Unemployment Simulator 2018

About

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

Feature ListSurvival elements Story-driven progression Handcrafted pixel art Comedy, drama, and maybe trauma Original soundtrack by Wilson Tanner Smith About the Game How long can you survive unemployment?The year is 2018, you are trapped in a single-bedroom apartment somewhere in an undisclosed Nordic welfare state. Your objective is to survive in the mind-numbing loop of long-term …

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

story4 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Unique and surreal artistic experience capturing the mental turmoil and monotony of unemployment.
Compelling narrative with strong emotional and psychological themes, resonating deeply with many players.
Excellent pixel art, intriguing music, and creative, quirky world-building contribute to a distinctive atmosphere.

Gameplay is repetitive, simplistic, and lacks depth, which may become boring over time.
Several bugs, glitches, and occasional technical issues disrupt the experience.
The story ends abruptly with little resolution or explanation, leaving many questions unanswered.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The story is generally engaging and immersive, with moments of unexpected events that maintain interest despite some repetitiveness and an abrupt ending. It offers a realistic and heartfelt narrative, particularly relating to themes like unemployment and mental health, though its linearity and limited player impact on the plot can feel restrictive. Overall, the story is considered the game's strongest element, even if it doesn't fully compensate for mundane gameplay tasks.
- “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
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
46%
23%
The gameplay is simple, basic, and somewhat repetitive, with limited depth and mechanics that may feel too casual for hardcore survival fans. While it effectively conveys its unique, surreal experience, the gameplay lacks variety and could benefit from more engaging elements. Despite minor lag and simplicity, it remains free of bugs and visually appealing.
- “But there's enough going on gameplay wise that it kept me hooked.”
- “The game mechanics are simple and fun, but most likely a bit too casual for a die hard survival game fan.”
- “It all makes great use of its simplistic mechanics, where all you're doing is pressing buttons for mundane tasks and trying to juggle your meters, like any survival game.”
- “Though it is short and never really explores its mechanics in any depth.”
- “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.”
- “Gameplay: there honestly isn't much you can do.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The graphics feature charming pixel art and a strong atmospheric style that conveys emotion effectively, though they are somewhat rough and accompanied by bugs and optimization issues. Despite these flaws, the visuals contribute positively to the game's overall indie aesthetic.
- “Great pixel artwork.”
- “It's a short game with incredible graphics, expressing so much emotion, trauma, and surreal art.”
- “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.”
- “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 the game, just like the crude graphics!”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic, psychedelic quality that perfectly complements the disturbing and repetitive themes. It enhances the overall experience, effectively matching the crude visuals and bleak atmosphere, earning high marks from users.
- “Music is fantastic.”
- “The game music was excellent and fit well the game, just like the crude graphics!”
- “10/10 (love the music!)”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and original humor, combining quirky, funny writing with immersive storytelling. Players frequently laugh at its witty details and appreciate its surprising comedic depth beyond a typical survival simulator. Overall, the humor enhances engagement and enjoyment throughout the experience.
- “Had a good laugh numerous times, very funny idea, execution, and writing.”
- “At first glance, the game looks like a funny little survival simulator with some quirky scenes, but you soon realize you are engulfed in an immersive story that keeps you playing for 'just one more day.'”
- “It's hilarious, been playing since the minute it released.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a unique emotional experience by realistically depicting unemployment in Finland while delivering a heartfelt story about supporting the underdog. It balances humor with genuine emotional depth, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “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.”
- “It is a fun game in a weird way, a nice emotional depiction of the situation.”
- “I came for the meme, stayed for the emotional impact.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is praised for its unique, indie art style and detailed room views, creating a distinctive and immersive environment. It effectively conveys a dank, depressing mood that reflects themes of stagnation and decay, enhancing the emotional impact despite its rough edges.
- “Very indie, a bit rough around the edges, but the art style and the view of the rooms are excellent. I really like the atmosphere.”
- “It's so dank and depressing to see this decently nice apartment, a fully stocked fridge, and plenty of things to do, yet the game creates an incredible atmosphere of depression, helplessness, and getting used to living in abject filth.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is considered tedious and uninspiring, with repetitive tasks feeling unrewarding and diminishing overall enjoyment.
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally solid, with only a few minor glitches reported that do not significantly impact the overall experience.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to frequent bugs and performance issues despite its simple pixel graphics. This negatively impacts the overall experience and causes frustration among players.
- “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%
The game offers multiple endings but lacks strong replayability, as repetitive tasks may diminish the desire to play it again.
- “I don't think it was built for that sort of replayability, even with multiple endings, and the repetitiveness of the tasks will likely grate on me.”