Death and Taxes cover art

Death and Taxes

Weighing narrative choices whose hidden consequences map out over replays.

Here's the argument for where this game sits - disagree freely.
Match your experience?
EXECUTION0 /10READS0 /10VARIANCE3 /10OPTIMIZATION5 /10

the cheat-test profile

The four axes - the argument

Each axis is rated on its own - how far one cheat would trivialize the game here. They don't trade off; low on all four means the game is an experience, not a contest.

  1. Execution

    cheat: Aimbot - perfect inputs

    0/10

    Stamping papers takes no dexterity

  2. Reads

    cheat: Out-predict an adaptive opponent

    0/10

    No adaptive opponent - profiles are scripted

  3. Variance

    cheat: See what's hidden / map the RNG

    3/10

    Consequences of choices are hidden until outcomes unfold

  4. Optimization

    cheat: A perfect solver / coach

    5/10

    Mapping decision consequences to endings is the replay puzzle

How to read this

Each axis is named by the cheat that would break the game along it. Execution is the hands. Reads is out-thinking an adaptive opponent. Variance is hidden information & RNG. Optimization is the solvable systems layer. A game's region is the top one or two axes.

These four aren't one rating split four ways - they're independent 0-10 questions. A 9 on one axis takes nothing from the others, and a game low on all four isn't missing data: it's telling you there's no skill here to cheat.

The basis is how the majority actually plays this game - not a niche mode or a personal run. For a game with very different modes (a story campaign versus ranked multiplayer), that's the version most people mean.

Compare with

Similar games

see all →

Ranked by shared genre first, then by how closely the cheat-test profile matches - a cross-genre tag means a pick matched on skill profile alone.

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse cover art

Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse

Systems & Chaos · point-and-click adventure

E
R
V
O
Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's Curse
Animal Crossing: New Horizons cover art

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

Pure Optimization · life sim

E
R
V
O
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Oxenfree cover art

Oxenfree

Pure Optimization · supernatural narrative

E
R
V
O
Oxenfree
Murdered: Soul Suspect cover art

Murdered: Soul Suspect

Systems & Chaos · detective adventure

E
R
V
O
Murdered: Soul Suspect
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors cover art

999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors

Systems & Chaos · escape room visual novel

E
R
V
O
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors
Omori cover art

Omori

Pure Optimization · psychological horror RPG

E
R
V
O
Omori

Game details

Released
2020
Developer
Placeholder Gameworks
Platforms
PS4, Linux, Android, PC, Mac, XONE, Switch
Modes
Single player
IGDB critics
75/100
IGDB users
77/100
Point-and-clickPuzzleRole-playing (RPG)SimulatorStrategyAdventureIndieVisual NovelComedy