![Exhausted Man hero art](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/featured-image-cf93edb17ef7e54a547f.jpg)
Hello, I’m one of the developers of Exhausted Man. It’s a physics comedy game about exhausted life, where the protagonist is so tired that he can only crawl on the ground but still refuses to sleep.
![Exhausted Man male and female](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/01-exhausted-characters-e565504b284a5d25024e.jpg)
Reasons for Staying up Late
Anyone who stays up late must have a goal he/she wants to accomplish. The same goes for our two protagonists. The girl is a young office lady. She must get the license which is crucial to her career. The boy is an indie game developer. He has to release his game demo in time.
![Exhausted Man split screen](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/02-goals-4e62835fcd0abaf715c2.jpg)
Although inspired by real life stories, Exhausted Man is not a linear narrative game. Instead, you can play in your own style and have plenty of freedom to decide the character’s fate. Let me introduce some ways you can make the choice and get creative.
What to Do Tonight?
The game uses event cards to represent what the character is going to do tonight. Red cards mean working towards the goal, while blue cards mean having a rest. You can choose what to do at will. While the goal for tonight is clear, we don’t necessarily have to work toward it, right?
![Exhausted Man options](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/03-event-cards-facf7e5ea00cb3b8e7b9.jpg)
Which Item Will Be Featured in the Event?
Before playing an event card, you need to choose the key items in the event. For example, in the event “Playtest”, which is about the “cursed monster” designed by our protagonist, you can choose according to your interpretation of the story, or just by personal preference. The item you choose will become unique in appearance and reflect the consequence of your choice.
![Exhausted Man screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/04-featured-item-aedb08582955ef072d81.jpg)
How to Set up the Room?
As mentioned above, events require specific items to be played. Therefore, event cards are unlocked by the items placed in the room. At the beginning of the game, you can choose a pre-made room or DIY from an empty room.
![Exhausted Man screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/05-room-presets-1be5acafc1c06332cade.jpg)
For each event you complete, you can place some new items into the room. Choosing the items that are useful for accomplishing the goal will unlock more red event cards. You can also set up the room to suit your taste, or even go against the plot and only place items for rest and entertainment.
![Exhausted Man screenshot](https://xxboxnews.blob.core.windows.net/prod/sites/2/2024/07/06-room-styles-bc3c654f6d7830624f74.jpg)
What Happens at the End?
Through the loop of “place items – unlock event cards – complete event – earn score points”, the game will eventually lead to an ending. I won’t spoil it here, but I can assure you that each ending is unique and worth experiencing.
Exhausted Man is available now. Come spend an exhausting night in your own way and experience the sweet and sour of it all.