SIDE EFFECTS: Horror strategy gambling game

GAMING NEWS DHLSalesman - Nov 22, 2025, 13:23

The highly anticipated indie title, SIDE EFFECTS, released on November 21, 2025, for PC/Steam, is a unique blend of strategy, horror, and gambling. Described as a tense, turn-based medical roulette, this game draws heavy inspiration from the mechanics of Buckshot Roulette but replaces the danger of a shotgun with a sinister array of pills. Supporting up to four players in online multiplayer modes, SIDE EFFECTS challenges players to outlast their opponents by strategically navigating rounds of unpredictable "pill roulette," where the effects of ingestion—ranging from helpful to instantly lethal—are unknown until consumed. The turn-based medical roulette game SIDE EFFECTS was developed and published by the renowned indie studio Free Lives.

A Terrifying Blend of Strategy, Risk, and Horror Gameplay

The gameplay loop is built around the concept of "pill roulette," where the crucial variable is a selection of pills that are either beneficial, harmful, or instantly lethal, but their immediate effect is unknown until consumption. This shifts the focus from simple chance to calculated risk management and player interaction. The core mechanics of the game are built on Resistance Management, where this stat serves as the primary health resource; if it drops to zero due to pill consumption, the player is eliminated. This resource is closely tied to the Experimental Items layer, which offers over 15 unique tactical tools—such as vaccines, mouth clamps, and replicators—that players acquire between rounds to either buff themselves, debuff opponents, or gather vital information. In multiplayer, this system fuels the bluffing and deception element, creating intense psychological warfare where players must read their opponents and use items to signal false threats, leveraging the unknown nature of the pills to force disastrous decisions. Finally, the horror is physically realized through Visual Horror Progression, where player models horrifically mutate as they ingest more drugs, while the game ensures high replayability with Multiple Modes, including single-player AI matches, 2-4 player multiplayer, and an endless survival mode called "Free Healthcare."

The emotional landscape of playing SIDE EFFECTS is deliberately intense and unsettling, beginning with immediate Tension and Anxiety driven by the core mechanic of taking a pill with an unknown, potentially fatal outcome, making every choice a heart-pounding gamble. This fear is amplified in multiplayer by deep Paranoia and Distrust, as players must constantly analyze opponent actions and item usage for potential bluffs, heightening the tension as they observe the Visual Horror Progression of their opponent's mutations. While strategic elements like Resistance and item management provide moments of Calculated Dread, offering a brief sense of control when a strategy succeeds, this is quickly undercut by the underlying dread of pure chance. Ultimately, surviving against the odds leads to Morbid Satisfaction, a dark, competitive relief felt when an opponent succumbs to the trial, confirming that the player has managed to outlive them, at least for the moment.

If the high-stakes thrill of managing your own impending doom while strategically forcing your friends into the same fate sounds like your idea of a good time, then Side Effects is definitely one to watch. The blend of resource management, unsettling horror aesthetics, and pure psychological warfare promises a deep, dark gaming experience unlike any other medical trial you've signed up for. Will you be the last one standing, or will the side effects claim you first? Feel free to tell us after checking out the game. Please make sure to use our comparison tool in order to purchase SIDE EFFECTS at the cheapest price.