Job Simulator

Job Simulator is a comedic simulation game in which the player, in a fictional future where all work is done by robots, experiences a parody of four classic jobs – an office worker, a head chef, an auto mechanic, and a store cashier. Each environment is full of interactive objects that can be manipulated in ways that often lead to absurd and comical situations, such as throwing food into a blender, assembling nonsensical sandwiches, or building an engine from the wrong parts.

The game was one of the first to show how well VR can work for simple, playful interaction with objects without requiring precise physics simulation or a realistic story. Graphically it's stylized and colorful, which, combined with cartoonish robots and voice lines, creates a light-hearted atmosphere suitable even for complete VR beginners. During development, Owlchemy Labs put great emphasis on making every interaction intuitive and fun on its own, without the need for complicated instructions or tutorials, which proved key to its broad accessibility.

Job Simulator became one of the most frequently demonstrated VR titles at public events and electronics stores, since it managed to quickly and clearly show the magic of virtual reality even to people who had never tried VR. Its success helped studio Owlchemy Labs build a position as one of the leading developers focused on accessible, humorous VR experiences, and it paved the way for the sequel Vacation Simulator, which further built on a similar concept. The accuracy of hand detection and the ability to perform seemingly mundane activities, such as opening drawers or fidgeting with small objects on a desk, were unusually convincing at the time of release and contributed to the feeling that the player really was in a real office or kitchen. Each of the four environments also contains a number of hidden details and side interactions that reward players for thorough exploration, making the game play out differently even on a second or third playthrough.

Why play it: For anyone who wants to show the magic of virtual reality to people who have never tried VR – the accurate hand detection and mundane activities like opening drawers still feel convincing today.