Unemployment Simulator 2018

About

Unemployment Simulator 2018 is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Samuel Lehikoinen and was released on February 3, 2026. It received positive reviews from players.

Unemployment Simulator 2018 is a story-driven survival game set in a Nordic welfare state where you manage your physical and mental health while trapped in the monotony of long-term unemployment. Balance your needs like eating, hygiene, and entertainment to maintain dopamine levels and avoid boredom-induced demise. Experience dark comedy and drama in a handcrafted pixel-art world as you navigate social isolation and find escape in your dreams.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

humor5 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game captures the overwhelming feelings of unemployment and depression in a relatable and artistic way.
It features a unique narrative that blends humor with the harsh realities of life, making it an engaging experience.
The art style and atmosphere are praised for their creativity and emotional depth, contributing to a memorable gameplay experience.

The game suffers from bugs and performance issues, including lag and progress-halting glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
Many players find the repetitive tasks and lack of meaningful gameplay to be tedious and unfulfilling.
The story is criticized for being underdeveloped and not effectively addressing the themes of unemployment as expected.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's story, inspired by true events, offers a unique and immersive experience centered around unemployment in Finland, blending humor with deeper themes of mental health. While many players find the narrative engaging and the strongest aspect of the game, some criticize its brevity and lack of meaningful choices, alongside repetitive tasks that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the story manages to captivate players, keeping them invested in the quirky and sometimes surreal journey.
- “This game gives you the most realistic way of experiencing unemployment in Finland while also having a wholesome story of siding with the small ones in a huge battle.”
- “At first glance, the game looks like a funny little survival simulator with some quirky scenes, but you will soon realize you are engulfed in an immersive story that keeps you playing for 'just one more day.'”
- “The story is easily the strongest part of the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the story doesn't make up for the repetitive, mundane tasks the game throws at you.”
- “It's a bit sad that we cannot go outside of the apartment; there isn't really a story behind it either.”
- “The story is short as well.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by simple and casual mechanics that may not satisfy hardcore survival game fans, with some users noting minor lag and a lack of engaging content. While the mechanics can be fun, the repetitive nature of tasks and limited options lead to a tedious experience for many players. Overall, the gameplay is seen as basic and lacking depth, making it less appealing for those seeking a more immersive or challenging experience.
- “Some minor lag in gameplay, but nothing that hinders you from playing!”
- “The game mechanics are simple and fun, but they may be a bit too casual for die-hard survival game fans.”
- “It all makes great use of its simplistic mechanics, where you're pressing buttons for mundane tasks and trying to juggle your meters, like any survival game.”
- “The gameplay itself is very basic and not really enjoyable, so redoing days is very tedious and I'm not convinced the game pays off with what it is trying.”
- “This isn't meant to be a 'work' simulator; it's a psychedelic, incredible experience, putting to terrible, disturbing, grotesque imagery, music, and mechanics the repetitiveness, the impossibility, and the steady decline of being unemployed, of having no hope, of feeling like you don't even have the privilege to exist, let alone be part of a community.”
- “Gameplay: there honestly isn't much you can do.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, featuring charming pixel art and a strong atmospheric presence, but marred by bugs, poor optimization, and some awkward hitboxes. While the visuals convey emotion and contribute to the overall experience, they are described as rough and inconsistent, reflecting the indie nature of the game. Overall, the graphics receive a fair assessment, balancing their artistic merit with technical shortcomings.
- “Very indie, a bit rough around the edges but the art style and the view of the rooms are so good, I like the atmosphere.”
- “It's a short game with incredible graphics, expressing so much emotion, trauma, and surreal art.”
- “To make matters worse, it's poorly optimized and full of bugs, which is frustrating given the simple pixel graphics.”
- “Some bugs, weird hitboxes, and visuals that you most likely come across (at the time of writing this review), but nothing game breaking.”
- “The game music was excellent and fit well with the game, just like the crude graphics!”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and execution, providing numerous laughs through quirky scenes and an immersive story. Players find it surprisingly funny and original, with rich details that enhance the overall experience, making it more than just a typical survival simulator.
- “Had a good laugh numerous times, very funny idea, execution, and writing.”
- “It's hilarious, been playing since the minute it released.”
- “Rich in funny details and visually stunning every step of the way.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is highly praised for its excellence and strong alignment with the game's themes, enhancing the overall psychedelic and disturbing experience. Reviewers have rated the music a perfect 10/10, highlighting its effectiveness in complementing the game's crude graphics and emotional depth.
- “The game music was excellent and fit well with the game, just like the crude graphics!”
- “10/10 (love the music!)”
- “This isn't meant to be a 'work' simulator; it's a psychedelic, incredible experience, putting to terrible, disturbing, grotesque imagery, music, and mechanics the repetitiveness, the impossibility, and the steady decline of being unemployed, of having no hope, of feeling like you don't even have the privilege to exist, let alone be part of a community.”
- “Music: fair”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and unenjoyable, as the basic gameplay does not provide sufficient rewards for the repetitive tasks involved.
- “The gameplay itself is very basic and not really enjoyable, so redoing days is very tedious, and I'm not convinced the game pays off with what it is trying to achieve.”
- “Grinding feels like a chore rather than a rewarding experience, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding in this game quickly becomes monotonous, leading to frustration rather than fun.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report that the game exhibits a generally stable performance, with only a few minor glitches noted, which do not significantly impact the gameplay experience.
- “There were a couple of glitches, but nothing too wild.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy.”
- “I experienced several bugs that disrupted my gameplay.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively captures the emotional weight of unemployment in Finland, intertwining a heartfelt narrative that emphasizes solidarity with the underdog. Players find themselves drawn in by its humor, only to be profoundly affected by its deeper themes of struggle and resilience.
- “This game provides a realistic experience of unemployment in Finland, while also delivering a wholesome story about standing up for the underdogs in a massive battle.”
- “I came for the memes, but I stayed for the emotional impact.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is characterized as indie and somewhat rough, with a compelling art style that enhances the experience. Reviewers note a stark contrast between the appealing visuals of a well-furnished apartment and an overwhelming sense of depression and stagnation, creating a poignant and immersive environment.
- “Very indie, a bit rough around the edges, but the art style and the view of the rooms are so good; I like the atmosphere.”
- “It's so dank and depressing to see this decently nice apartment, a full enough fridge, and having plenty of things to do, but there's this incredible atmosphere of depression, of being unable to do more, and getting used to living in abject filth.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues and is plagued by bugs, which is particularly disappointing considering its straightforward pixel graphics.
- “To make matters worse, it's poorly optimized and full of bugs, which is frustrating given the simple pixel graphics.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers indicate that the game lacks strong replayability, as it does not seem designed for repeated playthroughs. While there are multiple endings, the repetitive nature of tasks may diminish the overall experience over time.
- “I don't think it was built for that sort of replayability, even with multiple endings and the repetitiveness of the tasks that will likely grate on me.”