Despite being a game about precarity and stress, I finished the game with like 1000 cryo, three skills at +2 and with like 7 stabilizers and 30 pieces of scrap.

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I think it says alot when a game makes you accidentally play for like 4 more hours than you were planning to without even realizing it.

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------Things I Like

- The near-dystopian (and I use this term cautiously) “cyberpunk” setting. Its well thought out, its pretty to look at, it explores some not-entirely rote themes. Its good.

- The time management design is mostly thoughtful (but not for all parts of the game, and while it makes the game good I could probably never love being stressed about time)

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------Things I Hate

- The pacing really drops off in the second half of the base game, and is the primary reason why I became brokenly wealthy with resources - which feels like a problem in a game about timers and restraints. For about 6 (or more possibly) hours of my playtime I had 5 dice permanently available for every cycle. God Mode is fun for about 20 minutes, challenges are fun for longer and this feels like a progression leak in the game.

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------Things I Love

- The Dice/Skill system makes RNG alot more entertaining than games in the same format. You have up to 5 dice so you can choose which dice you want to apply to which checks which allows you to control your risk more directly on more serious actions. Luck systems where strategy helps you gain some agency over your outcomes create a good balance I think.

- The vibe. Moody music playing while looking at lush character portraits while some fairly engaging moments play out makes Citizen Sleeper a very captivating and enthralling experience that I would recommend on presentation alone to some people.

- There are some really touching moments, and I think the game really understands why people care about people and writes to that very well. Ill try to keep this spoiler vague and brief but theres nothing quite like leaving L&m and M&n& as they board a craft without you.

- Hunter, Killer, Navigator, and Gardener are all patently sick as hell and thats notable all on its own.

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------Things I Wanted To Love

- I think the writing is good, but an issue arises when a game is 13 hours long and consists primarily of reading: you lose alot of energy when all situations sort of draw on the same emotion. I think theres only so long I can feel sad and sympathy and grief and tensity before the Sad/Sympathy/Grief/Tensity Well runs dry and Im left with a tedious feeling. (I also personally dont need elaborate descriptions of settings that are just, like, a room with wires that Im never going to return to. I dont need to know everything, just the interesting or pertinent things)

- I wasnt sold on the Sleeper concept. It wants me to care alot about being a clone or company property or being a robot and yet none of these things really impacted John Sleepers ability to care about other people - and it sure as shit isnt something that I, John Human Gamer, could possibly relate to my life in any real way. It wanted me to care but it never felt real so I didnt care - and if it wanted me to care it should have never let me take the tracker off. Being hounded as property for the whole game might have sold me more on the notion.