2022 has been an incredible year so far for indie titles and with only a few months left to cram in, there is still time to shine for the smaller teams. Family Man is a game that instantly grabbed my attention partly because No More Robots is publishing it and they have a track record for getting fantastic experiences out there. Not only that though, but this is also the work of a solo developer from Broken Bear Games.

There have been many decent efforts out there from one-person projects and I always have maximum respect for them as it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and risk to pile in all the hours they do. Not only are you gambling with how well the game will be received, but you are also responsible for marketing it on strict budgets. Let me tell you before we dive in any further though, I had a fantastic time with this one and it is surprisingly addictive to the point you’ll want to take several runs at it.

Introduction

Family Man has enjoyed success on Windows PC launching just after the hammer blow of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. Two and a half years down the line and now players on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch have their chance to get hands-on. I’ll try my best not to drop any spoilers here since I feel it’s best that the player gets the opportunity to uncover it for themselves. Family Man is a dark, gritty story-driven RPG that comes close to a virtual Breaking Bad situation. You’ve landed yourself in some deep shit and a shedload of debt and now you have three weeks to pay back what you owe. Everything is on the line, your reputation and the lives of your family.

I won’t disclose how you made it down this dark path, the game will tell that tale. You now, however, have some tough choices to make whilst you have the mob breathing down your neck for the money. Do you try and earn an honest living working in the local burger chain or do you go around ferrying dodgy gear from A to B and being a hitman? The decision is yours but be careful with how you go about each day because if the money isn’t there, it’s game over. Also, you must ensure your family life is happy, comfortable and exciting, failure to do this will result in them walking out on you.

Gameplay

Since the game is played over a three-week period, you have to utilise and spend time wisely. Each day you’ll wake up at home and you can choose to spend a bit of time with the partner and child or get the chores done. Just made sure there is food in the fridge, or your family will starve because your partner is bone idle and expects you to do all the running around.

The premise is very simple and that is to ensure that you earn enough dollars to pay what you owe on a daily basis and dispatch it into a safe before bedtime. Cash can be earned by running errands for the locals, working in the fast-food joint or doing jobs for the mob that are massively illegal. Get caught committing a crime though and you’ll end up in the slammer which drains the clock when you could be earning dough.

The control scheme is super simple and the most casual of gamers will easily adjust to Family Man. How you choose to operate on a daily basis is totally up to you, since there are plenty of local characters with quests on offer, you can soon get money flowing in. Time is a huge factor though as if you’re home late, your wife/husband is pissed off and your kid is sad because you didn’t read them a bedtime story. You’ll have to ensure that you keep some money aside for food for your family as this is a game-ender if they go hungry.

Balance Home & Work Life

I did find it difficult to juggle making money with keeping things alright at home. The basic needs and requirements are displayed to the top left of the screen, so you know exactly what to focus on. You may have to sacrifice a night in front of the TV to venture out after dark to make sure you keep paying off those debts. As you progress there are certain perks you can unlock to make the game a little less punishing in the difficult periods.

Graphics & Audio

Visually Family Man is essentially a world made from blocky assets and animations. Similar to what you’d be presented with from Minecraft or Roblox, I thought I’d be turned off by this, but I found it didn’t matter. The storyline and gameplay style compliments this art style and whilst it doesn’t blow you away graphically the entire package is illustrated with vibrancy. Colours are bright but blend into the world of Riverport to give it that small community feel.

When it comes to audio there is very little to speak of apart from some calming music and some sound effects that echo the actions that occur on screen.

In Conclusion

Family Man is a highlight of 2022 for me and establishes itself as one of the most memorable indies I’ll ever play. It’s also proof that not all games require the triple-A treatment to be outstanding. I found it insane that I had emotional connections with the characters even though they are presented as Minecraft-Esque figures. I felt instantly guilty if I didn’t go home and read my kid a bedtime story or go and fill the fridge with food. Balancing the life of paying off debt and keeping the family happy was a combination that was a little frustrating at times but was essential to the adventure to make it as good as it is.

Just Buy It!

I especially loved the witty dialogue from some of the characters and the sarcasm from others. Whilst the game world isn’t exactly vast in size, it felt like there was plenty of stuff to do with quests and engagement with members of the community. Whilst all the narrative was text-based, I was so consumed with the enjoyment of the game that I wanted to read every single word and I liked that the choices you make had potentially different outcomes across Riverport.

Family Man takes a great story and concept and runs with it, and I’d urge anyone to go and buy it. Whilst each run may only take 4-5 hours, each outcome can be different and alternative life partners can be chosen. At its low price point, it is well worth every single penny you’ll pay, and I adored the adventure. Hats off to the solo dev and Broken Bear Games and also No More Robots for giving console players the opportunity to experience this indie gem.