Death and Taxes

Death and Taxes is a single-player narrative-driven simulation game. The player takes on the role of a newly created Grim Reaper who works at a desk job in the afterlife. Each day, dossiers arrive on the desk detailing the lives of mortals, and the player must decide who lives and who dies based on instructions from Fate, the head of the bureau. These daily choices shape the course of the world, affecting society, the environment, and the balance of life and death.

The core gameplay revolves around reading the profiles of characters, assessing their circumstances, and marking their fate with a stamp. The number of people who must live or die is dictated by workplace guidelines, though the player may choose to follow them strictly or ignore them. Each decision carries consequences, with subtle changes unfolding in the fictional world, reported through daily news broadcasts and narrative feedback.

Progression occurs through consecutive workdays, with each day presenting new profiles, ethical dilemmas, and quotas. Currency earned from decisions can be spent in a shop run by a mysterious character, offering items to decorate the Reaper’s desk or accessories that influence gameplay. The job routine is punctuated by meetings with Fate, where dialogue choices allow the player to build a relationship with their superior or express dissent against their authority.

Secondary systems include branching dialogue and multiple endings, determined by whether the player acts as a compliant bureaucrat, a rebellious agent of free will, or something in between. Moral ambiguity is central, as no dossier provides an entirely clear picture of a character’s worth, leaving the player to weigh personal interpretation against imposed rules.

There are no combat mechanics, inventories, or traditional puzzles. Instead, the game emphasizes paperwork as its main form of interaction, complemented by role-playing elements in conversations and choices. Replayability is supported through the variety of possible world outcomes and the different fates awaiting the Reaper depending on player behavior.