The Salesman
" Atmospheric psychological horror adventure with clever satire and immersive mood but short length "
The Salesman Review
The Salesman is a short psychological horror walking simulator centered on themes of economic anxiety, consumerism, and the erosion of personal autonomy. Players experience the monotonous daily routine of an unemployed character forced to trade possessions for ad-supported replacements, with a mysterious salesman pressuring them toward increasingly invasive decisions. The game’s atmosphere is crafted through sterile visuals, unsettling sound design, and clever integration of in-game advertisements that enhance its critique of capitalism.
While the narrative unfolds slowly with limited branching, it effectively conveys a mood of creeping dread and societal commentary. The humor and some jump scares add levity, but the gameplay loop is repetitive and minimalistic, leading to mixed feelings about its depth. The game is priced affordably at $5 and generally praised as a solid debut from a small indie studio, though some players note bugs, lack of settings options, and a desire for more content and endings.
Highlights
Players appreciate the game's atmospheric storytelling and thought-provoking narrative addressing modern economic struggles and consumerism. The voice acting and writing receive positive remarks for their tone and humor. The visual style is fittingly sterile and unsettling, enhancing immersion. The advertisements and salesman character are often highlighted as clever and memorable elements. Despite its brevity, the game delivers a unique, slow-burn horror experience that resonates emotionally with many players.
The price point is considered reasonable, offering good value for a short, impactful indie game.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include the short length (around 1 hour), which leaves some players wanting more depth and variety. The gameplay is repetitive and minimal, with slow pacing that can feel tedious. Several reviews mention the lack of mouse sensitivity and FPS cap settings, impacting comfort. Bugs such as persistent highlights, stuck credits, and UI issues on some platforms (notably Linux) were reported. The audio balancing and long wait times for certain tasks (like the microwave) were also sources of frustration. Some players felt the horror and story lacked complexity or impactful choices, making the experience feel linear and occasionally dull.
Pros
- • The atmospheric storytelling effectively conveys economic anxiety and consumerism critique.
- • Voice acting and writing bring humor and relatable monotony to the narrative.
- • Visuals and sound design create a sterile, unsettling environment enhancing immersion.
- • The salesman character and in-game ads are clever and memorable elements.
- • Affordable price offers good value for a short indie horror experience.
- • The slow-burn horror approach provides a unique, contemplative mood.
- • The game’s satirical tone and social commentary resonate with many players.
Cons
- • The game’s short length leaves many wanting more content and endings.
- • Repetitive gameplay loop and slow pacing can feel tedious and dull.
- • Lack of mouse sensitivity and FPS cap settings reduce player comfort.
- • Several bugs including UI issues and stuck credits affect experience.
- • Audio balancing issues and long wait times for tasks frustrate players.
- • Linear story with minimal impactful choices limits replayability.
- • Some players find the horror elements underwhelming or formulaic.
Rating Criteria
In the Salesman, you play as a recently laid-off employee trying to survive the grind of job applications, debt, and dwindling hope. Trade your belongings for ad-supported replacements as you slowly sell away your life in this psychological horror game