Info about Citizen Sleeper:

Official game description:
One of 2022’s most acclaimed indies, the Game Awards-nominated Citizen Sleeper is a Tabletop-inspired narrative RPG set on Erlin’s Eye, a ruined space station that is home to thousands of people trying to survive on the edges of an interstellar capitalist society.
You are a sleeper, a digitised human consciousness in an artificial body, owned by a corporation that wants you back. Thrust amongst the unfamiliar and colourful inhabitants of the Eye, you need to build friendships, earn your keep, and navigate the factions of this strange metropolis, if you hope to survive to see the next cycle.
Inspired by Tabletop Roleplaying games, Citizen Sleeper uses Dice, Clocks and Drives to create a player-led experience, where you choose your path in a rich and responsive world. Each cycle you use the dice you are dealt to choose what to do with your time. Make or break alliances, uncover truths and escape your hunters. Survive and ultimately thrive, one cycle at a time, and sometimes against the clock!
The station plays host to characters from all walks of life, trying to eke out an existence among the stars. Salvagers, engineers, hackers, bartenders, street-food vendors, each has a history which brought them here. You choose which of them you wish to help, and together you will shape your future.
Eventually, you will learn to use your dice to hack into the station’s cloud to access decades of digital data, uncover new areas and unlock secrets. This is your unique power, and with it you can change your future. Corporate secrets, rogue AIs and troves of lost data await those willing to dive into the depths of the station’s networks.
Essen-Arp: to them you are just property, one more asset in a portfolio that stretches across the stars. You are the product of an abusive system, in a universe where humanity’s expansion is marked by exploitation and extraction. Escape the makers of your decaying body, and chart your own path in a richly imagined, deeply relevant sci-fi world which explores ideas of precarity, personhood and freedom.
Citizen Sleeper uses Dice, Clocks and Drives to create a player-led experience, where you choose your path in a rich and responsive world.
Each cycle you roll your dice. Assign them to vast range of actions available on the station. With every action, choose what, and who, matters to you, shaping the lives of those around you, and ultimately the future of the station.
Clocks track both your actions and the actions of others across the station. From becoming a local at the Overlook Bar to protecting a friend from Yatagan enforcers, clocks allow you to track your own progress and the influence you have on the world around you.
Follow drives not quests, allowing you to pick and choose the stories and activities that matter to you. As you do, you will shape your character's five skills (Engineer, Interface, Endure, Intuit and Engage), unlocking perks and bonuses that reflect and change how you choose to live in this world.
Citizen Sleeper now includes all three post-launch DLC episodes FLUX, REFUGE and PURGE, which expand the game and introduce additional characters and locations to Erlin’s Eye in an exciting new late game storyline.
ABOUT THE DEVELOPER
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Jump Over the Age is a one-person game development studio founded by Gareth Damian Martin (they/them). Gareth is the winner of GDCA and Indiecade awards, and has been nominated for a Games Award, multiple IGF Awards, a GDC Award, and four BAFTAs. They have been named both “An accomplished world-builder” (Edge Magazine) and “one of the most exciting indie talents around” (Eurogamer).

Release date: May 5, 2022

Categories: Narrative Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Cyberpunk, Science Fiction, Visual Novel, Character Interaction, Dice-based Gameplay, Multiple Endings

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: The game shows strong compatibility and performance on Linux-based systems, particularly on the Steam Deck. Users reported smooth gameplay and minimal issues, suggesting a positive experience for Linux users.
- Steam Deck: score 35; verdict: Good with Minor Issues; summary: The analysis of user feedback on the Steam Deck experience reveals a mix of positive and negative points. While some users encountered issues with UI elements and selection, others found the navigation and controls to be manageable after an initial learning curve. Overall, the performance of the Steam Deck was praised by several users, indicating a generally positive experience with the device.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that while many users find the game worth playing, a significant number of them recommend purchasing it on sale. This suggests that the community generally considers the game to be valuable but not necessarily at its full price of $19.99. The repeated mentions of waiting for a sale indicate that a fair price range might be lower than the current base price.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 12.0h
  - Story completion: 4.5h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides several direct and indirect references to playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a playthrough time of around 4.5 hours, which supports the story completion metric. The second quote suggests a range of 10-13 hours for a complete experience, which aligns with the game completion metric. The third and fourth quotes discuss the compelling early game and the possibility of completing side stories, which indirectly supports the session length and endgame metrics.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: Citizen Sleeper offers an immediately engaging experience with its strong narrative hook and addictive early-game mechanics, but may become repetitive and less challenging over time.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Initial narrative hook and early game mechanics
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: Repetitiveness in gameplay; Lack of challenge in late game; Tedious mechanics towards the end
  - Unlock drivers: Engaging narrative; Unique dice-cycle management system; Emotional investment in characters
  - Conditions: Emotional investment in the story; Initial challenge of resource management; Atmospheric and immersive setting
- Player Archetypes:
  - Completionist Story Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: To experience all narrative content and achieve all possible endings.
    - Playstyle: Explores different story paths and seeks to complete all achievements.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: completionist; story lover
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium; Roadwarden; Suzerain
  - Narrative Immersionist (buy)
    - Motivation: To immerse themselves in the game's story and character development.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on the narrative and emotional engagement with the game's world and characters.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: story enthusiast; lore lover
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium; The Wayfarer book series
  - Mechanics Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: To enjoy and master the gameplay mechanics.
    - Playstyle: Focuses on the strategic and mechanical aspects of the game.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: strategy gamer; mechanics lover
    - Reference games: Disco Elysium; Cyberpunk 2077


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and beautiful storytelling (weight 0.47): The game features a beautifully written and captivating story that players find engrossing and fun. The narrative is deep, rich, and superb, with excellent world-building and amazing storytelling.
- Outstanding soundtrack (weight 0.38): The game's soundtrack is highly praised, described as fantastic, incredible, and breathtaking. It complements the game's atmosphere and is considered one of the best parts of the game.
- Immersive world design (weight 0.34): The game offers an immersive world with rich and detailed environments. Players appreciate the lived-in feel of the world and the immersive atmosphere.
- Excellent writing (weight 0.32): The writing in the game is highly praised for being well-written, evocative, and impactful. Characters and plotlines are particularly noted for their quality.
- Phenomenal artwork (weight 0.3): The game's artwork is praised as phenomenal, incredible, and beautiful. Both character designs and graphics are highly appreciated by players.
- Simple and engaging gameplay (weight 0.29): The gameplay is described as simple, easy to operate, and engaging. The mechanics are elegant and not overwhelming, providing a pleasant experience.
- Innovative dice gameplay (weight 0.22): The game features a unique and engaging dice-based gameplay system. Players find the dice mechanics fun and exciting, adding a unique element to the gameplay.
- Meaningful choices (weight 0.2): The game features extensive choices that affect outcomes. Players appreciate the variety of choices and the consequences they bring.
- Engaging characters (weight 0.19): The characters in the game are described as cool, interesting, and engaging. Players appreciate the well-written characters with cool designs.
- Diverse cast of characters (weight 0.19): The game features a diverse cast of characters with their own goals and agendas. Players appreciate the variety and representation of characters.

Common complaints:
- Basic and boring gameplay (weight 0.61): The gameplay is described as very basic, lacking significant thought or puzzle elements. It is often seen as boring and simplistic, with little strategy involved.
- Repetitive gameplay loop (weight 0.3): The game flow and mechanics become repetitive, especially in the later stages, leading to a lack of engagement and interest.
- Weak character development (weight 0.24): Characters in the game are often seen as underdeveloped and uninteresting, with weak portrayal and unclear motivations.
- Illusion of choice in dialogue (weight 0.23): Dialogue choices in the game often feel like they don't matter, with limited impact on the plot, leading to a sense of false agency.
- Weak and formulaic narrative (weight 0.17): The narrative is described as weak, lacking coherence and meaningful divergence. It often feels formulaic and uninspired.
- Excessive text to read (weight 0.17): The game involves a lot of reading, which might not appeal to everyone and can feel excessive.
- No manual save feature (weight 0.16): Players are frustrated by the inability to manually save their progress, which is seen as a significant drawback.
- Frustrating dice mechanics (weight 0.13): The dice mechanics in the game are often seen as unbalanced and frustrating, adding a tedious and grindy element to the gameplay.
- Lack of role-playing (weight 0.11): The game lacks meaningful role-playing opportunities and branching choices, reducing the depth of player engagement.
- High dependence on luck (weight 0.09): The game relies heavily on luck, which can undermine player agency and make the experience feel unfair.
- Poor Chinese translation (weight 0.09): The Chinese translation in the game is often seen as poor, literary, confusing, and incomplete, especially in the latter chapters.
- Disappointing endings (weight 0.09): The endings of the game are described as disappointing and abrupt, leaving players unsatisfied.
- Lack of strategic depth (weight 0.09): The gameplay lacks strategic depth, reducing the incentive for replayability and long-term engagement.

Gameplay feedback:
- Narrative-driven and choice-based gameplay (weight 0.81): The game is heavily focused on narrative and storytelling, with gameplay driven by player choices and decisions. This includes a variety of narrative elements such as questlines, character-focused stories, and consequences of choices.
- Dice-based mechanics (weight 0.62): The game incorporates a dice system for determining the outcomes of actions, adding an element of chance and strategy. Players roll dice for various tasks and interactions, influencing the game's progression.
- Resource and time management (weight 0.35): Players must manage resources and time effectively to progress in the game. This includes inventory management, energy allocation, and strategic planning.
- Visual novel elements (weight 0.31): The game features visual novel elements, combining text-based storytelling with interactive gameplay. This includes dialogue choices, character interactions, and narrative-driven progression.
- Cyberpunk and sci-fi setting (weight 0.25): The game is set in a cyberpunk or sci-fi environment, providing a rich, immersive backdrop for the narrative and gameplay. This setting influences the themes, characters, and overall atmosphere.
- Multiple endings and achievements (weight 0.14): The game offers multiple endings based on player choices, encouraging replayability. Achievements are tied to different story outcomes and decisions made throughout the game.
- Risk and reward decision-making (weight 0.11): Players are presented with decisions that involve tangible risks and rewards. This adds a layer of strategy and consequence to the gameplay.
- Exploration of complex themes (weight 0.11): The game delves into complex themes such as identity, purpose, and philosophical questions. These themes are woven into the narrative and character development.
- Emotional and slow-burn storytelling (weight 0.11): The game features emotional storytelling that unfolds gradually, creating a slow-burn narrative experience. This approach enhances character development and player engagement.
- Interconnected storylines (weight 0.1): The game includes interconnected storylines and parallel narratives, where characters and events are intricately linked. This adds depth and complexity to the overall story.
- Similar to Disco Elysium (weight 0.1): The game shares similarities with Disco Elysium, particularly in its narrative-driven and choice-based gameplay. However, it has a different core focus and unique mechanics.
- Cycle-based gameplay loop (weight 0.1): The game features a cycle-based gameplay loop, with survival-oriented and sometimes grindy mechanics. Players must navigate through repeated cycles to progress.

Performance notes:
- Good performance on Steam Deck (weight 0.15): The game runs well on Steam Deck, including the OLED version, with only minor issues reported.
- Frequent restarts required (weight 0.05): Players report that the game requires constant restarting, which disrupts the gaming experience.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.05): The game does not require a strong PC to run, making it accessible to a wide range of hardware.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for narrative fans (weight 0.41): The game is frequently recommended for fans of interactive novels, visual novels, and narrative-driven games. It is also suggested for those who enjoy text adventures and story-driven experiences.
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.37): Many players strongly recommend this game, especially for those who enjoy its genre. It is often suggested to purchase it on sale if there are any doubts.
- Rich worlds and endings (weight 0.17): The game is recommended for those who enjoy rich worlds, multiple endings, and interactive literature. It also appeals to players who appreciate social commentary in games.
- Anticipation for sequel (weight 0.14): Many players express excitement and anticipation for the sequel. They plan to play the second game after finishing the first one.
- Worth the time and money (weight 0.12): Players find the game worth the time to experience more than once and worth the money if you enjoy this type of experience. It is particularly valued for its story and setting.
- Chill and laid-back experience (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for players looking for a laid-back and shorter sci-fi experience. It is also suggested for those balancing school or a job.
- Enjoyable soundtrack (weight 0.05): The game's soundtrack is highly praised, with players indicating they will continue to listen to it even after playing the game.

Other player notes:
- Desire for more sci-fi elements (weight 0.05): Players have expressed a hope for additional sci-fi elements to be incorporated into the game, indicating a desire for more content in this genre.
- Deep philosophical themes explored (weight 0.05): The game delves into existential and societal questions, prompting players to reflect on deeper philosophical implications.
- Cat-related financial struggles (weight 0.04): Some players humorously noted that a cat nearly caused them financial ruin, adding a unique and memorable aspect to the gameplay.
- Game received from Jingle Jam (weight 0.04): Several players mentioned that they received the game from Jingle Jam, which might have influenced their decision to play and review it.
- Mentions of DLC (weight 0.03): There were mentions of DLC, though without specific details or context provided by the players.

Emotions:
- Joy (weight 0.12): Players experience joy due to the game's engaging storylines, characters, and gameplay mechanics. The emotional connection to the narrative, combined with the immersive world and unique atmosphere, creates a deeply satisfying experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): The game's diverse narratives, unique gameplay loop, and engaging music contribute to a highly enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the storytelling, atmosphere, and the break from monotonous gameplay styles.
- Frustration (weight 0.08): Frustration arises from repetitive tasks, lack of meaningful choices, and issues with game mechanics such as the dice roll randomization. Translation issues, control schemes, and lack of manual saving also contribute to player frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.07): Players are excited by the game's unique experience, engaging gameplay mechanics, and the anticipation for sequels. The game's thematic misdirection, characters, and storylines also generate excitement.
- Positive (weight 0.06): The game's characterization, music, gameplay, and story elements create a positive experience. Players enjoy the narrative, soundtrack, and the impact of their choices, contributing to an overall positive sentiment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.06): Disappointment stems from the game's unfulfilled potential, repetitive tasks, and lack of character development. Players also express dissatisfaction with the linear plot, lack of freedom, and weaker end-game experiences.
- Admiration (weight 0.05): Players admire the game's excellent text narrative, world-building, and art style. The game's themes, soundtrack, and unique approach to role-playing are also highly praised.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.05): Satisfaction comes from the game's engaging narrative, meaningful choices, and immersive gameplay. Players feel whole after completing the story and appreciate the detailed lore and well-written characters.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's unique and niche qualities, including its narrative, mechanics, and atmosphere. The game's focus on narrative and choices, as well as its innovative storytelling, are also highly valued.
- Sadness (weight 0.03): The emotional impact of the story and its endings evoke sadness in players. Thought-provoking themes and the emotional connection to the narrative contribute to this sentiment.
- Happy (weight 0.02): Players are happy with the game's story, art, music, and character interactions. The emotional impact and the overall gripping experience contribute to their happiness.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): The game's beautifully written story, interconnected characters, and immersive gameplay keep players engaged. The emotional and continuous gameplay experience makes it difficult for players to put the game down.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom arises from slow progression, repetitive tasks, and lack of tension in later parts of the game. Players find the gameplay unengaging and lose interest due to its simplicity and repetitiveness.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players express gratitude for the deep emotional connection and positive experiences with the game. They also appreciate the efforts of the community and developers, especially regarding localization and translations.
- Engaged (weight 0.01): Players are engaged by the game's story, setting, and daunting narrative. The weaving of smaller stories into a larger narrative and the emotional connection to the narrative keep players invested.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited by the game's unique experience combining book and video game elements. The game's beauty, quality, and the quick immersion it provides generate excitement.
- Hope (weight 0.01): The story inspires hope in players, with themes of humanity and hope in a depressing future. The hopeful and engaging story, along with the variety of choices and outcomes, contribute to this sentiment.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game's story, characters, and interesting gameplay mechanics. The slow revelation of intrigue and lore, as well as the mysterious plot, piques their interest.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment comes from limited branching story paths, lack of real choices, and underdeveloped concepts. Short gameplay, abrupt endings, and lack of interaction with characters also contribute to this sentiment.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Frustration arises from the game's mechanics, story impact, and confusing narrative. Flat characters in expansions and lack of choice also contribute to player frustration.}