Citizen Sleeper Game Design: Adding a Twist to Visual Novels with Clever Mechanics

Citizen Sleeper is a visual novel game that stands out by incorporating an intriguing twist. While you navigate not only the ship you're stranded on but also the relationships you build through the narrative, you are given a set of pre-rolled dice at the start of each day. These dice dictate your available actions, introducing a unique element of strategy and variation to the game.

Citizen Sleeper - Courtesy of Steam

Using Dice for Actions

In Citizen Sleeper, dice rolls are essential for performing actions such as:

• Talking to a character

• Working at a bar

• Gambling away your money

• Paying for scraps

Each action requires specific dice, effectively streamlining the decision-making process and preventing analysis paralysis.

Simplifying Choices

The ship, which acts as a hub for various actions, could present up to twenty different options. However, with only a limited set of dice (for example, three 3s, two 4s, and a 6), your choices are narrowed down to around six possible actions each day. This reduction in options makes the game more manageable and ensures that each day feels fresh and engaging due to the daily re-roll of dice.

Dynamic Gameplay

This variation of output randomness provides a constantly shifting set of tools that players must optimize to make the most of each day. By doing so, Citizen Sleeper transforms what could have been a standard visual novel into a game with interesting and unique daily challenges.

Conclusion

Citizen Sleeper demonstrates how a simple mechanic can add significant depth and variety to gameplay. The use of pre-rolled dice ensures that each in-game day offers a unique set of challenges, making the experience both manageable and engaging.

For game designers, this serves as a reminder that even small mechanics can introduce meaningful variations to gameplay, enhancing the player’s overall experience.

Thanks for reading, and keep on keeping on!