Due to recent events like the surging of GameStop stocks earlier this year, many people have become more familiar with the Stock Market and related terms such as ‘buy’, ‘sell’, and ‘short’. And soon gamers can put this newfound knowledge to the test in Power Struggle Games’ newest title, The Invisible Hand. It was aptly named after the economic term which describes the unseen forces that move and manipulate the free market economy. This is the first major game to come out of this studio since its inception in 2015.
However, The Invisible Hand is not just a simple stock market simulator. Instead, as seen in the trailer, Power Struggle Games have taken a very satirical and cynical approach to this game. Players start off at their new job after being hired as a mid-level stockbroker and must prove their worth to their trading firm FERIOS. In order to do this, players must put profit above everything else as “only losers feel guilty for the pain, loss, and poverty that are … unavoidable.” There are many ways to go about the job such as buying, selling, and shorting stocks as the more money that is made, the bigger the commission is. Players can also manipulate the market by lobbying groups, decreasing the worth of foreign currencies, and more. There is also the option to engage in insider trading by listening to the news and finding exclusive sources. And if all of this sounds devoid of morals that is because it is. As the game says, “The only consequences that matter are the ones that impact our bottom line.”
The Invisible Hand is coming to PC and Mac devices through Steam, GOG, and Humble on May 7.