The Tool Desk
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This assessment is based on the developer’s store descriptions and platform listings. It is not a report from hands-on play, so it does not judge pacing, writing quality, or how the branching works in practice.
The premise: an office job with cosmic stakes
Placeholder Gameworks describes Death and Taxes as a short narrative game in which you play the Grim Reaper on an office job. Your core task is to decide which people live or die, and those decisions shape the surrounding world. The developer advertises branching endings, a customizable Grim Reaper, fully voiced non-player characters, watercolor artwork, dialogue options, an upgrade shop, and an original soundtrack.
The Steam description places the game alongside Papers, Please, Reigns, Beholder, and Animal Inspector. That is the developer’s own framing of its lineage, not an independent verdict on where the game sits in the genre.
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The office activities the listing names include paperwork, pay, desk decoration, buying items, and “Talk to your boss.” That last item is the textual basis for the workplace reading.
Testing the “saying no” claim
The idea is easier to judge when you split it into its parts. The table separates what the official material establishes from what remains open.
Rank #2
- Hilarious Entertainment: Immerse yourself in the laughter-filled experience of Stupid Deaths – The Party Game designed for adults and teens aged 12 & up
- Dark Humor Delight: Perfect for those with a dark sense of humor, indulge in amusing and absurd death scenarios that will keep you entertained.
- Outsmart the Reaper: Race against the Grim Reaper in a thrilling challenge – will you conquer death or meet a comically ridiculous demise first?
- Fact or Fiction Fun: Navigate through ridiculous counts of death and engage in lively debates to discern between fact and fiction in this entertaining party game.
- Game Set Contents: Unbox a complete set that includes a game board, 6 player pawns, 1 Grim Reaper, 300 Stupid Deaths Cards, 6 True Cards, 6 False Cards, and 6 Extra Life Tokens.
| Element of the claim | What the official material establishes | What remains unestablished |
|---|---|---|
| A boss to answer to | “Talk to your boss” appears among the office activities on the Steam listing | How the boss is written, and whether the relationship carries weight beyond flavour |
| Authority over life and death | You decide which people live or die | Whether decisions are framed as following orders or as personal judgment |
| Refusing an order | Not described in the official listings reviewed | Whether refusal is possible, what it costs, and whether it changes outcomes |
| Consequences | The developer advertises “meaningful choices” and branching endings | How deep the branches go; not independently assessed |
| Effect on real-world behaviour | No such claim is made | Not applicable to the sources; the game is not presented as workplace training |
Read the phrase as the lens for judging the game, not as a feature the developer has promised.
Choices, endings, and what to look for
The Steam listing’s feature wording is “Meaningful choices,” and the developer also advertises multiple branching endings. Those claims carry the whole “saying no” reading, because a refusal only matters if the story responds to it. The official material does not say how many endings exist, what triggers them, or how far one decision carries forward.
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- The game where Death is the Life of the Party !
- How to Play: Split into two or more teams. In 45-second rounds, players pull cards and act out the cards while their team guesses the charade.
- The actor mustn't speak, but noises are very much encouraged!
- Play however many rounds you like, or until you've run out of cards, and the team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
- Free timer available in the app store for the full experience
Once you are playing, three checks will show whether the idea holds: whether a decision you disagree with can be made at all, whether the game acknowledges that choice afterward, and whether the result changes beyond the immediate scene.
Tone: watercolor, voices, and dark humour
The developer pairs watercolor artwork with fully voiced non-player characters. That combination is what could make an office setting feel distinctive rather than merely bureaucratic. Whether it succeeds is a judgment for play, and these are the questions to bring to it:
Rank #4
- A Ruthless Race to Survive – Navigate life's chaotic twists and turns, from risky jobs to unexpected disasters—just try to stay alive and financially afloat!
- Dark Humour & Edgy Fun – This outrageous adult party game is packed with unpredictable scenarios, hilarious misfortunes, and tongue-in-cheek humour
- Rockstar, Drug Dealer, or Bank Robber? – Step into the shoes of a reckless character and experience the highs and lows of life on the edge
- Not for the Faint-Hearted – With mature themes and irreverent gameplay, this is definitely not your average family-friendly board game!
- Perfect for Game Nights & Parties – Designed for 2-4 players aged 18+, The Game of Death guarantees hours of laughter and chaos at any gathering. Can also be played in groups, choose your teams wisely!
- Does the comedy of routine office tasks, such as paperwork, pay, and buying items, sit comfortably against the stakes of deciding who dies?
- Do the voiced characters carry the tone, or does the text do most of the work?
- Does the watercolor style support the dark humour, or soften it?
- Does the upgrade shop give you a reason to engage with the office routine, or is it decoration?
Content you should know about
- The developer’s mature-content note on Steam says the game discusses difficult topics and includes written mentions of death and suicide.
- Nintendo’s US listing for the Switch version adds ESRB content descriptors for drug reference, mild violence, sexual themes, and use of alcohol and tobacco.
These notes are a caution rather than a scene-by-scene guide. If written references to suicide are a concern for you, read the notes before buying.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Platforms, release dates, and price
| Platform | Where listed | Demo | Release detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Windows, macOS, SteamOS/Linux) | Steam | Free demo listed | Listing associated with a February 20, 2020 release |
| PC (Windows, macOS, Linux) | itch.io, developer page | Demo listed | Listing associated with a February 20, 2020 release |
| PC | GOG, per the developer | Not stated | Not stated |
| Nintendo Switch (digital edition) | Nintendo’s US listing; Placeholder Gameworks as developer, Pineapple Works as publisher | Not stated | September 10, 2020; one player; TV, tabletop, and handheld modes; British English, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Traditional Chinese supported |
| PlayStation and Xbox | Listed by the developer | Not stated | Not stated |
Prices and discounts change by region and date, and the Steam page showed shifting sale information. Check your regional storefront before buying. Steam also offers a downloadable soundtrack, and the developer’s homepage offers a free coloring book released March 18, 2022.
Best Value
- HILARIOUS WOULD-YOU-RATHER ADULT GAME: Would you rather lose all of your teeth or get a felony on your record? This hilarious adult game will challenge you to pick the least horrible scenario as you compete with friends. Comes with 300 disturbingly horrible scenarios meaning you'll be able to play again and again.
- EASY TO PLAY: Pick up and play in just 1 minute. Super easy to understand rules means you'll be crying and laughing with these awkward and (potentially) inappropriate scenarios in no time.
- FUNNY CONVERSATION STARTER: Some of these scenarios are surprisingly deep while others are just plain weird or gross. Build intimacy and a lot of laughs with whatever friend groups you choose to play with!
- A TWISTED GAME: This is an adult game that is not afraid of taking it too far. Don't play I Choose Death if you're afraid to contemplate some truly horrible realities. The ideal party game, we suggest playing with those 18 and over.
- GREAT FOR PARTIES AND GIFTS: The perfect would-you-rather adult card game for birthdays, parties, holidays, Halloween, White Elephant, Secret Santa, and as a unique gift! The glow-in-the-dark tombstone box and included glow-in-the-dark sticker add a unique aspect to this gift.
The developer’s sales claim
The developer reports that Death and Taxes has sold over 700,000 copies on PC. That figure is developer-reported, undated on the page reviewed, and not independently audited. Treat it as a claim of reach rather than evidence of quality.
Quick Recap
Who should try it
- Consider it if you enjoy narrative, choice-driven games of the kind the developer names, and you want a short experience rather than action-heavy play.
- Try the free demo on Steam or itch.io first, to see whether the office routine holds your interest and whether dialogue choices feel like they matter.
- Check the content notes before buying if written references to death and suicide are a concern.
- Choose PC or Switch by how you play. The sources reviewed give demo and release detail for PC and Switch only in the places noted in the table.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
