A new PC game paints a grim picture of what Britain could be like in the event of a Brexit win.
It’s referendum day for citizens of the UK, where Brits will vote to leave or remain in the European Union. For some people this represents a thrillingly pure example of democracy in action. For others it’s the culmination of months of bitter division and cynical persuasion.
Whichever way you’re voting (or even if you’re not), there’s a new free game for Windows PC and Mac called Paper Brexit (via Kotaku) that offers an interesting perspective on the whole affair.
It’s one of those interactive fiction games that lets you choose your own path through its story. That story is set in a dystopian future where Britain has left the EU, and a far-right government is currently in power. Oh, and to make matters worse, Trump is President of the US.
Pro-Remain creator Greg Buchanan says that he originally intended the game to be a “comedic parody of what I saw as the positive ‘let’s be old Britain again with pubs and sunshine and lollipops without evil EU interference’ attitude”.
However, with world events getting serious, it’s turned into “a surreal, nightmarish expression of my feelings on current British (and wider) politics and the role of the media and individuals have to play in this system.”
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Buchanan cites his inspirations as Man In a High Castle, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared, and Taxi Driver – which is a pretty diverse and intriguing spread of reference points.
As we say, it’s free to download on Windows PC and Mac OS X, though the latter hasn’t been tested.
What are your favourite miserable games? Let us know in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.