While a quick Google search for `job simulator` might primarily bring up the 2016 VR title `Job Simulator,` this result hardly reflects the vast array of simulation games exploring the intriguing question: can work actually be enjoyable?
Game developers have long drawn inspiration from the workplace, evident in titles ranging from `Microsoft Flight Simulator` to `Overcooked.` However, in recent years, these games have seen a dramatic surge in visibility. This rise is partly attributable to effective marketing on platforms like TikTok and Twitch, where content creators frequently role-play as virtual cashiers or managers, sparking curiosity about the widespread appeal of these unconventional games.
`PowerWash Simulator` unexpectedly achieved immense sales and popularity, thanks to its calming cleaning mechanics. Lead designer Nick McCarthy revealed in an email that although the satisfying act of cleaning is crucial to the game`s identity as an `anti-first person shooter,` the development team initially contemplated incorporating business management features.
McCarthy explained, “During the initial development phases, we delved into more complex business management systems. However, as the washing mechanics matured, we recognized the profound satisfaction derived from simply cleaning things.” He continued, “It became evident that `PowerWash Simulator` truly excelled as a tranquil, fulfilling, and straightforward experience, enabling players to concentrate solely on washing, free from the typical pressures and responsibilities of managing a business.”
As McCarthy highlighted, the enjoyment stems from assessing tasks and devising efficient ways to accomplish them. This offers a sense of relief for players seeking to relax and progress steadily towards a goal. Freed from logistical worries like purchasing equipment, securing clients, expanding operations, or even needing to generate profit, the core motivation for playing is simply to complete a task with maximum efficiency.
McCarthy observed, “I`ve witnessed amusing instances of streamers and YouTubers playing cooperatively—some indulging in chaotic pressure washer battles, or leaving messages and drawings in the grime for others to discover.” He added, “Others utilize it as a wholesome platform to connect, converse, and simply relax together. It’s also been wonderful to see our community collaborate to complete challenging tasks. Given that some jobs are extensive and time-consuming, it’s not uncommon for players to request assistance on Reddit or the PWS Discord. It’s both heartwarming and humorous to think that a mutual passion for eliminating every speck of dirt and grime might lead to new friendships.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, a recent Pew Research Center survey indicated that roughly half of Americans report job satisfaction. For most, employment serves primarily as a means to an end, with personal fulfillment taking a backseat as long as they earn enough to live. Yet, over 67% express high satisfaction with their colleagues. This statistic suggests that workplace camaraderie often makes difficult jobs tolerable, even amidst the less appealing aspects of labor. This offers a compelling reason for the allure of simulation games: they provide the pleasure of achievement without the mandatory pressure of actual work, allowing for pure, unadulterated satisfaction.
While `PowerWash Simulator` stands out as a soothing, low-stress game, titles like `Drug Dealer Simulator 2` (yes, there`s a sequel) blend the mechanics of illicit trade with intricate time management and business expansion. When I sought lead developer Rafal Pęcherzewski`s perspective on job simulators, his response was notably pragmatic.
Pęcherzewski articulated, “At their core, video games are essentially a collection of puzzles and challenges. Some test our intellect, while others demand skill, quick reflexes, and adaptability.” He drew a parallel to real-world professions: “Most jobs involve similar elements: tasks, challenges, problem-solving, and diverse activities. Job simulation games merely represent an arbitrary category we use to distinguish them from other game genres.”
Simulation games possess the distinct advantage of customizing player experiences to virtually any job or scenario they wish to mimic. The potential for new games is as boundless as the array of real-world professions that can be adapted—from airline pilots and drug dealers to chefs, cashiers, document inspectors, morticians, and zookeepers. Moreover, developers can choose from various levels of complexity for each simulation.
Consider farming: a profession typically demanding significant labor. Games have interpreted this through diverse styles. `FarmVille,` for instance, focuses on agricultural management intertwined with social media. In contrast, `Farming Simulator` aims for a realistic portrayal, detailing equipment operation and a dynamic economy. `Ranch Simulator` streamlines farming methods but emphasizes hands-on animal and plant care. Even non-simulator games like `Stardew Valley` and `Harvest Moon` allow players to immerse themselves in a charming, `Animal Crossing`-esque farming existence.
An increasing number of publishers, including Astragon Entertainment, Excalibur Games, Movie Games, and PlayWay, are now specializing in simulation games. Their extensive and highly specific game libraries demonstrate a clear demand for niche job simulators and highlight the significant impact these games have on their players.
My email exchange with Yvonne Lukanowski from Astragon illuminated the escapism offered by diving into simulation games. Surprisingly, I discovered that many players are drawn to simulations that mirror their actual professions.
Lukanowski explained, “Players are attracted to simulation games for various reasons. A significant portion of our audience works in the very professions we simulate, such as firefighters, bus drivers, construction workers, and police officers. They appreciate the opportunity to execute familiar tasks and delve into aspects of their jobs they might not encounter daily, like operating different vehicles or navigating diverse situations. Furthermore, enthusiasts of action, competitive, or RPG genres sometimes turn to simulation games for mental relaxation. The deliberate pace and systematic gameplay offer a welcome respite from more strenuous genres, thereby broadening the appeal of simulation games to a wider demographic.”
Intriguingly, some of the most captivating games are those that appear unexciting on the surface. While `Grocery Store Simulator` and `Police Simulator` seem worlds apart, they share a subtle connection: both can be as engaging as the player desires. The grocery simulator, for instance, might become a role-playing experiment where players discover the price ceiling for a can of soup before NPCs balk. The police simulator, conversely, can replicate how routine work can foster an obsessive focus on the countdown to a shift`s conclusion.
However, the inherent monotony of an activity doesn`t necessarily preclude enjoyment. Pęcherzewski elaborates, “In my experience, `boring` is highly subjective. I`ve met individuals who find Tarantino films dull and overly dialogue-driven, a view I personally dispute but can comprehend. What one person finds engaging, another might find frustrating or tedious. Some enthusiastically spend twelve hours fishing serenely, while others prefer parachuting, and many fall somewhere in between. Furthermore, for those whose daily lives are packed with exhilarating, complex, or demanding tasks, the simple act of relaxing in a virtual garden, performing satisfying yet repetitive chores, and accumulating points offers a welcome sanctuary after a challenging day. Games fundamentally serve as simulated experiences, and individuals pursue a vast spectrum of emotions and sensations within them.”
Work, by its very definition, involves effort, and at times, it fulfills a desire for order and control. However, real-world socioeconomic factors often hinder enjoyment or genuine self-expression in many professions. The booming market for job simulation games is understandable when viewed alongside the widespread anxiety concerning labor. Developers, publishers, players, and critics alike are contemplating the viability of our current societal trajectory, and job simulation games serve as a testament to these prevailing concerns.