This might be the single most controversial game we've encountered since Baby Shaker debuted on the App Store back in 2009. Okay, it's nowhere near as bad as Baby Shaker, but some folks will undoubtedly take offense to this. The game is called Karoshi, and the player is tasked with ensuring that an unhappy Japanese salaryman commits suicide by the end of the level.
The description creates expectations that the app doesn't really live up to though. The game has been available as a free download on PCs for quite a while, and after trying out the game ourselves it's almost funny how inoffensive the game really is. It's like a game of Super Mario Bros, except when you die, you win.
The backstory however, is extremely sensitive material given the suicide epidemic that has long plagued Japanese work culture. The game maker, Jesse Venbrux, provided this Wikipedia page to explain the subject of the game. "Karoshi" the page says, is a Japanese word that means literally "death from overwork."
The game has received numerous accolades during its time as a free web game. It was named "Internet Game of the Month" by the UK gaming magazine, Edge. It was also called one of the top 5 PC games of 2008 by Wired. Karoshi will be available February 9, 2011 for 99 cents.
Jesse
February 07, 2011 at 3:11pm
Hi Mac|Life,
Just to make sure I would like to add the game is more of a general comment on video games (why do we always try to survive? let's try the other way) than on Japanese culture. Though you described as much. I'd like to meet people that take offense in it.Ironically, I started working in the Japanese games industry. I have great respect for the Japanese culture.
Hope people enjoy the game and don't take it too seriously,
-the developer
