Disclaimer: A code for CorpoNation: The Sorting Process was provided by Playtonic Games for the purpose of this review. With that said, all opinions expressed in this review are that of the author.
A dark parodical take on corporate working life set in an isolated dystopian, Playtonic Games’ CorpoNation: The Sorting Process puts you in the lifelong role of a Lab Technician at the Ringo CorpoNation. In this corporately owned state, the Big Brother-esque bosses are always watching.
I love a dystopian narrative. Be it hiding from alien invaders by living a miserable life underground like in the Metro series, or the harsh realities faced by refugees fleeing a war-torn country in Papers, Please, something is compelling about playing through a vision of a possible future. Despite the sometimes drastic difference in period or setting, there’s always something very human at the core of each narrative any player can empathise with that can make you realise the world of a game is often a lot closer to ours than we think. After all, dystopias aren’t a prediction for the future, they’re an assessment and product of the present.
With that said, CorpoNation is dreary and monotonous to play through – but that’s the point. During the day your job is to play through a sorting mini-game, putting the correct genetic cards in the right pile as efficiently as possible. The Ringo CorpoNation rewards diligent workers with higher pay packets, whilst mistakes are dealt with harshly (penalties, warnings, or worse).
After a hard day’s work, players are sent back to their windowless pod to rest, pay bills, and play two state-approved video games. This included solitaire and a rather fun Street Fighter-style 2D fighting game. Players are encouraged to invest in the local economy by purchasing decorations to liven up their pod. It’s a simple process: work hard, buy, play, sleep. Never question a thing.
You’re constantly being reminded of the importance of working hard. Whether it’s the emails players receive from other colleagues or on-screen pop-ups of the Ringo Raccoon company mascot reprimanding anyone who asks too many questions. Though the sorting process aspect gets boring quickly, new elements and challenges make their way in as the weeks progress. The manager needs players to occasionally break protocol and flex to their needs, constantly building on the established rule set and making it easy to forget the right way of sorting cards. There’s plenty of satirical instructions and dialogue to read reminiscent of the “pushing buttons” kinds of jokes in The Stanley Parable, albeit, nowhere near the same level of absurd or funny.
Shortly into the game, players are approached by members of Synthesia, a group of dissidents acting as the opposing force resisting the Ringo CorpoNation. Players can choose to provide them with some of their hard-earned corporate-approved cash and sabotage the sorting process with the hopes of aiding them in an uprising. On the other hand, players can also ignore any of these calls to action and report any of their coworkers they suspect to be affiliated with Synthesia.
Unfortunately, no matter what choice players make, it doesn’t amount to much. Sending money to help Synthesia members rarely gets recognised, nor is there any long-term benefit to siding with the Ringo CorpoNation. Whilst realistic, it makes the game feel hollow. Players are free to make their choices, but rarely will they face the consequences of them or feel much progress through the main story. Instead, it’s back to the same repetitive minigames for hours on end, hoping that something will change.
The Verdict
CorpoNation: The Sorting Process has an interesting concept and is a well-designed simulation of the monotony of slaving away in corporate work. The world of CorpoNation has some great potential and is an environment players could really sink their teeth into. The simple gameplay is fairly accessible, but with only a small handful of activities to break up the boring minigame cycle, it’s hard to get fully invested with so little reward.
With a fairly hollow story at its core, it’s a shame that the agency players have when it comes to making choices has very limited impact. It certainly didn’t pull at my heartstrings or instil the same sense of dread I felt reading George Orwell’s 1984. With that said, the game is rather fun for at least the first few hours – that is, until players get sick of it.
Our Score: 2/5
CorpoNation: The Sorting Process is now available on Steam.
Words by Kieran Webb
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