$19.99Is Prison Simulator worth it?
Prison Simulator is worth it if…
- you want a job simulator that does not take itself too seriously
- you like games where the fun is in deciding how badly to behave
- you enjoy dark comedy and absurd situations more than polished systems
- you stream or make videos and want a game that generates its own material
Screenshots
Your badge, your rules
You are the guard here, and the game keeps asking what kind of guard you want to be. Maintain order behind the walls, or lean the other way: sell a confiscated shiv straight back to another inmate, then beat him with a baton for carrying it and collect your Employee of the Month bonus. Both sides of the fence have their own reputation, and your choices move them. Go soft on the prisoners and you earn their respect while the wardens grumble. Rule with an iron baton and the reverse applies. The story mode gives this a spine, with investigations, evidence gathering and a plot that leans into prison TV drama. It does run out eventually, and what is left is the daily routine.
A day behind the bars
The job is a stack of small tasks, and the comedy lives in how you do them. Search cells for contraband hidden in places the game politely declines to describe. Check packages at intake, keep your weapons maintained, escort inmates to the workshop and watch them set something on fire. Between shifts you can shoot some hoops, and night duty has a mood all of its own, with music that makes the empty corridors feel less empty than they should. The prisoner creator is the highlight: build your own inmates, give them names and stories, then enjoy running daily shakedowns on the people you made. It is janky in places and the tasks repeat, so it works best as a few evenings of absurd chaos rather than a long haul.
Can you play it your own way?
Can you play as a corrupt guard?
Yes, and the game seems built around it. You can confiscate contraband and then sell it back to inmates, take bribes, and generally behave worse than the people you are guarding. The catch is reputation: prisoners and guards each track how you treat them, so a dirty cop has to manage both sides. Playing straight is equally valid, and the story mode works either way.
Is there a story, or is it just tasks?
There is a story mode with a proper plot, plus investigations where you collect evidence and look into incidents around the prison. It gives the daily grind a reason, though it does not last forever. Once it wraps up, the game settles into freeform prison life, which is where the repetition kicks in.
What do you actually do day to day?
Guard work: searching cells and packages for contraband, breaking up fights, escorting prisoners, maintaining your weapons, handling paperwork, and doing night shifts. There are breaks too, complete with a basketball hoop. The tasks cycle, so expect familiar routines with the occasional riot thrown in.
