While I do enjoy this game, in it's current state I only recommend it while the total lockdown bundle is on sale. Otherwise if you're just buying the base game, you're buying a gutted version of what it once was and is not nearly worth the $105 CAD total for the DLC and base game to have the "complete" experience.

Certain policies are now locked behind DLC, needs are harder to obtain without using said DLC items, and some mechanics are too modified from what they used to be to be enjoyable in the same way. Combine that with broken DLC that doesn't fully play well with the other DLC and it makes for a not-so-reliable experience.

Some consistent game breaking bugs I've encountered are:
Guard Investigation will be softlocked if your CI needs to interview a guard at a station
Certain prisoners will not be processed if interacted with before intake
Medical Tracking belt will hardlock prisoners if there is no route, even after a route is made
Items being tossed 30 (THIRTY) units over double fencing
AND MY NEW FAVORITE: Visitors ignoring logistics pathing and walking through the prison to leave. I had booths set up with clear exit/entrance to outside but they chose to break from the FANCY NEW visitors logistics path and route what could only be described as the longest possible path out of the prison. I've never had pathing issues until they added pathing logistics.

Edit: All of the above was fixed shortly after this was posted funnily enough... It was all because I didn't have the "optional" cleared for transfer DLC enabled in my other sessions.
Edit edit: Lmao nah it only worked until I paused the game and walked away for an hour. Now the issues are back in the same session.

And don't get me wrong. Prison Architect has always had bugs, but these bugs point to a greater issue. I say all this not to complain but to point out that all these issues are caused by the DLC. This is all Paradox's fault. I've been an enjoyer of prison architect from the beginning but every time I return to the series I am put off by the strange new DLC that obviously tries to compete with The Escapists, the Paradox launcher being forced in my face, a million objects that all do the same thing or nothing, and issues with one new DLC feature not interacting well with another DLC feature/new core mechanic. Not to say the game hasn't also improved over the years and have had some issues fixed, but it is clear to see what was done for the good of the game and what was done for greed. What was done for the good of the game is fleshed out and what was ruined by greed barely functions. Despite the steam hours on this profile, I've probably spent hundreds of hours playing this game back in the day, I love, and it still has that base feel it once did but with a really bad coat of paint over it now.

In the words of Vito Corleone "Look how they massacred my boy"

Prison architect is one of my favourite games of all time. It is simultaneously straight-forward (and quite easy to pick up the basics, especially with the initial Story mode) but also endlessly complex (and you can honestly learn a lot about not only prison management but about general systems and process management by playing). The game is very flexible to your own ideas, and encourages you to think in great detail about every system and to plan effectively. The graphics are truly wonderful, and the story elements are retellings of classic storybeats from historical media about prisons which draw a compelling narrative for your growing involvement in prison management. Modding can be challenging sometimes, but the ability to easily share prison save files is one of the best parts of the game.

Prison Architect is super addictive! Building and managing your own prison feels surprisingly fun and satisfying. There’s always something to do—designing cells, dealing with prisoner issues, and upgrading your facilities. It’s easy to lose track of time once you get into it.