Payroll

About

"Payroll" is a Windows 95-inspired office simulation and narrative game where you play as an office worker and complete daily missions in a 640x480px, 256 color resolution with Adlib sound effects. The goal is to discover the game's purpose, and it features MIDI music, exploration, and hidden easter eggs. Recommended system specifications include a Pentium 4 with 3 GHz or better, 1.5 GB RAM, Windows XP or better, and DirectX 9. Can you survive in this corporate environment?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

humor1 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Charming and nostalgic graphics reminiscent of Windows 95, enhancing the overall experience.
Short and sweet gameplay that provides a fun and humorous take on office life, making it a great leisure game.
Multiple endings and hidden secrets add replay value, making it enjoyable for achievement hunters.

Gameplay can feel frustrating and lacks depth, with some players finding it underwhelming.
The game is very short, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Lack of dialogue and clear objectives can lead to confusion about what to do next.

graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The graphics of the game are intentionally designed to evoke nostalgia for the Windows 95 era, featuring simple mechanics and a 256-color palette that successfully captures the spirit of that time. Reviewers appreciate the unique aesthetic, describing it as beautiful and fun, while noting its resemblance to classic FPS RPG games. Overall, the retro graphics are seen as a charming selling point that enhances the game's appeal.
- “The art style and graphics are very nostalgic in my opinion, since the aim was to look like a game from the 95/98 era; the devs totally nailed it.”
- “The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
- “Graphically, while The Stanley Parable is more impressive, Payroll has a fun style that I haven't seen in a while.”
- “Payroll is basically a poor man's Stanley Parable with a Windows 95 graphics touch!”
- “The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback, and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
- “It is old school Windows graphics.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its catchy and fitting nature, particularly the MIDI soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. However, some users find it to be generic, indicating a mixed reception among players. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere.
- “Short and sweet, pulls off the software rendered/win16 look excellently, with a banging MIDI soundtrack.”
- “The build is solid, the music is catchy and fitting for the environment you're in.”
- “The music is too generic for me.”
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “Actually, I thought this game would be bad at first, but I love it; the MIDI music just makes it so much better.”
story
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's story is praised for its depth and moral lessons, emphasizing resilience in the face of adversity. Players appreciate the engaging narrative and the presence of multiple secret endings, contributing to a fantastic overall story quality.
- “Great game for the price, great story and a lot of secret endings.”
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “You can also do drugs and jump from a 10-story window.”
- “[b]Story quality:[/b] ☐ n/a - ☐ bad - ☐ average - ☐ good - ☑ fantastic”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some praising its nostalgic throwback to the Windows 95 era through simple mechanics and retro graphics, while others find it frustrating due to cryptic instructions and a lack of clarity in objectives. Overall, it is considered superior to typical cash-grab games, but still has notable shortcomings.
- “The gameplay is certainly far superior to most cash-grab achievement-based games.”
- “The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback, and captures the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
- “The gameplay is frustrating, and you are only given the most cryptic of indications of what you are supposed to be doing.”
- “As for the gameplay, the mechanics are most definitely inferior.”
- “The game is meant to feel like a Windows 95 era throwback, capturing the spirit of the era with its simple mechanics and 256-color graphics.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its smart and witty humor, providing a hilarious experience that resonates well with players.
- “What a smart, witty, hilarious game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The stability of the game is generally perceived as "almost perfect," with only minor non-game breaking bugs reported, indicating a solid performance overall. However, there are some users who describe it as a "buggy mess," suggesting that experiences may vary.
- “The game is almost perfect in terms of stability, providing a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
- “I encountered some non-game breaking bugs, but overall, the stability is impressive.”
- “The stability of the game is commendable, making it a reliable choice for players.”
- “The game is a buggy mess, making it frustrating to play.”
- “There are some non-game breaking bugs, but they still detract from the overall experience.”
- “The stability of the game leaves much to be desired.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
The presence of multiple endings enhances the game's replayability, allowing players to explore different outcomes without requiring a significant time investment.
- “The multiple endings are a nice touch; I finished them all in a short amount of time, but it still added to the replay value.”
- “Each playthrough offers new choices and experiences, making it hard to put down.”
- “The game encourages you to explore different strategies, ensuring that no two runs feel the same.”
- “Multiple endings are a nice touch; I finished them all in not too much time. However, it still added to the replay value.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back. The story doesn't change much on subsequent playthroughs.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are fun, but after a few runs, it feels repetitive and lacks the depth needed for true replayability.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted as a compelling and powerful narrative that deeply engages players, elevating the experience beyond typical gaming standards. Reviewers suggest that this emotional depth is a defining feature that resonates strongly with gamers.
- “If you've never wondered just how high (or low!!!) of a score you can rack up in a simulated 3D role-playing environment, while being involved in a powerful emotional narrative that makes Dilbert look like something for babies, well, can you really call yourself a gamer?”