Chore Gaming
Titles which focus on or heavily feature mundane, repetitious tasks which would not typically be considered fun or game-like.
Intentionally excludes most X Simulator and management games.
Intentionally excludes most X Simulator and management games.
30 Games
Suggested by Nyo and Drax
Gameplay primarily consists of housework.
Gameplay primarily consists of housework.
Suggest by Midrulean
Edge case: The player can take on various side jobs involving garbage pickup, lawn mowing, filling up cars with gas, and more, but this is not the primary focus of the game.
Edge case: The player can take on various side jobs involving garbage pickup, lawn mowing, filling up cars with gas, and more, but this is not the primary focus of the game.
The only Zachlike on this list as it focuses exclusively on programming. TIS-100 is closer to a puzzle game with its restrictions and EXAPUNKS is effectively a strategy-puzzler.
Suggested by maradona
Stand-in for entire series. Players take on the role of a conductor of a passenger train, adhering to strict rules. Some entries even include shisa kanko as a necessary mechanic.
Stand-in for entire series. Players take on the role of a conductor of a passenger train, adhering to strict rules. Some entries even include shisa kanko as a necessary mechanic.
The Crew but instead of seeing landmarks you drive between Lidls across different countries.
The Crew but instead of seeing landmarks you drive between Wal-Marts in different states.
Edge case: central conceit is that you play as a robot vacuum cleaner but cleaning is not the focus of the game.
See: WTF: Work Time Fun
Most minigames involve tasks which are intentionally unfun, such as putting caps on pens, counting passersby, and finding golf balls.
Deliberate focus on the parts of golf which are omitted from video games for good reason, including walking to your ball, buying more balls from the Pro Shop when you run out, and tidying the pits you make in the bunker.
Heavy emphasis on tracking and stealth; it took me an hour to find and shoot one deer, and another 45 minutes to actually finish it off.
Every minigame involves some aspect of work at McDonald's: filling fountain drinks, calculating totals and change, flipping burgers, etc.
7 Comments
Chibi Robo?
Would No More Heroes count?
Technically Super Mario Sunshine, and definitely PowerWash Simulator.
Stardew! (Good list!)
Oop I missed that PowerWash was already there
Most of every Animal Crossing game could be considered chores
maradona
1 year ago
https://youtu.be/_FoFSDrEqjs