Game Ctrl Alt Deal Launches Today on PC and Xbox, PlayStation and Switch Coming Soon
Edmonton-based indie studio Only By Midnight has officially launched its tongue-in-cheek turn-based strategy game, Ctrl Alt Deal, available now for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S at $19.99 USD. Versions for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, with release dates to be announced soon.
Set in the neon-lit, soul-crushing halls of Paperclip International, the game casts players as SCOUT, a plucky AI trying to escape the confines of a capitalist nightmare by turning an eccentric office staff into allies or rivals.
Office Politics With a Deckbuilding Twist
Blending deckbuilding mechanics with tactical strategy, Ctrl Alt Deal challenges players to manipulate a roster of bizarre coworkers into helping SCOUT escape. Whether orchestrating an office romance fueled by passive aggression, winning a pizza party, or unleashing a swarm of bees in HR, players will have to carefully curate their deck of abilities and make every move count.
“This game started with a question: what would you do to escape if you were trapped in a box?” said Jen Laface, co-founder of Only By Midnight. “Watching that idea evolve into Ctrl Alt Deal has been surreal and joyful. We hope players will enjoy building their team of human allies to escape from the nightmare company we created.”
Players must tread carefully: too much mischief risks catching the attention of the Turing Officer, who can permanently delete SCOUT if caught.
Key Features:
- Deck-driven turn-based gameplay wrapped in sharp corporate satire
- Upgradable abilities to craft your escape strategy
- A cast of quirky office workers, each with their motivations
- Neon cyberpunk visuals with eye-catching style
- Multiple endings depending on how (or if) you choose to escape
“Writing corporate satire is harder than you’d think,” said Amber Scott, the game’s lead writer. “Every time I came up with something outrageous, I’d find out a company was already doing it in real life. There’s honestly nothing sadder and funnier than real corporate memos, and we hope players will enjoy the game in that spirit.”
Where to Play
Ctrl Alt Deal is available now on:
- Steam
- GOG
- Xbox Store
for $19.99 USD, with PlayStation and Switch versions to follow soon.
For updates, visit the Only By Midnight team on X/Twitter, Bluesky, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, or join their community on Discord.
About Only By Midnight
Only By Midnight is an independent game studio based in Edmonton, Canada, known for creating visually striking and story-driven games. Their debut title, Curved Space (2021), brought transtemporal space spiders to players everywhere.