Capitalism Is Even Scarier Than Usual In This New Horror Game

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A swift internet search reveals numerous accounts of challenging experiences at Amazon warehouses: Workers often complain about hazardous conditions, burnout being common, and intrusive monitoring systems that make workers feel like they’re machines on an assembly line. In essence, it’s a tough situation. However, despite its grim appearance, in Order 13, working in such an Amazon-like warehouse serves as the foundation for a classic horror narrative.

Among several contemporary horror games, Order 13 employs real-world workplace struggles as a chilling setting for its scares. Lethal Company critically mocks the relentless pursuit of unattainable targets, eventually leading to permanent job losses, symbolized as death. In 7 Minutes in Hell, the theme of greed is portrayed dramatically, where one’s gain comes at the cost of others or even their own well-being, presented within a unique blend of Supermarket Sweep and Lovecraftian horror elements.

In much the same way, Order 13 transports you into a colossal warehouse that resembles an Amazon facility, where the target for productivity consistently rises, while there appears to be something inexplicably scurrying through the shadowy hallways at night.

A unique aspect of Order 13 is that it doesn’t merely employ the environment as a mere setting for the creature lurking in its depths. Instead, it integrates simulation gameplay elements, requiring you not only to dodge a predator chasing you and your customizable cat, but also to carry out your work duties at the Jolly Box Company simultaneously.

On my initial day at work, I was tasked with mastering the process of printing an order, locating inventory in a vast, dimly lit storage facility, packaging it, filling it with styrofoam peanuts, sealing it, labeling it, and sending it out. Performing these tasks efficiently would help me earn more and make reaching my target easier. However, if I made mistakes – say, forgetting the required amount of packing peanuts in my first order – my income would be affected negatively.

Similar to Lethal Company, the earnings I garnered served not only to meet my target and wrap up the workday. It also enabled me to invest in enhancements, such as a flashlight, which proved crucial due to the warehouse’s dim lighting conditions. However, each penny spent posed a challenge in reaching my quota, making it essential for me to weigh the level of self-imposed hardship against the necessity of maintaining both my job and my life.

Regardless of the upgrades I earned, the growing limit and the impending threat constantly pushed me to work swiftly and productively. Every moment counted, as if there were no room for pauses. If the game incorporated features allowing for breaks, I would have been unable to take them. The comparison may not be subtle, but it gets the job done and remains entertaining.

I must admit, despite the packing office serving as a sanctuary from the monster, it’s far from comfortable. It may be a safe space, but it certainly doesn’t invite warmth. In this small room where I’d pack and ship boxes, there’s a bed that has become my nightly resting place. Each in-game day concludes with me retiring to sleep, under the watchful gaze of the company mascot, who seems friendly enough, but doesn’t quite make me feel at ease.

Could this portrayal of poor work-life balance be an overstatement? It certainly appears so. While Amazon and similar jobs may seem extremely demanding, I highly doubt that hourly warehouse workers are actually sleeping on the job site. However, considering the reported stress and negative impact such a job can have, many of these workers might unknowingly carry their work-related emotions home with them.

This setup fosters an engaging gameplay pattern: Venture into a mysterious, maze-like warehouse inhabited by some peculiar creature, then make a hasty escape (keeping in mind your limited endurance) towards the comforting radiance of my office. Here, it serves as both a miniature stage for capitalist nightmares and a place where I put in long hours, working tirelessly throughout much of the day before grabbing a quick rest in a lumpy bed hidden within my work area.

It seems that’s the purpose of Order 13. The monster is undeniably real, and death is indeed a possibility, much like the everyday struggle faced by many workers. They exist in a state where they merely survive each day, performing only what is necessary to reach tomorrow, but never enough to escape from their difficult circumstances – whether it’s a haunted warehouse or not – that story is chilling on its own.

Order 13 is out now on Steam.

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2025-03-10 21:09