Idolshave captivated the world for decades. Colorful costumes, larger-than-life performances, hard-earned skills, and charming personalities elevate these performers into stardom. Their appeal crosses boundaries, as idol culture spans music and live performances, as well as movies, series, and video games as well.
In fact, a huge market exists foridol management games. Players can raise idols' stats, arrange concerts, and grow partnerships with performers across different consoles. While most are bound to certain markets, a lot of companies launched English versions of their games for worldwide audiences. English-first games have also risen to prominence to give more fans the full idol management experience.
Update on Jul 10, 2025, by Rie Takumi:Idol management games gained steam in the past decade thanks to various idol cultures becoming mainstream. Every fan of JPop, KPop, CPop, and other country pop groups wants to try their hand at raising their own idol group. Others want idol management games where they can pick idols to manage, often from a gacha system. Almost by design, these idol management games have strong visual novel elements. Tapping through rhythm maps is also almost expected along with stat-raising and dress-up elements. Other games put an emphasis on the management part of idol management, swapping spreadsheets for cute and easy-to-understand UI.
Gameplay Elements
InEnsemble Stars!! Music,players take control of a music producer tasked with helping the idols of Ensemble Square with their performances, training, and promotions. Players can watch idols perform in Lives, where they must complete songs in a format similar toLove LiveandUta no Prince-sama.
Musicretains the idol-raising and bonding aspects ofthe first game,Ensemble Stars!, andBasic, the non-rhythm version ofMusic. Producers can improve their rapport with idols, unlock extra scenes with them, and raise their cards’ stats for easier or higher-scoring Lives.
Instead of tapping,IDOLY PRIDE: Idol Managerrequires players toraise their idol group’sstats to clear lives. Completing lives requires a certain number of points. To nab those points, players need to position idols according to their prescribed role and equip them with the right photo and accessory.
Aside from lives, players can also arrange promotional events for their idols. Moreover, players can get to know their idols better through calls and SMS. With each successful job, event, and show, their idols can perform at increasingly bigger venues.
TheBushiroad-published game is oriented toward music performed by bands. Despite this, it’s treated as an idol game due to having idol seiyuu, or voice actresses who also perform in the franchise’s live shows.
It also shares gameplay DNA with its sister franchise,Love Live!Like the older series, players have to clear lives inBanG Dream!byraising their band. Specifically, they have to raise the cards they obtain of the performers to accumulate high band power. A high band power helps players clear lives, which are rhythm-based and rely on precise taps, swipes, and holds to complete.
While players technically manage actors instead of idols in this game,A3!’’s gameplay and cast follow the same conceit as other typical idol games. Players collect cards of male actors who they must manage through practices and shows to unlock more cards, stories, and seasonal events.
Although the Japanese version is still going strong, other versions were discontinued in the past few years. DeveloperCybirdshut down its Chinese, English, and Taiwanese versions from 2021 to 2022. Fortunately for overseas fans, they can find ways to legally play the game, albeit in Japanese.
Korean game developerSunbeesoft Co.’s latest game is a spiritual sequel to its three previous idol games. As such,Girl Group Inc.features refined controls and newer functions forwannabe idol tycoonsto fiddle with during their idle time.
From auditions to training, music videos, media appearances, and concerts, players will have a say in how they run their near-bankrupt agency. Fans and stockholders also have to be appeased while addressing their idols’ requests. Juggling these tasks can earn players an award at the end of every in-game year, and a nice injection of fame with other unlockables.
What is there to manage if the group is a global phenomenon?BLACKPINK THE GAMEputs fans in the shoes of the world-renowned group’s producer. Managing the group and the agency’s building are part and parcel of this cutesy management game.
Building management and member training aside, players must also solve photocard puzzles to clear stages.Other mini-gamesexist and can be played with other players online. Moreover, players can customize their favorite members and mingle with other fans in dedicated lobbies. Fans can even unlock Blackpink videos and photocards made for the game.
Even thoughMonthly Idolsports a blockier look than other games on this list, it’s feature-rich and immersive enough that even real K-pop stars like Ilhoon from BTOB and Eunsu from MYTEEN play it.
It’s hard not to see why whenthis business simallows players to manage every complicated aspect of idol management. Scouting, recruitment, training, and keeping idols out of scandals fall under the player’s control. Players must also take care of administrative tasks like developing their agency’s office on top of arranging appearances, albums, and concerts.
Owing to its art style,Monthly Idolhas deep customization options for its male and female units. It also has many references to the Korean idol industry, which can appeal to K-pop fans craving for a deep business sim.
Idol Managerwas a Kickstarter project that had an initial release date target of 2018. Backers were initially attracted to indie game studioGlitch Pitch’s maiden game for promising a sim that reflected ruthless truths in theJapanese idol industry.
Much like real companies, players can stick their talent to measly $36 or ¥5,000 weekly salaries, forbid relationships to avoid scandals, and put talents on hiatus to manage meltdowns, among other familiar tactics. Some may say its difficulty makes it the “Dark Soulsof idol sims”, but players can opt for a lower difficulty in story mode or go into free play.
10ANTZ
Sengoku A Livecombines three great time and money sinkers for the anime and gaming community in one game. Warlords from Japan’s Sengoku era are whisked away, isekai-style, to modern-day Shibuya. Instead of finding a way back, they decide to continue their race to unify Japan under their banner through music instead of war.
Isekai, otoge (otome game or girl’s game), and idol rhythm meet in this multimedia franchise. Precise taps, slides, and flicks will unlock more of the main and character stories, in addition to finishing events. SMS, in-game merch, and cards are also available for collection.
With the death ofLove Live! School Idol Festival ALL STARScomesSchool Idol Festival 2 MIRACLE LIVE!InSIF 2,players are tasked to select either μ’s, Aqours, Nijigasaki, or Liella as their starter unit and the unit from which they’ll receive their first Ultra Rare unit.All unit songsare available for play and unlocking, along with new songs and features to surprise novice and returning players.
SIF 2was released in Japan back in April. Erstwhile global fans are already racking up impressive combos in this version, but publisherBushiroadannounced the release of several international versions. An English, Korean, and Traditional Chinese version are in the works with a pending release date.
