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Watch trailer on Steam ↗Malware Tycoon
JIMMY DIAMOND · Published by JIMMY DIAMOND
3 user reviews — 67% positive (3 reviews) · 9 achievements
Last updated 2 Oct 2026
Step back to the era of dial-up and WinGoals SP. As a black-hat developer, manage the delicate balance of detection probability versus payout potential. Will you build a silent botnet for profit or a worm designed to destroy? Avoid the feds and conquer the web in this nostalgic management sim.
£8.50
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Price history
Indie, Simulation, Strategy · 2026 · More £5 - £15 games
Navigate the perilous world of black-hat development in Malware Tycoon. As a developer in the dial-up era, your goal is to grow a silent botnet or unleash destructive worms—without getting caught by law enforcement.
About this game
Destroy All Technology?
The year is 2002. Upon visiting your local dump scavenging for car parts, you came across an abandoned PC. "Weird", you thought, "It looks pretty modern. Who would throw something like this out?". Upon hooking it up, you realize this computer belonged to a former NSA agent and has tools on it to make and distribute malware. With these programs, you could make money, you could mess with your friends, you could destroy computers... you could destroy ALL computers.
Malicious Thoughts
With this newfound goal in mind, you get to work. You visit Grewgle. You spread your malware to unsuspecting users on forums. You make your malware spreadable to the point where thousands of computers can be infected in mere weeks. You begin to learn more and more about malware development to the point where those thousands turn into hundreds of thousands, or even millions. What can the antivirus companies do about it? How far can you take this before you get caught? Your decisions will form the answers to these questions.
Multiple Scenarios
There are many things you can do with these programs so graciously provided by the NSA. Maybe you can become a millionaire. Maybe you'll destroy all technology. Maybe you're just in it to see how many computers you can infect before getting caught. Malware Tycoon supports all of these goals, and so much more. Simply pick a scenario, and get to work on your goals, whatever those might be.
Are you ready?
Malware Tycoon requires a sharp mind, and quick decision-making skills. Learning how to create the perfect malware takes time and money. Want to procrastinate? Waste time? You won't get far no matter what your goal is. Keep an eye on your bank account, grow your cash flow, continuously learn, and stay one step ahead of the game. You're not the only malware dev out there either - you really can't trust anyone on the World Wide Web. Find your way into destruction, wealth, and infections before someone else does it for you.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10 21H1+
- Processor: Intel i7-6700k
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: GTX 1080
- Storage: 5 GB available space
- Additional Notes: This game should run on almost any modern hardware configuration without issues.
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Supported Languages
*languages with full audio support
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Malware Tycoon v1.0.0.2 (Hotfix + NEW Feature) Patch Notes
Hello Malware Tycooners,Version 1.0.0.2 of Malware Tycoon has just been released and addresses the following:New Feature - PrestigeTo make the mid/end-game feel more satisfying, you now have access to a new feature in your toolkit - prestige. Choosing to prestige a payload makes that payload permanently gain a boost in performance of 50% for current and future malware campaigns. Prestige is an expensive process, results in a permanent loss of Skill Points and costs 10x what it would cost to unlock the payload normally.Bug Fix - InfidelityA recent exploit was identified in which it was possible to input a share quantity on a cheap stock, then move over to a more expensive stock (before the date ticked over) and purchase the more expensive stock for the same price of the cheap one, resultingly in hypothetically infinite money/gains. This exploit has been patched.Please continue to report any bugs and feedback on the Steam community forums. Any bugs will be addressed ASAP, whereas major feedback will be considered in major patches down the line (smaller feedback items may be addressed in hotfix patches like this one).Read full article on Community Announcements (JIMMY DIAMOND)Patch NotesOfficial
Malware Tycoon v1.0.0.1 (Hotfix) Patch Notes
Hello Malware Tycooners,Version 1.0.0.1 of Malware Tycoon has just been released and addresses the following:BUG FIX: A bug was identified in which learning a skill that is overlapping with a scheduled court date would lead to a soft-lock. The game now checks to see if you have a court date scheduled that would conflict with the learning, and if you do, it will temporarily disallow the skill to be learned until after the court session and sentencing has been completed.IMPROVEMENT: Maximum money has been increased from $10,000,000 to $1,000,000,000.Please continue to report any bugs and feedback on the Steam community forums. Any bugs will be addressed ASAP, whereas major feedback will be considered in major patches down the line (smaller feedback items may be addressed in hotfix patches like this one).Read full article on Community Announcements (JIMMY DIAMOND)AnnouncementsOfficial
Malware Tycoon Now Available!
Malware Tycoon Available!Finally, Malware Tycoon is now available! The release includes 10+ scenarios, new websites, hacking, prosecution, and many more features that were not present in the demo.Of course, being that this is an initial release, there may be the possibility for bugs - please report those on the Steam community forums if you do come across anything, and I'd be happy to push out a patch ASAP.In addition, this is not the end. More content such as additional scenarios, more websites, etc. will be patched into the game. I don't want to give an exact update or say too much currently, but just know that your feedback right now is super valuable. If you have a particular concept, balancing adjustment, or otherwise, any modification in mind, let me know on the community forums and I'd be happy to consider your change for a future patch.For now, enjoy Malware Tycoon!Demo UpdatePlease note that the demo has been temporarily de-listed off of the Steam store due to concerns about saved game data specifically in relation to hopping from the full game back to the demo and the possibility of data loss/corruption. The demo is planned to get its own update as well and will be re-listed in the near future.Have fun! ːlaugh_eolːRead full article on Community Announcements (JIMMY DIAMOND)AnnouncementsOfficial
Can you believe it guys?
Finally...Malware Tycoon will be making its way onto \ store shelves on July 17th. After a year and a half in development, hopefully, it'll have been worth the wait.Sneak PeeksGiverrGiverr is the latest and greatest in e-commerce technology allowing you to buy and sell products (totally not malware!) from and to your peers. Feeling lazy? Enter the Buyer's Realm and have someone draft up your project for you! Short on cash? Start making and selling some \ on the Seller's Realm.The Law (Part 2)If you read through the last developer update, you're aware that the days of just worrying about your malware being detected are over. Now, you've gotta deal with the feds, and they're not exactly known for your patience with your antics. Should you get caught, you'll have to face the full extent of the law and choose a way to pay your debt back to society. Whether you choose to do time, subject yourself to MK-MEGA mind experiments, fork over some cash, or sell your soul to the feds, the choice is yours. Maybe think about taking advantage of those VPNs to hide your trail...ScenariosLike most tycoon games, Malware Tycoon will come packed with 10+ scenarios to choose from. Want to start the game out with certain restrictions? Want to take the ultimate challenge and try to hack Grewgle? There are many different scenarios available for you to choose from with whatever type of gameplay you're hoping for. (scenarios pictured subject to change).In Conclusion...This is my last announcement until the game releases on the 17th. Until then, feel free to enjoy the Malware Tycoon Demo while it's still out!Read full article on Community Announcements (JIMMY DIAMOND)Patch NotesOfficial
Malware Tycoon - Dev Update #1
IntroHello again,As promised in my last announcement, I wanted to give everyone a sneak peek as to what is coming in the future for Malware Tycoon! This progress update will focus primarily on some new features/reworks to existing systems. Under-the-hood adjustments have been made particularly focusing on balance as well, however, they will not be showcased in this progress update.Ted's Hack ToolIntroducing Ted's Hack Tool! This tool is for a new mechanic that you will find In Malware Tycoon - as you might have guessed, it's related directly to hacking websites. In this instance, Skill Points are used as a currency - the more Skill Points you spend, the more likely it is that your hack will be successful. You will also have Hacking Algorithms to select from. These Hacking Algorithms also cost Skill Points to use, and are related directly to the duration of how long your hack lasts before the website owner gives you the boot.Admin PanelThe Admin Panel is what you will see upon visiting a website successfully hacked from Ted's Hack Tool. Here, you can deploy malware that will be automatically downloaded to anyone's computer who visits the website while it is hacked (albeit, some users may decline the download/be privy to the hack so you won't get them all). You can also use Resource Hacking to "steal" Skill Points or money from the website - the longer the website is hacked, the more lucrative it will be to steal these resources. Finally, you have your Stock Crasher. Presuming the site you hacked is a publicly traded company, you can use this tool to release defamatory statements against the company to cause the stock's ticker price to drop significantly.There is a secret, fourth option here that is not pictured. Let's just say for now that you'd have access to that feature should you decide to "sell out."Malware Upload ToolThe Malware Upload Tool completely replaces the old way of uploading malware to forums. Instead of having to title your forum post/give it a descr...Read full article on Community Announcements (JIMMY DIAMOND)
