The Salesman

About

The Salesman is a single player simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by James Zilberman and was released on November 13, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

The Salesman is a psychological horror adventure that plunges you into corporate terror as you lose your job and scramble to find a new one. Set in a haunting suburban world, it combines eerie analog horror with dark satire on consumerism and modern life. Navigate unsettling environments while engaging in bizarre, fully voiced interactions with the persistent salesman.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 559 reviews

story26 positive mentions

monetization61 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of humor and horror, with many players finding it both funny and genuinely scary at times.
The storytelling is engaging, with clever satire on consumerism and the job market, resonating well with players.
The Salesman character is well-received, adding charm and a memorable presence to the game.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks interactivity, with many tasks feeling drawn out and tedious.
The game is very short, typically completed in under an hour, leading to some players feeling it doesn't provide enough content for the price.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues, including problems with mouse sensitivity and unresponsive interactions.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The game's story is praised for its compelling narrative, humor, and commentary on modern consumerism, though many players feel it is hampered by repetitive gameplay and a lack of depth. While some find the storytelling engaging and atmospheric, others criticize it for being too linear and short, with a desire for more interactive elements and character development. Overall, the story is seen as the standout feature, but it leaves players wanting more in terms of gameplay and exploration.
- “It has amazing storytelling with great humor and perfect timing with the actual horror.”
- “The story is amazing, the environment is great, the voice acting is great, but what do you... do exactly?”
- “Beautiful little story of existential corporate dread.”
- “The story has potential, but the gameplay waters it down.”
- “The gameplay is overly repetitive and boring, and the story is boring and predictable.”
- “The story itself makes no sense.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it both hilarious and well-timed, often blending effectively with the horror elements. While some reviews note that the game is short, the comedic writing and quirky details, including memorable characters like the salesman, contribute to an enjoyable experience. However, a few players feel that the humor sometimes overshadows the horror, leading to mixed opinions on the overall balance of the game.
- “I have not laughed that hard in so long, it was both scary and hilarious.”
- “The atmosphere is unsettling like 85% of the time and absolutely hilarious the other 15%, but that 15% of funny is gold.”
- “This game is visually striking, charming, very unique, and a perfect combo of hilarious and terrifying when you stop to think about it.”
monetization
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the humor and creativity of the ads, which serve as a satirical commentary on consumerism and corporate culture. However, some users found the overwhelming number of unskippable ads and repetitive gameplay to be annoying, detracting from the overall experience. While the ads are often seen as the highlight, their excessive presence can lead to frustration, suggesting a need for better balance in the game's design.
- “There is no horror, no game, just a story about a fake ad company surrounded by ads from other games the devs have made.”
- “The advertisements were horrendous.”
- “I like the goofy ads, the jabs at what the job market and tech world are becoming, and it genuinely made me hate ads even more by the end of it.”
gameplay
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
73%
16%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it overly repetitive and lacking depth, often describing it as a walking simulator with minimal interaction. While some appreciate the psychological elements and narrative integration of the gameplay, others criticize its short length and monotonous tasks, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as simplistic and drawn out, with a few moments of interest but ultimately failing to engage players fully.
- “The gameplay follows a grounded, walking-simulator structure, but the choices you’re asked to make carry a surprising psychological weight.”
- “Graphically, it's about what you'd expect from a basic Unity game, but the bones are there, and the gameplay is very much putting you into a small routine and ultimately making little tweaks while giving you that existential fear - not so much about existing, but the pain of existing.”
- “Even though the gameplay was intentionally bland, it felt new and interesting.”
- “Its mostly just a walking sim, and the gameplay is way too repetitive and boring.”
- “The gameplay is extremely boring and repetitive, and I almost fell asleep while playing it.”
- “The general gameplay loop is walking around the house and doing tasks, and another problem is that you are so slow.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The music in the game has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly highlighting the end credits song, which many users describe as "fire" and a "banger," expressing a strong desire for it to be available on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify. While some players found the gameplay repetitive, they consistently praised the soundtrack for enhancing the experience, with specific mentions of how it effectively builds tension in certain moments. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
- “The credits song is absolutely fire and I need y'all to make this available on Apple Music now.”
- “The music is great (when you go where you're not supposed to, it amps up which scared the hell out of me).”
- “Peak soundtrack and I loved the game.”
- “I don't give a shit if you don't like Chick-fil-A, nor do I like the 'quirky' music and animations; it's just annoying and lazy.”
- “This game is garbage and I get it, it's their first game or whatever, but this wasn't even remotely scary and the microwave stuff was so stupid I literally put on Spotify songs just to get me through it.”
- “The end credits music is so peak; we need it on Spotify.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is predominantly unsettling, with moments of humor that provide a unique contrast, creating a memorable experience. Players appreciate the creepy and sterile environment, enhanced by strong voice acting and well-executed jumpscares, although some feel the horror elements are minimal and the gameplay can feel repetitive. Overall, the game effectively critiques corporate culture while delivering an introspective and atmospheric journey, despite its brevity and linearity.
- “The atmosphere is unsettling like 85% of the time and absolutely hilarious the other 15%, but that 15% of funny is gold.”
- “Visually, the salesman cultivates a sterile, unsettling atmosphere.”
- “For players interested in atmospheric, introspective psychological experiences, the salesman delivers a sharp and memorable cautionary tale.”
- “It was marketed as a horror game about selling your life away to a corporation but there's barely any horror to be seen, just rare moments of creepy atmosphere and one jumpscare.”
- “Disappointing because the graphics and atmosphere gave the vibes of a good low-graphic horror game.”
- “The game itself is short and sweet, but it feels hollow at times. The lack of secrets or alternative interactions outside of the linear tasks makes it feel a little empty and repetitive. However, it really sets the atmosphere of a monotonous life. If you are going to play this game, don't bother to go outside of the storyline; there isn't anything else to see. As far as horror games go, this isn't very scary, just a few spooks here and there, but it really shines on the storyline and what it means to criticize the constant creeping of corporate products in your life.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the simple, nostalgic aesthetic that aligns with its gameplay, while others criticize the low-quality visuals as disappointing. Despite the graphical limitations, many find that the design choices contribute to the game's charm and atmosphere, particularly in creating a unique experience. Overall, the visuals are seen as fitting for a basic Unity game, with some elements praised for their appeal.
- “The game is simple, simple gameplay, simple graphics, but that's what makes the game so good.”
- “Very well made, with pretty visuals, great voice acting and audio, and a lot of charm.”
- “Other than that, it was a fun time, and I liked the aesthetics.”
- “Some people point out its low-quality graphics, but I think that it's more of a design choice rather than a lack of effort.”
- “Graphically, it's about what you'd expect from a basic Unity game, but the bones are there, and the gameplay is very much putting you into a small routine and ultimately making little tweaks while giving you that existential fear - not so much about existing, but the pain of existing.”
- “Disappointing because the graphics and atmosphere gave the vibes of a good low-graphic horror game.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with multiple users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players found the issues manageable and not game-breaking, others experienced frustration to the point of abandoning the game. Overall, the consensus suggests that the developers need to address these stability issues to enhance the gaming experience.
- “This game is very buggy to the point where I gave up before finishing the first day, and I am very sad about this fact as I think I would have liked this game.”
- “It's honestly a very buggy and boring mess.”
- “I bought this game to support the Bad Ideas Productions, and at the moment it's a little... buggy.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it requires an excessive time commitment that feels tedious and repetitive, particularly in the early stages. Many feel that this grind detracts from the overall enjoyment and progression of the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Same with taking the garbage can out, the first 3 days are all the same and add nothing to the game but make it more tedious, like most other things in the game.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, characterized by a range of feelings from laughter to tears, as they become invested in the characters' journeys. The psychological horror elements, enhanced by strong voice acting and writing, effectively evoke feelings of paranoia and unease, culminating in a reflective and impactful ending. Overall, the game fosters a strong emotional connection that resonates with players long after they finish.
- “You begin to feel complicit in your character’s situation, and this emotional involvement gives the ending, understated though it may be, a sharply reflective punch.”
- “I loved the way the psychological horror was handled here; psychological horror is my favorite, and the voice acting and writing is what made me feel the paranoia throughout the whole game.”
- “I like how they made me feel uneasy every time I went outside.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate its smooth performance and concise gameplay, others report severe issues, including game-breaking bugs and poor overall optimization.
- “Unique storyline and theme, runs smoothly, not too long of an experience.”
- “This game is horribly optimized and has game-breaking bugs.”
- “Badly optimized”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game currently lacks replayability, with players expressing a desire for improvements before considering revisiting it.
- “It's not replayable.”
- “Once the game is a bit more playable, I'll definitely update my review, but until then, I'll just have to wait it out.”