71) Bum Simulator (2021)

While video games have been host to simulation titles as far back as the 80's, there's a newer sub-genre that has developed in recent years. Starting, arguably, with 2013's Surgeon Simulator, which took a far more tongue in cheek slapstick approach, this new generation of simulator games focus less on accuracy and more on the sheer absurdity of the genre itself. More recently, the trend seems to be churning out sims for every role imaginable, often using pre-made assets and AI generated images that throw out the genuine comedy in favor of the comedy that arises from people just playing the game. Most of these new sim games are either banking on tricking people into buying them, or hoping to go viral from some random YouTuber or streamer. As such, my expectations for Bum Simulator, a title I consistently saw on sale and being, I believe jokingly, recommended to be by a friend were already pretty low.

We begin by waking up in an alley, as one might expect, and are introduced to the basics of gameplay by, of all things, a sentient shopping cart. The cart calls himself Carl and claims that the forebodingly named Evil Inc has stolen his body, placing his consciousness into the aforementioned shopping cart, along with stealing most of, if not all of our brain. Being literally brainless, our bum cannot speak, and we must rely on Carl to teach us how to survive on the streets. In addition to our health, we have a hunger and thirst gauge which we must be mindful of, and we can dig through trash or punch vending machines to get food or drinks. We're also taught how to panhandle, with the ability to draw on cardboard and beg for change.

While I was at first afraid that the game would devolve into little more than scrounging for food and money, I was pleasantly surprised to find the game has so much more to offer. Carl acts as our mobile inventory system as well as a faster for of travel. There's a shockingly deep crafting system, coupled with rudimentary base building. I couldn't see myself investing too heavily into the base building, but the crafting mechanic has plenty of perks and is required for the story. Oh, that's right, I forgot to mention that, unlike most other sim games, there is an actual plot and story, filled with plenty of absurd twists and turns.

While initially seeming to only introduce new features and sidequests, the story is equal parts fascinating and absurd. We find ourselves allying with some strange folk and doing some light detective work in order to infiltrate Evil Inc in order to get our brain back. This sees us fighting off a rival gang of bums, discovering a hidden population of rat people, helping a bird bulk up to ridiculous levels with protein powder, and using our dedicated pee button in order to leave a luminescent trail in the darkened sewer dungeons beneath the city. You know, just your everyday bum stuff.

I was pleasantly surprised at almost every turn at just how well polished and engaging the game was. The combat system was humorous while also allowing enough versatility as to ensure that it rarely got boring. Collecting feathers, which are scattered around the city, was oftentimes a fun challenge to figure out how to reach them, even if the reward was only outfits for our pigeons to wear. The skills acquired by leveling had a real impact on how I played while not being inherently overpowering. Even the story, for how stupid it intentionally was, kept me engaged and made me laugh more often than not.

I greatly enjoyed my time with Bum Simulator, much more than I thought I would. I think the greatest misstep of the marketing is just calling it a simulator game, which I associate far more with lazy reskins of a handful of semi-competent games. Bum Simulator is bursting with originality and humor, and any game that gives me a dedicated button with which to pee on cops is an instant classic. If you've seen the game on sale and have been hesitant for the same reasons I was, then do yourself a favor and take the dumpster dive into this absurdist masterpiece. You can thank me later.