The Onion, long known for its sharp political satire, has ventured into video game development with the release of its first title, The Onion Voting Simulator 3D. Available for free on Steam, the game aims to lampoon American democracy and the electoral process.
The game, inspired by PC classics like Chex Quest, was released on The Onion’s website earlier this month and has now made its way to Steam. The decision to create a game stemmed from a period of creative freedom following the publication’s acquisition by Global Tetrahedron.
Mike Gillis, head writer at The Onion, explained in an interview with Polygon that the idea for a game emerged about two and a half years ago, shortly after the site was sold by its previous owner. Gillis, who had been experimenting with the Godot game engine, developed a prototype for a short 3D “voting simulator.” The publication’s management embraced the concept, but the timing of the 2024 presidential election led to a strategic decision to delay the release.
"It felt like, well, if we're putting something out that is like, ‘This entire thing is worthless, this is a waste of your time,’ what are we saying there?" Gillis stated, explaining that the midterms in 2026 felt like a more appropriate time for the game's satirical message.
The Onion Voting Simulator 3D places players in a middle-school gym where they must navigate a series of obstacles to cast a vote. These challenges include long waiting lines, requirements for various forms of identification, and a surreal representation of the G/O Media corporate offices burning beneath the floorboards. For those seeking a less stressful experience, a "Stay At Home Mode" is also available, allowing players to simulate smoking marijuana on their couch.
Gillis clarified that the game is not intended to suggest that voting is unimportant, acknowledging the significance of the upcoming midterms. Instead, the game aims to reflect the frustration and feelings of powerlessness that many people experience within the electoral system. "It really sucks to have to exist in a broken system, where you can feel like a peon who has only a modicum of impact on the average race," he said.
Inspiration for the game's satirical framework was drawn from titles like The Stanley Parable, which plays with player autonomy and narrative. Gillis invoked The Onion’s Latin motto, “Tu stultus es,” meaning “You are dumb,” suggesting the game critiques the illusion of choice in modern American democracy.
The current era of independent ownership under Global Tetrahedron has fostered experimentation at The Onion, leading to projects like its takeover of InfoWars and now The Onion Voting Simulator 3D. Gillis believes that gaming offers unique avenues for satire, especially with a more stable online platform. The positive reception to the voting simulator suggests that The Onion may release more games in the future, provided they offer a fittingly humorous perspective on player experiences.
"I think humor is just, like, finding surprising ways to make a person fail," Gillis concluded.
