Popular Steam game Prison Architect, which was originally released in October as part of Steam's Early Access program, is making its way to the Mac App Store today through a partnership between developer Introversion Software and MacPlay.


Prison Architect is a top-down simulation game where the goal is to build and run a successful prison. Players are tasked with building cells, recruiting prisoners, hiring staff, establishing utilities, developing prisoner schedules, managing entertainment and reform programs, and keeping prisoners from escaping.

Prison Architect features two game modes -- story and escape. In story mode, the player follows the story of Edward, a man who is facing the electric chair for committing a crime of passion, while in escape mode, the player takes on the role of a prisoner attempting to escape from the prison.

On the Mac, Prison Architect requires 4GB RAM, a Core2 Duo processor or better, and 300MB hard drive space.

In addition to being available in the Mac App Store, Prison Architect can also be played on the iPad, as an iOS version of the game was released earlier this year.

The Mac App Store version of Prison Architect is priced at $29.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

ikir Avatar
107 months ago
Better to buy on steam. AppStore doesnt have mods
AppStore have family sharing and it doesn't crash like Steam :P Also Valve seems to think last MacOS is Mavericks. It amaze me how bad is Steam (I also on PC) considering the potential.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jinnj Avatar
107 months ago
I backed this game years ago when it was just an idea, before any code had been released. I'm really glad they continued to work on it and it has come so far.

If you liked Theme Hospital, Theme Park, Zoo Tycoon or Rollercoaster Tycoon you will likely enjoy this game.
I really like this game. I stopped playing only because I get hooked on it and before you know it, it 4am and even on the weekends the kids are up early!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
H2SO4 Avatar
107 months ago
AppStore have family sharing and it doesn't crash like Steam :p Also Valve seems to think last MacOS is Mavericks. It amaze me how bad is Steam (I also on PC) considering the potential.
Interesting that, I have never and I do mean never had Steam crash out on me. Each to their own but I'll stick to Steam also. Much better model, I can play that title, (if it's cross platform), on Mac, PC, Steambox. Also going to the Steam Store more often than not yields regular discount.
I do however applaud them for making it available to those that want to buy from the Mac (cr)App store.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Eorlas Avatar
107 months ago
Signal boosting the prospect of purchasing this on Steam instead of the Mac app store.

Prison Architect is one of those titles that on Steam will allow you to play it on Windows, OS X, and SteamOS (should that be relevant to you) after you buy it once. Steam also has major sales running midweek, weekends, and around major holidays so you can grab this at a more convenient price.

Not sure why some of the people here are having issues with Steam on OS X; personally I've been using it cross-platform for a long time with no issues. On my last plane trip I brought my 15" MBP with a DS4 controller and played a bunch of games I had already installed on Steam.

Overall it just seems like a more wise investment.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ZacNicholson Avatar
107 months ago
Better to buy on steam. AppStore doesnt have mods
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TechZeke Avatar
107 months ago
AppStore have family sharing and it doesn't crash like Steam :p Also Valve seems to think last MacOS is Mavericks. It amaze me how bad is Steam (I also on PC) considering the potential.
Steam is horrific on Mac. You'd think since Valve is making boatloads from steam that they'd put more effort into it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

ios 26 1 slide to stop

iOS 26.1 Brings Back 2007 Feature in New Way

Friday October 31, 2025 1:40 pm PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a small but helpful change for iPhones, and it could prevent you from running late to something important. Specifically, when an alarm goes off in the Clock app, there is a new "slide to stop" control on the screen for turning off the alarm. On previous iOS 26 versions, there is simply a large "stop" button, which could be accidentally tapped. The new ...
iOS 26

6 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 26.1

Wednesday October 29, 2025 4:22 am PDT by
Apple is about to drop iOS 26.1, the first major point release since iOS 26 was rolled out in September, and there are at least six notable changes and improvements to look forward to. We've rounded them up below. Apple has already provided developers and public beta testers with the release candidate version of iOS 26.1, which means Apple will likely roll out the update to all compatible...
M5 MacBook Pro

Waiting for New Macs? Apple Just Shared Bad News

Friday October 31, 2025 7:32 am PDT by
Apple has just given a strong indication that it will not be releasing any additional new Macs for the remainder of the year. Apple's CFO Kevan Parekh dropped the hint during the company's earnings call on Thursday:On Mac, keep in mind, we expect to face a very difficult compare against the M4 MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac launches in the year-ago quarter.Parekh essentially gave a heads up ...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 Coming Soon: New Features for Your iPhone and Release Date

Monday October 27, 2025 7:55 am PDT by
The upcoming iOS 26.1 update includes a handful of new features and changes for iPhones, including a toggle for changing the appearance of the Liquid Glass design, "slide to stop" for alarms in the Clock app, and more. Below, we outline key details about iOS 26.1. Release Date Given that Apple has yet to seed an iOS 26.1 Release Candidate, which is typically the final beta version, the...
iPhone 17 Pro Cosmic Orange

8 Reasons to Wait for Next Year's iPhone 18 Pro

Thursday October 30, 2025 4:42 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
maxresdefault

Apple TV 4K Could Still Launch Before 2025 Ends: All the Rumored Features

Monday October 27, 2025 4:51 pm PDT by
Apple is designing an updated version of the Apple TV 4K, and rumors suggest that it could come out sometime in the next couple of months. We're not expecting a major overhaul with design changes, but even a simple chip upgrade will bring major improvements to Apple's set-top box. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. We've rounded up all the latest Apple TV rumors. ...
Coffee Burgundy and Purple iPhone 18 Pro Mock 1

Leaker Outlines Potential New Colors for iPhone 18 Pro

Friday October 31, 2025 8:28 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro models could be available in new rich and warm color option, according to a known leaker. The Weibo user known as "Instant Digital" today suggested that next-year's iPhone 18 Pro models will be available in at least one of the following color options: Coffee, purple, and burgundy. The iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 12, iPhone 14, and iPhone 14 Pro were all available in ...
ipad mini 7 feature blue

OLED iPad Mini: Release Date, Pricing, and What to Expect

Wednesday October 29, 2025 7:13 am PDT by
Rumors are stoking excitement for the next-generation iPad mini that Apple is reportedly close to launching. So what should we expect from the successor to the iPad mini 7 that Apple released over a year ago? Read on to find out. Processor and Performance Apple is working on a next-generation version of the iPad mini (codename J510/J511) that features the A19 Pro chip, according to...
Apple Foldable Thumb

iPhone Fold: Launch, Pricing, and What to Expect From Apple's Foldable

Friday October 31, 2025 8:52 am PDT by
Apple is expected to launch a new foldable iPhone next year, based on multiple rumors and credible sources. The long-awaited device has been rumored for years now, but signs increasingly suggest that 2026 could indeed be the year that Apple releases its first foldable device. Below, we've collated an updated set of key details that have been leaked about Apple's foldable iPhone so far. Ove...