Employee of The Month
- September 21, 2022
- CrayonMelon
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Employee of the Month" is a first-person exploration game set in a rural market store called "The Month." As a new crew member, you'll perform various tasks such as operating the cash register, stocking shelves, and helping customers. The game features retro-inspired graphics and can be played with either a mouse and keyboard or a controller. The store's unique and unsettling environments add an intriguing twist to the otherwise mundane tasks of retail work.
Reviews
- The game successfully blends humor and horror, providing a unique and entertaining experience.
- It features a high level of interactivity and numerous secrets, encouraging exploration and replayability.
- The graphics and absurd humor evoke a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of retro games while delivering a captivating story.
- The game can be tedious and repetitive, with some puzzles being overly obscure and difficult to solve without guidance.
- There are minor bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as items falling through the floor or save issues.
- The lack of basic controller options, like inverting the Y-axis, can hinder the experience for some players.
- humor22 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark, abstract, and absurd elements that resonate well with players, particularly those familiar with Gen Z humor. Reviewers appreciate the clever voice acting, hilarious details, and the balance between creepy and funny moments, making it an engaging experience that encourages exploration and replayability. Overall, the game successfully combines horror and humor, creating a unique and entertaining atmosphere.
“It's too genuine to be satire, but too funny to not be.”
“The humor is sometimes abstract, dark, or takes the form of some obscure reference, but it's always there.”
“Hilarious from start to finish, full of sometimes well-thought-out, sometimes completely absurd jokes which kept me looking everywhere for more secret and not-so-secret things to see.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simple mechanics and controls, making it accessible, yet it features challenging puzzles that can be frustratingly complex. Players may initially feel lost or overwhelmed, but as they progress, they often find the gameplay loop engaging and rewarding, with a mix of useful and unnecessary items enhancing the experience. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of simplicity and depth, reminiscent of surreal experiences like "LSD Dream Emulator."
“Interesting gameplay and super fun to get all the achievements!”
“At the start, I thought I was doing things wrong and dying all the time, but at some point, it clicked and I realized it was all part of the gameplay loop.”
“The mechanics are simple as well.”
“On the other hand, while the physical/mechanical part is deceptively simple, some of the puzzles are quite hellish and have every right to be up there with other big-name horror game puzzles.”
“You're going to eventually desensitize to the horror part of the game: it's hard to keep a scary atmosphere with this sort of graphic and the gameplay loop involved.”
- story6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as convoluted yet captivating, featuring surreal changes on a single map that enhance its eerie atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique storytelling elements, including unofficial side quests and a blend of humor and horror, alongside commendable voice acting that contributes to an entertaining experience. Overall, the narrative is both bizarre and engaging, keeping players invested throughout.
“The surreal changes that happen on one single map as the game progresses all provide a unique form of storytelling that kept me captivated in the eerie atmosphere.”
“On top of that, the game contains some actually scary moments and a weird yet interesting backstory, on top of an amazing storytelling.”
“The voice acting and the story were good, very entertaining!”
“Most convoluted story ever.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks coherence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The characters are underdeveloped, and their motivations are unclear, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as simplistic yet charming, contributing to a unique blend of retro aesthetics and horror elements. While the visuals may diminish the game's scary atmosphere over time, they complement the absurd humor and exploration aspects, making for an engaging experience. Overall, the retro style adds a distinctive flair to the game's horror theme.
“The graphics are simplistic but strangely charming.”
“This is probably the first game to include you in a store with retro graphics and a monster.”
“You're going to eventually desensitize to the horror part of the game: it's hard to keep a scary atmosphere with this sort of graphic and the gameplay loop involved.”
“This is probably the first game to include you in a store and retro graphics and a monster.”
“Familiar but unique horror game with retro graphics, somewhat absurd humor, decent horror elements, lots of things to explore and investigate, and secrets to be found.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that while the game is enjoyable, it involves tedious and repetitive tasks that can become increasingly difficult, leading to a grindy experience. Achievements may require multiple attempts, which can be frustrating if players encounter obstacles. Overall, those who appreciate grinding may find it rewarding, but it can be tedious for others.
“I love this game, but I'd only recommend it if you enjoy tedious, repetitive tasks that get harder and harder as time goes on.”
“Some sections and achievements can be a bit 'grindy' to plow through, and you might need to do them more than once if you mess up.”
“It can become very tedious if you get stuck, so my advice would be to avoid getting stuck.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is marked by a captivating eerie quality, enhanced by surreal changes that contribute to its unique storytelling. However, players may find that the horror elements become less effective over time due to the graphic style and repetitive gameplay loop.
“You're going to eventually desensitize to the horror part of the game: it's hard to keep a scary atmosphere with this sort of graphic and the gameplay loop involved.”
“The surreal changes that happen on one single map as the game progresses all provide a unique form of storytelling that kept me captivated in the eerie atmosphere.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is highly recommended for its significant replayability, particularly appealing to fans of low poly horror titles.
“I'd strongly recommend this to anyone interested in a low-poly horror title that has a lot of replay value.”
“The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique and engaging.”
“With its random events and diverse character interactions, I find myself coming back for more every time.”
