Side Effects
Side Effects is a decision-based survival game built around uncertainty. The player takes part in a medical experiment where pills are the only available actions. Each choice carries risk, since pills may heal, damage, or trigger unpredictable consequences. The objective is simple in form — keep the character alive — but the mechanics transform this into a constant balance between luck and strategy. Every round presents a new chance for survival or failure, shaped by prior decisions.
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Core Mechanics And Flow
The central mechanic in Side Effects revolves around pill selection. At the start of each turn, several pills appear, each with hidden effects. Some restore Resistance, the main measure of health. Others reduce it, sometimes in small amounts, sometimes drastically. A few introduce unique effects that alter future rounds. Because outcomes are not revealed in advance, the player must manage both risk tolerance and memory of past events. This cycle repeats until Resistance reaches zero or until a favorable ending is unlocked.
Features And Options
The structure of Side Effects includes elements that keep the experience varied. Different pills may appear in each run, and their impact changes depending on order and timing. There are also narrative branches that depend on how long the player lasts and which pills are chosen.
Main features include:
- Turn-based pill selection with hidden outcomes
- Resistance as the primary survival stat
- Randomized appearance of pills each round
- Narrative events tied to long-term choices
- Multiple endings that reflect survival path
Strategy And Survival
While chance plays a large role in Side Effects, the game rewards strategic behavior. Recording the effect of certain pills, avoiding risky combinations, and delaying aggressive choices can extend survival. Choosing when to gamble and when to stay conservative shapes the overall run. Because two subjects may be tested, comparing their outcomes adds another layer of analysis. The more a player observes, the more patterns emerge, creating knowledge that helps in later attempts.
Side Effects demonstrates how a minimal system can generate high tension. The act of clicking a pill is small, but the consequences carry weight each round. The game’s short format allows players to repeat runs, test theories, and aim for different endings. Through randomness, observation, and gradual learning, it creates a cycle where survival depends equally on memory, patience, and willingness to risk. The result is an experience that blends luck with choice, leaving every run uncertain until the end.
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