Play Money Game, The (Japan) Online

You buy stocks and watch your pixelated guy age, juggling market crashes and surprise divorces—it’s oddly gripping despite the clunky menus. That 80s Japanese salaryman struggle hits different.

File size: 160 bytes

Game Overview

Money Game is this weird little NES life-sim where you juggle stocks while trying not to screw up your personal life. At first it feels like a basic market simulator—buy low, sell high, that sort of thing—but then you realize your character actually ages, gets married (or doesn’t), and deals with random life events that throw your portfolio into chaos. The 80s Japanese stock market vibe is oddly charming, even if some of the mechanics are cryptic at first. Definitely one of those "wait, this was on the NES?" kind of games.

It’s got that classic SOFEL jank—menus are clunky, and good luck figuring out some of the events without a guide—but there’s something weirdly compelling about watching your pixelated salaryman either retire rich or crash and burn. Not for everyone, but if you like niche retro sims, it’s a neat time capsule.