When you think of the “roguelike” genre, you probably picture a perilous journey into the unknown. In Hades, you fight your way through the depths of hell. In FTL: Faster Than Light, you explore the ever-expanding reaches of space. No matter your destination, nearly all roguelikes have the same mission: Don’t die.

Going Under may not be as grim as your typical roguelike, but the stakes are just as real. Instead of navigating hell or space, you’re navigating dungeons as part of an unpaid internship. In lieu of fighting gods or aliens, you’re fighting microaggressions and workplace burnout. And while you do encounter plenty of enemies—disgruntled goblins, zombified skeletons, and other lost souls—the real monster is your heartless boss.

Going Under stars Jackie, a young, wide-eyed marketer who has just landed a gig in the bustling city of Neo-Cascadia. After a monorail ride, she is welcomed at Cubicle, an e-commerce conglomerate with thousands of employees and deep pockets. An onboarding video explains that Cubicle grew from nothing, save for a dream and a “modest cash injection.” After careful deliberation by its “friendly” AI system, the company assigns Jackie an assistant role at its latest startup: Fizzle Beverages. 

Developer Aggro Crab holds no punches with its commentary, using wry humor and relentless satire in a meticulous takedown of modern hustle culture. In one scene, Fizzle’s founder, Ray, announces the production of an out-of-left-field beverage app (and companion social network), then pivots the entire staff to work on it. In another, he hosts an extravagant party courtesy of the company card, much to the chagrin of his head accountant. If you’ve ever had a job with a “work hard, play hard” culture, you’ve seen these stories before.



Released back in 2020, Going Under came at an opportune time. As countless companies abandoned the office in the throes of the pandemic, employees saw a glimpse of a freer, autonomous future. Office jobs became remote. Managers were forced to trust their teams to get work done from home. Concepts like “purpose” and “well-being” permeated LinkedIn feeds, challenging companies to do better by their employees. The nine-to-five as we knew it seemed to be evolving.

Fast-forward to 2023, and much of that momentum has stalled. Companies are returning to the office, remote opportunities are dwindling, and time sheets are back in vogue. Perhaps that’s not surprising, but it certainly is disappointing. Going Under, however, is a stark reminder of why policies like remote work are so coveted in the first place. The game successfully captures the humdrum nature of work while providing an addictive, accessible, and flat-out fun roguelike experience.

In 2021, Aggro Crab and publisher Team17 released the aptly named “Working From Home Update.” In addition to providing new power-ups and quality-of-life improvements, the update pits Jackie against her doppelganger: a dreary corporate suit. The update puts a satisfying cap on the Going Under experience while offering one last fist bump for anyone returning to the office grind. Now that’s solidarity.

Going Under is available now on the Epic Games Store.