Trolley Problem, Inc.

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 623 reviews
  • humor
  • story
  • graphics
Trolley Problem, Inc. Game Cover
Tackle some (in)famous philosophical problems in this choose your own ethics game.
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"Trolley Problem, Inc." is a thought-provoking simulation game that presents players with ethical dilemmas in a lighthearted yet challenging way. As the CEO of a trolley company, players must make decisions that will have serious consequences for their passengers. Navigate through various scenarios, balance profit and safety, and ponder the philosophical implications of your choices.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 623 reviews
humor69 positive mentions
monetization4 negative mentions
  • The game presents thought-provoking moral dilemmas that challenge players' ethical beliefs.
  • The humor and narration add a unique charm, making the experience engaging and entertaining.
  • The inclusion of a reading list with references for each dilemma enhances the educational value of the game.
  • The choices often feel arbitrary and do not significantly impact the overall narrative, leading to a sense of futility.
  • The narrator's constant berating can become irritating and detracts from the enjoyment of the game.
  • The game is relatively short, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • humor71 mentions

    The humor in "Trolley Problem Inc." is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its dark and thought-provoking comedic elements, while others find it falls flat or becomes overly repetitive. Some enjoy the sarcastic narration and clever dialogue, which can spark meaningful conversations, but others criticize the humor as forced or insensitive, detracting from the game's philosophical intentions. Overall, the game offers moments of genuine hilarity, but its reliance on predetermined outcomes and a lack of branching paths can lead to a sense of monotony in the comedic experience.

    • “The core concept of this game is good - throw some moral quandaries at the player and then have the narrator react humorously to the player's behavior, like the Stanley Parable.”
    • “Clever and hilarious little game that can spark some meaningful conversations.”
    • “The writing was absolutely fantastic, with some moral choices I was never and will never be prepared to make and just funny and thoughtful dialogue on the state of the world.”
    • “Your humor is fake, edgy, and not funny.”
    • “Not funny at all.”
  • story39 mentions

    The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring engaging humor and philosophical themes, but ultimately suffers from a linear narrative where player choices feel inconsequential. While some players appreciate the unexpected twists and thought-provoking dilemmas, others criticize the lack of coherence and the feeling of being an observer rather than an active participant. Overall, the story is entertaining but may frustrate those seeking meaningful impact from their decisions.

    • “The story is incredibly fun, laced with wit, and often delivers unexpected twists that keep you fully engaged from start to finish.”
    • “It started off strong with variations of the trolley problem before becoming more serious, getting a goofy tone for a while, then becoming an extremely effective existential story that really hit me in the feels.”
    • “Genuinely really great game based on the trolley problem and other, similar thought experiments, and an actually interesting story.”
    • “The story is the same no matter what options you pick.”
    • “Pretty sure the storyline is completely linear with no actual ability to influence anything.”
    • “I tried to have fun and play into it, but it really feels like the story is on a set track disregarding your choices (apart from some stats that are not relevant after 3 days).”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The game's graphics are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal and creativity, featuring clean visuals and unique art styles that enhance the overall experience. However, some players have reported issues with glitches, distracting effects, and controversial imagery that detracts from gameplay. While the visuals are often described as smooth and interesting, the presence of jarring graphic elements and accessibility concerns have led to mixed opinions among users.

    • “It's an extremely smooth, aesthetically pleasing game with a pretty clear point, in my opinion.”
    • “Great, relatively short game to test your morals, along with great to amazing visuals and fantastic audio & voice over.”
    • “The art style fits perfectly with the vibe, and the narration makes you fall in love with the game as well.”
    • “I completely agree with some people that it is awful that in the beginning the game claims there are no graphic imagery and then flashing graphic and suggestive imagery on screen, that is absolutely disgusting.”
    • “My only real complaint is the graphical-glitch style towards the end; it is done deliberately but I think it goes on too long and causes a little eye strain.”
    • “VHS static and tracking, glitch graphics, and other non-shocking and utterly moronic visual effects to give off a sense of dread as your imaginary man must face his imaginary body count and instead of being a joke proceeds to ask you about morality and free will with all the depth of that one stoner friend you hated growing up with that constantly got fired from Arby's for being too lazy.”
  • replayability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many users noting a lack of significant replay value due to limited branching paths and content. While some players find it enjoyable enough for a single playthrough or for multiplayer experiences, others feel that the steep price does not justify the minimal replay potential. Ultimately, the game may offer a fun experience, but it falls short for those seeking substantial replayability.

    • “Awesome game, very engaging and has replay value.”
    • “A good time with friends and more replay value than you'd think trying to get the achievements.”
    • “It's short, but replayable on Twitch, as well as against your family.”
    • “But the biggest downside is the 0 replay value.”
    • “Also steep price for the lack of content and replayability.”
    • “There is very little replay value to be found here because of it.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay centers on engaging players with moral dilemmas inspired by the trolley problem, fostering deep reflection while maintaining an immersive experience. It features smooth and intuitive mechanics, though some players noted a lack of significant impact from their choices on the overall narrative. While the game offers thought-provoking scenarios, it may lose appeal over time due to limited gameplay variety and certain narrative missteps.

    • “The game's core mechanic revolves around the famous trolley problem, but it takes the concept much further, presenting a series of moral quandaries that are both thought-provoking and surprisingly entertaining.”
    • “It allows you to think through your decisions carefully while still maintaining the tension that makes the gameplay so immersive.”
    • “The gameplay itself is smooth and intuitive, making it easy for anyone to jump in and start making tough decisions.”
    • “Then you could have had rankings at the end to see which of the players most commonly voted with the group, who is most contrary, whose choices would have led to the deaths of most people, etc. but even streaming it on Twitch (why they thought that was a good idea for an achievement is a complete mystery) nobody can have any impact on the gameplay other than the one player who is actually playing the game.”
    • “The narrator feels like a judgmental, almost antagonistic, voice guiding you through the questions and purposely making you second-guess yourself as a crucial mechanic to drive the game's point home.”
    • “While it is true that, save for a few exceptions, your answers to the questions do not actually have a major effect on the storyline, I'd like to note that this lack of agency is a very purposeful mechanic of the game.”
  • emotional5 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its engaging narrative that evokes a range of feelings, from humor to deep reflection, prompting players to confront personal biases and past traumas. While some players found the experience touching and thought-provoking, others felt overwhelmed by the emotional weight of their choices, leading to feelings of regret and discomfort. Overall, the game successfully elicits strong emotional responses, making it a memorable experience for many.

    • “It's got a message and a way of getting it across that I think is really engaging, sometimes touching, sometimes funny.”
    • “I cried once, laughed a lot, contacted an old friend, had past traumas dug up, and killed many children.”
    • “The extra caveats made me realize some of my own biases, and it was interesting how changing a question in small ways made me feel very different about it, even though from a moral perspective I still agreed with the same answer.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game's stability is mixed, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience, while others report a stable and bug-free performance. The presence of glitches can impact gameplay and decision-making, suggesting that stability may vary widely among users.

    • “The game is incredibly stable and runs smoothly without any bugs.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; I've encountered no issues at all.”
    • “The stability of this game is impressive; it feels polished and bug-free.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and environments; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there that detract from the experience.”
    • “The game is unstable and buggy.”
    • “The desire to wrap everything up in a single plot skewed my ethical decision-making, as an interesting choice about whether or not to develop experimental AI became moot when the AI took over the game itself, causing disturbing errors and glitches.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being misleading, as it promotes features that are not fully realized, such as cooperative gameplay without distinct vehicles. Additionally, players express frustration over intrusive advertising and the lack of meaningful choices, suggesting that the monetization approach feels exploitative rather than enhancing the gaming experience.

    • “It's equivalent to advertising a racing game as 'co-op' but you don't get separate cars, just one car that you can drive with controller A or B.”
    • “Nowhere is the game advertising that 'your choices matter/change the game'... that's just an assumption that's been drilled into us by a lot of other games with choices in it!”
    • “I'm being hunted down by the whole universe just because I lied about my product's advertisement.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users labeling it as poorly optimized, while others found it to be well-optimized, indicating a divide in player experiences.

    • “5: Well optimized”
    • “This game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent crashes and performance issues.”
    • “The optimization is a mess; I experience constant frame drops and lag.”
    • “It's frustrating how badly optimized this game is; it ruins the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is often praised for its immersive and engaging setting, with many reviewers highlighting the attention to detail and the emotional impact it creates. Players appreciate how the environment enhances the overall experience, contributing to a sense of realism and depth. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly enriches gameplay.

  • music1 mentions

    The music in the game is well-executed and contributes positively to the overall experience, although some players feel it has the potential to be even better.

    • “The writing, voice acting, and music are well done and make the game a worthwhile, if short, experience.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion.”
    • “Each track is thoughtfully composed, adding depth to the emotional moments in the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

Buy Trolley Problem, Inc.

Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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