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By Khloe Wilkerson

Imagine stepping into the worn-out shoes of an editor in 1930s New York City, managing a newspaper during the Great Depression. Developed by Sparrow Night, News Tower places players in the chaotic, high-pressure world of journalism, an environment where financial struggles and tough decisions are constant. While running a paper sounds like a dream, it’s a grind: the game quickly puts you into the complexities of managing a newsroom and navigating the turbulent economic landscape.

As an editor inheriting a family-run newspaper, I was tasked with rebuilding it into a profitable publication. From hiring reporters to maintaining office operations, every choice impacted my success. Stories span various categories—crime, politics, entertainment—and you must assign reporters with relevant skills to each, racing against deadlines to print your paper by Sunday. Balancing employee satisfaction, managing workloads, and avoiding burnout is crucial: If your workers aren’t happy, they’ll leave, threatening the paper’s survival. I had to handle this delicate balance, as each employee’s productivity and morale affected the final product.

The core categories of stories are supplemented by additional tags, such as heartbreak or triumph, which can be strategically grouped to boost excitement and sales. Completing district and hidden agenda tasks earns you influence points, allowing you to further shape your paper’s direction. These agendas introduce moral dilemmas, like working with the mafia or political figures, which add layers of complexity to your choices. Sometimes these decisions come with immediate consequences—like when the mafia comes to destroy your office after you make the “wrong” editorial choice.

In the early stages, the complexity of balancing finances, employee satisfaction, and editorial decisions can feel overwhelming. I found myself deep in debt, unsure of how to proceed, and it took several attempts before I fully grasped the game’s systems. The trial-and-error process is part of the experience, as each failure teaches you something new about the delicate balance of managing a newsroom. This learning curve is a key feature of News Tower, reinforcing the game’s dedication to realism in depicting the challenges of running a newspaper during the Great Depression.

What sets News Tower apart is its immersion into 1930s New York. The game does an excellent job of embedding players in the political and economic chaos of the time, using real-world events—like protests, strikes, and political unrest—to challenge editorial decisions. Historical figures such as President Hoover also provide context for the financial and political turmoil of the era. The game’s setting and plotlines are tied directly to the realities of the Great Depression, adding a level of historical accuracy that makes the experience feel even more authentic.

The attention to office management is particularly noteworthy. Keeping your staff comfortable is essential, as factors like noise, heat, and smell directly affect productivity. If you fail to address these, your team’s efficiency declines and the quality of your paper suffers. You’ll need to provide the right equipment and ensure that your team gets adequate breaks, but this comes with a financial burden. For example, sending reporters into areas with high crime rates can be dangerous: after sending a reporter into a particularly rough district, a group of burglars destroyed my newsroom, forcing me to spend a fortune on repairs. It’s a constant juggling act between investing in your business and covering unexpected setbacks.

Despite these challenges, the game offers a satisfying sense of progression. As you gain experience, your employees’ skills improve, making tasks more manageable. The pressure eases slightly as you get the hang of assigning the right people to the right tasks. Eventually, upgrades to your office space also enhance productivity. What was once a cramped, disorganized room turned into a more efficient, spacious newsroom. These upgrades not only benefit your employees but also reflect the growth of your newspaper, making the development feel like a meaningful part of your journey.

However, the game isn’t without its frustrations. The complexity and management-heavy nature can feel overwhelming, especially when starting. It took me a few attempts to learn the ropes, and even then, there were moments when I felt like I was barely keeping my head above water. But once I understood the mechanics, the challenge became more rewarding. The game rewards patience, strategic thinking, and the ability to adapt quickly – just like journalists and publishers do. So the frustrations are part of the process of mastering the game.

The historical setting is one of the game’s strongest features. News Tower brings the Great Depression to life, showing the difficulties of running a business in such a volatile period. Protests, strikes, and political movements reflect the era’s tensions, and you’ll often be forced to decide which stories to cover—each with potential consequences. The inclusion of real historical figures, like President Hoover, adds depth to the narrative, grounding your decisions in the broader context of the time. It also forces you to consider the political and social ramifications of your coverage, making every decision feel like it matters.

The art style is another standout. The game’s design fully captures the gritty atmosphere of 1930s New York. The newsroom, with its worn-down desks and overflowing piles of paper, feels like a living, breathing entity. Dimming lights and cluttered workspaces add to the sense of urgency as deadlines loom.

The environment evolves with me: Early on, the office is cramped and disorganized, but upgrading your space symbolized the growth of my paper. These visual cues help reinforce the feeling that my efforts are paying off – big time.

Sound design also plays a crucial role in enhancing the twentieth-century atmosphere. The ambient hum of the newsroom, the clack of typewriters, and the occasional ringing of phones help immerse players in the experience. The soft, calming background noise contrasts with the frantic pace of gameplay, offering brief moments of respite. That said, a bit more variety in the sound design would have helped maintain immersion, especially during long stretches of gameplay. While the ambient noise sets the tone, it can become repetitive in later stages when the pressure to meet deadlines intensifies.

Despite these minor issues, News Tower succeeds as a complex, strategy-driven game. It’s not just about managing a newspaper—it’s about dealing with the personal and professional consequences of doing so during an unstable period in history. The balance of historical accuracy, management systems, and moral dilemmas creates a unique experience that’s both challenging and rewarding. It’s a game that asks you to weigh the cost of every decision, from editorial choices to business strategies.

In the end, News Tower offers an intriguing look at the challenges of running a business during one of America’s most difficult eras. It provides a deep experience for players who are willing to invest the time to learn its systems. The game demands patience, strategy, and perseverance, and those who stick with it will find a game that rewards thoughtful decision-making and offers valuable insights into the world of journalism during the Great Depression.

Bronx native Khloe Wilkerson is in her second year of high school. In middle school, she won our college scholarship twice in a row after completing our games journalism and narrative classes. 

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