows and loves basketball

Probably the best College basketball sim game out definitely worth the price

Elite game. Very in depth, lots of features, no bugs.

I found College Basketball Manager surprisingly engaging experience, especially for anyone who loves the strategy side of the sport. The game is set up extremely well, and the stat‑tracking and recruiting systems are easily the standout features. Once you get the hang of recruiting and navigating the tournaments, it becomes genuinely addictive. That said, the game still has room to grow. It has the potential to soar even higher with a few added options—features like team and coaching records, the ability to edit teams and players, and even the option to adjust the starting year would make the experience feel even more complete. Overall, I really enjoy this game and think it offers a strong foundation with tons of promise. If you’re into stats, strategy, and building a program from the ground up, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

If you're interested in college basketball from a coach perspective, you should 100% get this game. My favorite part of the game is the depth and how all the systems work together to make it much more than just “recruit high-overall players and automatically win championships.” It honestly reminds me of college hoops 2k8 in the sense that the depth. A few things I really like: 1. Legacy mode is excellent because you start at a lower-level program and have to deal with real challenges: tougher recruiting, limited staff, scheduling “money games” against powerhouse schools, and taking some brutal losses just to keep the program financially afloat. It would be an extreme challenge to take a bottom feeder team to the Big Dance in 5 years. So, it feels realistic to real life where you are more likely to leave for bigger programs 2. Team Chemistry matters. Chemistry is influenced by player personalities, shared minutes, experience and how players perform together over time. It adds a flavor to how you build rotations. 3. Scouting is genuinely engaging instead of something you just automate and forget about although the option to let the AI handle recruiting is there if you want it. 4. The inclusion of advanced basketball stats is nice. 5. Last but not least, the game does a terrific job explaining concepts without overwhelming the player. The in-game Player Guide is especially well done. The game is still in early access, so not everything on the roadmap has been implemented yet. But the foundation is really great, and the core gameplay is strong. At its current price, it’s a no-brainer if you can afford it.

There is a learning curve to the game. But the interface is very friendly to use. And there is help hints on almost every aspect of the game. My only dislike about the game is the font is so small that I have trouble reading it at times. I would like to be able to make the font bigger. Or change the color to black/white which would make it easier to see. Overall this is a great game and I recommend it for anyone who loves college basketball.