Jacob (2016)

Developer: Duck Duck Zeus
Publisher: Centre For Longitudinal Studies
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Casual, Free To Play, Indie, Strategy
Rating: 1.9 of 5, 100 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 9 minutes
Where to get it: Steam

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The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

a brief, contemplative puzzle experience where real social research shapes the difficulty, set against silhouette landscapes and an uplifting score.

minimalistthoughtfulmeditativecasualscientificemergentreflective

What players say

Players say the social commentary about inequality is undercut by poor gameplay. The ladder-building puzzle is repetitive, the controls are finicky, and the timer feels punishing without clear feedback.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.