About Side Effects
Side Effects is a free game, released as a tense, turn-based strategy title with horror elements. In it, you play as a patient in a grim medical setting, competing against another patient (controlled by AI) in a high-stakes game of pill roulette.
The core concept revolves around consuming mysterious pills that could help you, harm you, or kill you outright—all while managing your “resistance” level to survive longer than your opponent. It’s simple in mechanics but builds intense suspense through uncertainty, bluffing, and strategic item use. The game draws heavy inspiration from Buckshot Roulette, swapping shotgun shells for pharmaceuticals in a creepy, experimental atmosphere.
How to play
- Rounds and Pills: Each round presents a set of pills (the number varies). You and your opponent take turns selecting and consuming them. Pills come in three types:
- Helpful: Positive effects, like boosting resistance or providing advantages.
- Harmful: Negative impacts on your mind or body, reducing resistance.
- Death: Instant game over if consumed. You don’t know which is which upfront, adding an element of chance and strategy (similar to Russian roulette).
- Resistance: This is your core health/resource meter. Every pill affects it—harmful ones drain it, and reaching zero means death. Monitor it closely throughout the game.
- Items and Treatments: Between rounds, you can choose from experimental items (e.g., vaccines to neutralize effects or mouth clamps to force-feed opponents). These shift the odds in your favor, allowing you to bluff, adapt, or sabotage the opponent. Use them wisely to turn the tide.
- Opponent AI: The other patient isn’t passive—they’ll bluff, react to your moves, and use items against you. The AI adapts over rounds, making each playthrough feel dynamic.
- Progression: Rounds escalate in difficulty, with more pills and higher stakes. The game is short but replayable due to randomness.
