Side Effects Game

Side Effects: A Brutal Game of Pill Roulette and Survival

Side Effects is a high-stakes, turn-based survival game where two test subjects enter a deadly medical trial—and only one leaves alive. Created in just 10 days, this indie prototype blends simple mechanics with psychological tension. Inspired by Buckshot Roulette, it’s less about action and more about choices, bluffing, and nerve.

Every pill you take could heal, harm, or kill you. Your opponent is playing the same game. The question is: who breaks first?

Take Pills, Take Risks, Stay Alive

At its core, Side Effects is brutally simple. On your turn, you take a pill from the tray. You don’t know what it does. Neither does your opponent. Some increase your tolerance. Some restore health. Some are straight-up poison. You also have limited-use items—peek at pills, recover stats, or interfere with the other player.

Tolerance is Your Lifeline

The longer you stay in the game, the more pills you’ve taken—and the more unstable your body becomes. Take too many, and your tolerance maxes out, making even safe pills dangerous. Managing this invisible countdown is the game’s most nerve-wracking element. It's a slow push toward inevitable collapse.

One-on-One Mind Games

Whether you’re facing a real player or the prototype’s AI, Side Effects becomes a battle of will. Do you risk another pill? Do you bluff? Do you bait your opponent into overextending? The minimalist UI hides intense strategic depth.

Rough, Raw, and Worth Your Time

Don’t expect polish—this is a prototype, and it shows. There are missing sounds, occasional bugs, and a sometimes-quirky AI. But the rawness adds to the atmosphere. The tension, the minimalism, the unpredictability—they all feed into the experience.

If you enjoy discomfort, decision-making, and games that mess with your nerves, Side Effects hits hard. And while the browser version is playable, the downloadable version runs smoother and looks better.

A Simple Idea, Executed with Dread

In a sea of overdesigned games, Side Effects thrives on what it doesn’t show. No health bars. No flashy animations. Just decisions, consequences, and the creeping realization that your next move might be your last.