CTRL+SURVIVE — Don't Win. Just Survive.

THE GRIND
IS REAL.

CTRL+SURVIVE is a side-scrolling survival runner set across four stages of modern working life. You're not a hero — you're a professional trying to stay relevant, solvent, and sane as the world moves faster than you do.

Balance four real-world stats: Relevance, Burnout, Savings, and Adaptability — all ticking in the wrong direction while obstacles pile up and power-ups are just out of reach.

You have 300 seconds. There are seven ways to fall. Good luck.

RUNNER SURVIVAL DARK HUMOUR CAREER SIM

THE JOURNEY

4 STAGES. 1 RUN. ZERO GUARANTEES.

STAGE 01 · 0 – 75 SECONDS

THE EDUCATION
GRIND

⏱ The beginning of your story

Fresh out of school with thousands in debt and a degree that the market isn't sure it needs. Every job listing wants 5+ years for an entry-level role. Collect degrees and certifications while dodging rejection emails and the comparison spiral of everyone else's LinkedIn highlight reel.

STAGE 02 · 75 – 150 SECONDS

CORPORATE
LIFE

⏱ You made it in. Now survive it.

Mandatory meetings that could have been emails. Scope creep that never ends. Performance reviews that leave you questioning everything. Burnout rises faster here. Grab bonuses, remote work perks, and therapy sessions whenever they appear — you're going to need them before Stage 3.

STAGE 03 · 150 – 225 SECONDS

THE LAYOFF
WAVE

⏱ Restructuring hits. Hard.

The pink slips fly. Savings take a hit with every layoff wave and severance timer. Tax season arrives right when you can least afford it. Sunday working is no longer optional. Hold your stats together and grab that severance package if it rolls your way — it won't last long.

STAGE 04 · 225 – 300 SECONDS

THE AI AGE

⏱ Adapt. Or become a footnote.

The machines are here and Relevance decays 50% faster. AI Collaboration power-ups appear — grab them to spike Adaptability and stay competitive. Product launches and angel investments fly by at speed. This is the gauntlet. Reach 300 seconds or be replaced by a prompt.

THE SURVIVAL EQUATION

BALANCE ALL FOUR. LET ONE COLLAPSE. GAME OVER.

RELEVANCE

Your professional viability in the market. Decays passively every second — faster as the AI age hits. Certifications, degrees, interview prep, and product launches slow the bleed. Let it reach zero and the world moves on without you.

⟶ Decays constantly. Accelerates in Stage 4.

BURNOUT

Mental and physical exhaustion. Rises with every obstacle hit — meetings, overtime, and office politics are the worst offenders. Therapy, concerts, and remote work push it back down. Sustain 95+ for 5 seconds and you collapse.

⟶ High burnout slows your run speed significantly.

SAVINGS

Your financial cushion — draining every single frame. Tax season, layoff waves, and severance timers accelerate the haemorrhage. Side hustles, stocks, angel investment, and bonuses buy you runway. Hit zero: financial reality check.

⟶ Drains faster when burnout is extreme.

ADAPTABILITY

Your capacity to evolve. Buffers Relevance decay and softens damage from experience walls and scope creep. High Adaptability means obstacles hurt less. AI Collab items send this soaring — if you can reach them in time.

⟶ High A unlocks better obstacle resistance.