SIDE EFFECTS
SIDE EFFECTS is a psychological survival game where your choices—and your luck—can mean life or death. Created by a small indie team including hi rohun, Jaybooty, and Mr. Pootsley, the game places you in a clinical setting where two subjects are being tested with mysterious pills. Each round is a gamble, and the only rule is to survive longer than your opponent.
The core of the game revolves around risk management and deduction. With every pill you take, your body becomes weaker, and you have to guess whether the next one will help or harm you. It’s simple in structure, but deeply tense in execution.
How the Game Works
In SIDE EFFECTS, you and another player (or the computer) take turns selecting pills from a shared set. You don’t know what each pill does until it’s too late. Some restore health, some reduce it, and one may kill you instantly. Every pill affects your resistance level—a stat that represents your body’s ability to tolerate side effects. When that drops to zero, you’re done.
Alongside pills, you also have access to experimental tools. These can alter the turn order, force the opponent to take pills first, or increase your resistance. You can only bring a limited number to each round, so picking the right items is part of your strategy.
Features You’ll Encounter
SIDE EFFECTS may appear minimalistic, but there’s a surprising amount of variety in how it plays. Here’s what to expect:
- Resistance system: Your only health bar. Protect it at all costs.
- Randomized pills: Each round reshuffles what pills do, forcing you to adapt.
- Experimental items: Choose from syringes, diagnostics, shields, and traps.
- Solo and versus play: Battle AI or try to outwit a friend in local or online multiplayer.
- Quick matches: Each session takes just a few minutes, making it highly replayable.
These mechanics blend together to create an experience that is both suspenseful and strategic.
Tips for Playing Smarter
To survive and win in SIDE EFFECTS, you’ll need more than luck. These tips can give you the edge:
- Don’t rush your picks: Sometimes skipping a pill is smarter than gambling.
- Watch your opponent: If they avoid a pill, ask yourself why.
- Use items wisely: Some tools are best saved for emergencies, not burned early.
- Learn from each round: Pills are randomized, but some patterns emerge if you pay attention.
- Stay calm under pressure: The game is built to make you panic. Don’t let it.
Mastering SIDE EFFECTS is about understanding risk, reading behavior, and adapting on the fly.
