The Invisible Hand, a game developed by Power Struggle Games and published by Fellow Traveller, follows a stock trading simulator where your number one priority is maximizing profits at the firm. Nothing else truly matters for the player as everything else, including morals, are put aside so one can make a profit. There are truly no rules in creating the most profit for the firm that you start working for in Ferios. Just like with the Gamestop stock craze that went on this past year this game can bring you the joys and downs of working with the stock market.
The Invisible Hand starts with you being hired to work for Ferios, a trading firm, where you start the first day at a desk. There you are presented with your four computer monitors in which you will use for stock trading, where you learn quickly that you have competition with another candidate at the company. This competition drives the game from the start as you start as a paid intern, but with this other candidate, you are both aiming for an analyst position. The goal is to accomplish the financial tasks set before you before the competition, or you will be fired altogether. This is where the motto of winning at all costs comes into play. You continue to have this competition even when you obtain that analyst position needing to continue to maximize profit to move up in the company.
The game will help you along as it may seem daunting at first; following the game along, you will be able to get the hang of it quickly. When you are trading, though, you are on your own to maximize profits to reach specific goals that are set out for you. You are given a certain amount of money to spend for that day and it is up to you if you come on top or not. Once the days go by, some days feel they last a while while others can be long, but an interesting mechanic implemented is using the coffee to speed time up or the tea which will slow time down for you. Therefore, if you are focusing on a specific stock, you will be able to see the progress of it quicker or slower. This even goes into you hearing tips from coworkers as you walk around the office that will help you through the trading for that day. Or you obtain shady information to help but remember if you are maximizing your profit at the end of the day that is all that matters – if you do not get caught. The Invisible Hand plays by those rules as you are encouraged to gain every advantage possible while making sure this is good information that you take in or you could be a loser at the end of the day.
The Invisible Hand honestly surprised me as a trading simulator going in, I was not expecting to be into the trading as much as I was. Where one will get into buying and selling stocks through different events. Where one can understand the stress of wondering the best time to sell and the thrill that comes when you maximize that profit with your perfect trading that day. The mechanics of trading in The Invisible Hand had me engrossed at times where I was not expecting it. Most of all, I enjoyed what the message of the game had, in an industry that message of gaining money at all costs, is apparent throughout the trading industry. This game emphasizes that these practices become immoral quickly and I enjoyed how they started to delve into that.
Although The Invisible Hand is not always maximizing its profits at all times and has some flaws. At times there can be an overwhelming sense of freedom for the player instead of having a specific goal of trading the game expands on that too much at times. Where it goes into buying real estate and sways away from the mechanics that make the game so engrossing with the trading as this part of the experience lost me. I understand they wanted to emphasize the shady nature of immoral traders; however, this became too much at times. This also goes into the ending not being all too satisfying for the build-up that was created. This unsatisfying conclusion was not what I was looking for with the build-up that was created.
Overall, The Invisible Hand is worth a try especially if you have been intrigued by the stock craze that has taken over lately. Where you truly get enthralled is through beating your competition, selling at the best moment, and getting rich no matter what. While the game may have its flaws, especially with replay value, it is worth experiencing and maybe you will get engrossed in the game of stock trading.
Score: 7/10
Check Out The Invisible Hand Trailer:
For more information, please visit: https://powerstruggle.games/
Steam Review
Gaming has always been an outlet for me to interact with different people and explore all kinds of possibilities. I play a wide variety of games always willing to try different mechanics and storylines that developers are trying to create for their games. I grew up delving into MW2 and World of Warcraft, I miss the Wrath of The Lich King days, and as I have gotten older I have found a love for RPGs and strategy games, my favorites being The Witcher 3 and Total War. Always looking forward to the next great game.
More Stories
Dragon Age: The Veilguard Review for PlayStation 5
Cutting-Edge VR Interactive Experience HUMAN WITHIN Heading to Meta Quest and SteamVR January 9
No More Room in Hell 2 Review for Steam Early Access