SPARE CHANGE

More money, but less energy and food: SPARE CHANGE makes each part of the day a decision about how to get by without a home. This text-led simulation with pixel scenes generates a character, background and city, then asks you to balance money, basic needs and opportunities to change that life.

What one decision costs

We entered GameSlash as the player name and received a randomly named character, Emeka, aged 69, in the game’s Lagos setting. Choosing busking/drawing at Oshodi Market advanced morning to afternoon. A portrait-drawing event increased cash from ₦1,472 to ₦3,856, while energy fell from 80 to 60 and food and water meters also declined. Our test covered one activity, not an ending.

Activities trade different resources. A better-paying task can demand more energy, while eating, resting or meeting people takes a time slot too. Character traits and carried items add context to these decisions, so the status panel matters as much as the cash total.

A different life each run

The creator describes 15 cities, mornings, afternoons and nights, multiple events and endings, and options such as finding work, contacting family and renting a room. Daily challenges, an ending album and achievements are also described in the announcement; we did not test them all in this opening sample.

Open the website, enter a player name and start without registering an account. Thai and English language options are available. Cities, currency and difficulty ratings are game elements, not evidence about real homelessness or social conditions in the countries portrayed.

Play SPARE CHANGE

Creator announcement