I think you are all familiar with the concept of the trolley problem. You know the moral minefield thought experiment, right? A trolley rolled off the rails and charged at five people. You stand in front of a switch that changes the route of the tram and save five people, but kill a bystander on the other track. What do you do
Of course, you already know what you’re thinking. But do your decisions change with the circumstances? If the only way to save the five is to push one person onto the track to force the tram to stop, is that worse than pressing a button? What if these five people deliberately broke into the tracks, ignoring warnings – would that make them not worth saving?
As an ethical and philosophical study, this dilemma dates back to the 1960s, but in recent years it is a concept that has risen from the land of professional philosophers to mainstream thought. It’s frequently referenced in TV, movies, and books—ethical research is the backbone of the brilliant comedy series The Good Place. And now, we have a video game based on the same concept.
appropriately named Tram Problem Company is my latest obsession with Steam, and the concept behind it is fairly simple: it lets players make difficult if not impossible decisions – and weaves a story through those choices. In reality, it starts with you working for a railroad company and making a literal trolley problem decision – but it quickly escalates into health, public safety, planet-threatening decisions that extend into the realm of sci-fi – all loosely Intertwined narrative.
It’s a game that’s hard to talk about without spoilers, and I absolutely, definitely won’t. The story is the game here, making me laugh with different surprises, gasp in shock, and shake my head in equal measure of disbelief.
All I can say is: it renders brilliantly. A witty and knowledgeable commentator will guide you through the entire experience, which lasts a few hours, but of course, there are branches for multiple runs. All of the questions asked of you are based on real-world philosophical research, and the game even has references marked in the bottom left corner, which you can explore via the menu if you want extra reading outside the game. And, broadly speaking, it’s all pretty good.
It’s a simple concept. The demo is neat, though it’s not anything you couldn’t experience in a Flash game a few years ago. In every sense, the game’s star is the kind of British public service announcement energy and knowledgable, oft-blaming narrator of its art.
The narrator in particular really defines the experience. She doesn’t have time to listen to your nonsense – whatever it tastes like. When you make a decision, Trolley Problem, Inc coolly calculates your achievement after each problem. It also shows you how your decision compares to the masses. I got caught when I picked up the innocent who was killed, a dead dog (and worse as hell).
Of course, this also has a “feel bad” component. Throughout the experience, there is a slight sense of futility – no matter what you do, you and the world are probably a little screwed up. Are there really bad decisions, or are there just bad guys? Are you the bad guy? Or are you a victim of circumstances – your decision?
At the same time, however, as the game progresses, it has real things to say to you, players say. It speaks directly to you, with a contemplation of life, what is good in life and what is worth clinging to. It’s fun and unlike anything I’ve played before. I liked it, although I have to admit I didn’t particularly want to play it again.
On Steam, the reviews for Trolley Problem, Inc are understandable and predictably mixed. Common complaints are that the “choices” offered throughout the narrative are illusory, that the $10 entry price is just a fleeting experience, or even complain that no matter what choice you make, the narrator will criticize you. But…that’s the point, I think.
That sharp suspicion is a core part of what this game is trying to convey. Like I said, while it’s often funny in its absurdity or brazenness, there’s a definite “feel bad” energy to this element of the experience. As for the price – I had as much fun playing this as I did the last time I went to the cinema, and the same “length” of content was about the same price. Do whatever you want.
For those familiar with the aforementioned good places, this feels like the sort of thing introduced in the game to torture Chidi. When I think about it, it’s pretty awesome. Still, like the TV sitcoms that often reference Plato, it’s definitely an acquired taste. Hence mixed reviews.
As a meditation on one of the most paralyzing and divisive philosophical issues, the trolley problem company isn’t the most nuanced experience. However, it does not pretend to be philosophically pure and perfect, nor does it pretend to have answers. It just pushes your buttons and makes you think – and it does. This is not an experience I will forget in a hurry.
