Surgeon Simulator

About

"Surgeon Simulator" is a physics-based operating game where you play as a surgeon named Nigel Burke, tasked with performing various difficult surgeries on poor Bob. With over 3 million units sold and numerous award nominations, the game is known for its humor and challenging gameplay, allowing players to either save Bob or fail hilariously. The app is now available on iPhone and iPad, providing on-the-go surgery fun for players of all skill levels.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+23

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,079 reviews

humor1.2k positive mentions

stability61 negative mentions

humor
1,222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Surgeon Simulator" is characterized by its dark, slapstick comedy and absurd scenarios, where players navigate intentionally clumsy controls to perform outrageous surgeries. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to create hilarious moments through chaotic gameplay, such as using inappropriate tools or causing accidental injuries to patients. While the humor is often praised, some players note that it can wear thin over time, leading to frustration rather than sustained enjoyment. Overall, the game is seen as a unique blend of comedy and challenge, best enjoyed in short bursts or with friends.
- “This unique control scheme is the game’s defining feature, as it turns what would otherwise be straightforward tasks into challenging, often hilarious struggles.”
- “The slapstick humor is amplified by over-the-top blood loss, panicked music, and the increasingly dire situations that result from the player’s mistakes.”
- “The controls are hilariously clumsy, making every operation a comedy of errors.”
- “I realize that Surgeon Simulator is supposed to be funny and entertaining, but I don't find it funny mainly because of terrible controls.”
- “Not funny in the slightest.”
- “Not funny, more frustrating and tedious.”
gameplay
279 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
61%
11%
The gameplay of "Surgeon Simulator" is characterized by intentionally clumsy controls that create a humorous yet frustrating experience as players attempt to perform absurd surgical operations. While the novelty of its chaotic mechanics can be entertaining, many players find the gameplay repetitive and the controls overly difficult, leading to a mix of enjoyment and irritation. Overall, the game excels in providing comedic moments through its ridiculous scenarios, but it may not satisfy those seeking a more traditional or skill-based gaming experience.
- “The gameplay in 'Surgeon Simulator' is intentionally wacky and challenging, providing a unique experience that tests players' skills in a humorous way.”
- “Surgeon Simulator takes pride in its deliberately difficult mechanics, making even the simplest actions feel like monumental challenges, which adds to the comedic value of the game.”
- “The gameplay is hilariously over the top with awkward controls that only add to the enjoyment, creating memorable and funny moments during surgical procedures.”
- “However, 'Surgeon Simulator' may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer precise or skill-based gameplay.”
- “Some players may find the novelty of the controls wears off quickly, leading to repetition and frustration, particularly if they’re looking for a game that offers meaningful progression or deeper mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is horrid, with poor instructions, no real story, and the controls are the worst I've ever tried to play on.”
graphics
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
45%
9%
The graphics of "Surgeon Simulator" are characterized by a simplistic, cartoonish art style that effectively complements its comedic and absurd gameplay. While some players appreciate the clean and quirky visuals, others note that the graphics are not particularly demanding or realistic, often describing them as low-quality yet fitting for the game's humorous tone. Overall, the graphics are seen as adequate for the game's purpose, enhancing the experience without overshadowing the chaotic gameplay.
- “The graphics are clean but minimal, focusing on the essentials to ensure players aren’t overly distracted by details while they struggle with controls.”
- “Surgeon Simulator adopts intentionally quirky and somewhat crude visuals, enhancing the game's humorous and absurd tone.”
- “The combination of realistic graphics and comedic gameplay creates a stark contrast that adds to the game's comedic appeal.”
- “The controls are horrible, the graphics are low res, and the jokes are childish.”
- “I open the game and click to open the desk area, I can't read anything; it is all glitchy and has bad graphics.”
- “The controls are god awful, the sound and graphics are sub-par, and the whole thing feels like someone made this in 2 hours for a class project.”
story
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
76%
8%
The game's story is minimal and largely serves as a backdrop for its chaotic surgical gameplay, with players engaging in a series of missions that lack depth and narrative cohesion. While some players appreciate the humor and absurdity of the scenarios, many criticize the game for its lack of a compelling storyline, with missions often feeling repetitive and frustrating. Overall, the focus is more on comedic gameplay than on delivering a meaningful narrative experience.
- “The second storyline is the beautiful, heartwarming, and emotional tale of a man learning to use his hands for the first time.”
- “It even has some degree of story as you play Nigel in his quest to be a surgeon, and your phone calls reveal more about the character.”
- “Whilst the storyline is a little outrageous, the amount of fun that you'll have getting used to the controls and getting stuck right into a heart transplant far outweighs the outrageousness.”
- “This is by far the worst game I've ever played; its mechanics are terrible, the premise is lacking, there is no driving factor in the story, and it is a completely unsatisfying experience to play.”
- “There's no real storyline to this game, just a medical file full of many missions (and extras!) for you to get the most out of this title.”
- “While it may not offer deep storytelling or complex gameplay mechanics, the game's charm lies in its ability to induce laughter through surgical mishaps and absurdity.”
music
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
51%
6%
The music in "Surgeon Simulator" is widely praised for its catchy and energetic soundtrack, which complements the game's chaotic and humorous gameplay. Many players appreciate the variety of tunes tailored to different surgical scenarios, enhancing the overall experience, while some find the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's comedic and engaging atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack in Surgeon Simulator complements the chaotic nature of the gameplay.”
- “The music is lighthearted and adds to the overall comedic tone.”
- “Each song for each surgery uses their corresponding operation theme and the area’s music genre, which is a very nice touch.”
- “The music can get a little repetitive though.”
- “The soundtrack made me stop playing and gave me a headache.”
- “I'm serious; I tried to play this game and experience it but its music is so in your face and off-putting.”
stability
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous reports of glitches, bugs, and finicky physics that hinder gameplay. While some players find the comedic aspect of these issues entertaining, many express frustration over the inconsistent controls and frequent malfunctions, which detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability is a significant drawback, leading to mixed recommendations from users.
- “It runs great and does what it tries to do well.”
- “There are no glitches I know of, and it has some cool DLC and hidden levels.”
- “The actual game is buggy as all hell and items will often refuse to 'stick' to your hand when grasped, and even if you do grasp it, it will often be in a position that is utterly useless.”
- “The controls are ridiculously finicky; this game is notorious for its rage-inducing physics mechanics, glitches, and downright difficulty.”
- “Glitches and bad design decisions make it difficult and unclear how to proceed, and finicky goal conditions mean you can do everything required but still fail for no reason.”
replayability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
Surgeon Simulator offers a mixed bag of replayability, with many players enjoying the absurdity and humor that encourages experimentation with surgeries. While some find the game fun and revisit it for achievements or to improve scores, others note its limited content leads to burnout after a few hours. Overall, it has decent replay value for those who appreciate its quirky nature, but it may not sustain long-term interest for everyone.
- “Surgeon Simulator's replay value lies in its absurdity and the enjoyment derived from experimenting with unconventional surgeries.”
- “Oh, and there's definitely a replayability factor - I'm always trying to see if I can get more of the Easter egg achievements, or get a better score on my surgeries, or honestly, just returning to do the surgery again because it's so much fun.”
- “The achievements provide a ton of replayability as well.”
- “One of the game's downsides is its limited replay value.”
- “Most people will beat all challenges in 4-7 hours, and there is no replay value.”
- “I feel as though Surgeon Simulator has very limited and repetitive gameplay, giving it very little replay value.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
13%
80%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, often leading to a repetitive gameplay experience that can evoke feelings of anger rather than enjoyment. While some players appreciate the challenge and humor in the initial stages, many find that the novelty quickly wears off, making the game feel like a chore rather than a fun activity. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the overall experience, leaving players feeling overwhelmed and disengaged.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Tasks, though, are tantalizingly varied—no tedious treadmill of sameness here!”
- “It makes no sense and makes the game too tedious and difficult to process through.”
- “Gameplay is exceedingly tedious and will probably leave you with a headache.”
- “Any game that feels tedious and frustrating generally isn’t going to convince me to try and master it; a tutorial or free play would have been nice and allowed me to learn the controls, but without it, Surgeon Simulator doesn’t promise anything worth hanging around for.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of feelings, from frustration and rage to deep sadness and heartwarming moments. Players report experiencing tears and emotional breakdowns due to the game's intense narratives and challenging gameplay, while others find it both hilarious and touching. Overall, the game is described as a powerful emotional journey that can provoke strong reactions, both positive and negative.
- “I might be writing this to own a badge, but I also wanted to say how emotionally bound I feel to this game.”
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “It was a beautiful and heartwarming story about a man finding true love.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance on older hardware, others criticize it for poor responsiveness and unfinished mechanics. Issues like unchangeable mouse smoothing and subpar physics detract from the experience, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, while it can run well on certain systems, many users find it unoptimized and challenging to control effectively.
- “I haven't found any technical issues; I would think a potato could run Surgeon Simulator; it's a well-optimized game.”
- “Graphics-wise, it runs smoothly and perfectly on my early 2011 15-inch MacBook Pro.”
- “Beyond that, you can spend hours trying to improve your performance during operations in terms of blood loss or time elapsed.”
- “This game used to be fun and all, the trending game in 2013 is now just another poorly optimized comeback.”
- “It has a mouse smoothing feature that can't be changed via settings or the game isn't optimized for Logitech's Hero sensor, and that's why it looks like the arm I'm controlling takes too long to respond to my mouse commands.”
- “Not a particularly optimized game in terms of performance.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its stylized graphics and comedic elements, which create a humorous and chaotic experience. While the sound design enhances this atmosphere, the intentionally awkward controls and surgical scenarios contribute to its entertaining nature. Overall, players find the atmosphere engaging, with many noting its memorable and enjoyable qualities despite a lack of depth in medical accuracy.
- “The character models and environments are stylized, contributing to the game's comedic atmosphere.”
- “Its intentionally awkward controls, chaotic surgical scenarios, and humorous atmosphere make it an entertaining and memorable experience.”
- “Of course the game doesn't carry a heavy emphasis on medically accurate procedures, but the excellent soundtrack and overall atmosphere is outstanding.”
- “While not particularly memorable, the sound design effectively enhances the game's atmosphere and contributes to the humor.”
- “A good few shakes will get it off, but I'm not really feeling how this helps the atmosphere or humor of the game.”
- “Atmosphere 6/10”
monetization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is heavily criticized, with users labeling it a cash grab that relies on aggressive advertising for DLC and leveraging YouTube influencers for promotion. Many feel the game lacks substance and is merely a meme, created quickly for profit rather than genuine entertainment. Overall, the monetization strategy is seen as exploitative and detracting from the gaming experience.
- “This game is not a game; it's a cash grab.”
- “It gets boring fast, plus the dev team never stops advertising their DLC in the update news.”
- “It's one of those worthless 'lmao' meme games and shameless cash grabs that was literally made in two days.”