Graduate School Simulator: Countdown to Graduation

Game premise and objectives

Graduate School Simulator: Countdown to Graduation is a simulation game focused on the graduate school experience. Players must navigate a three-year timeline filled with academic responsibilities and life decisions, ultimately working toward graduation while managing limited resources and deadlines. The game abstracts real-life challenges, posing a central question to players: how would you utilize your time during graduate school to graduate with dignity?

Core mechanics

The core gameplay draws inspiration from mahjong and poker. Players read academic papers and extract research points from various fields to construct their own thesis or advance research projects. This involves skimming abstracts to decide which papers warrant deeper study. To successfully write a paper, you need three research points from each of four research directions, achieved through specific combinations including matching points and progressive runs.