Side Effects is a minimalist survival game where each decision can mean life or death. The concept is simple: you are a test subject in a drug trial, and your only task is to swallow pills. But every pill has unknown consequences. Some might raise your resistance, others might reduce it, and some could be instantly lethal. There is no story to guide you—only your ability to make decisions based on incomplete information. Each playthrough is a short, tense encounter with chance and strategy.
Pill Selection and Hidden Risk
The core of the game is turn-based. In every round, a player picks one pill from a small pool. None of the pills are labeled, and their effects are randomized. After each turn, your resistance level shifts. Once resistance hits zero, the session ends. As you survive longer, a tolerance mechanic begins to reduce the positive effects of pills, forcing you to think ahead and track patterns in outcomes. There is no perfect move—only a better guess.
Strategic Tools and Survival Mechanics
To aid survival, players can occasionally use items. These are limited in quantity and add new dimensions to play. A well-timed item can reverse damage, block a harmful effect, or delay tolerance. Deciding when to use them becomes part of the game’s tension. The wrong item at the wrong time might mean wasting your only chance at survival.
The main features include:
· A resistance meter that determines survival
· Randomized pill effects that change each session
· A tolerance system that evolves with each turn
· Limited tools to influence outcomes
· No save system—each session is final
A Controlled Environment
Visually, Side Effects uses a clean and clinical design. The layout resembles a sterile medical interface, with no distractions or narrative elements. Audio cues are minimal, with each sound serving a mechanical function. This sparse atmosphere reinforces the idea that you are simply a subject being observed, with no comfort or context to fall back on. The lack of storytelling shifts all focus to the mechanics and choices.
Designed for Repetition
Each game lasts only a few minutes, but outcomes vary greatly depending on luck and how you adapt. The game rewards careful risk assessment and memory rather than reflexes. Over time, you may begin to recognize certain patterns or develop your own approach to managing unknowns. Whether played solo or against a second player, Side Effects is designed to explore how long you can survive under pressure—and what kind of decisions you’re willing to make when nothing is certain.
