Review by Jon Donnis
Philosophers have spent countless hours debating morality and the choices people might make in impossible situations. The Trolley Solution takes one of the most famous thought experiments and turns it into a collection of simple point-and-click minigames.
The premise is straightforward. You are presented with 20 variations of the trolley problem, plus the original, and must decide what you would do when faced with a moral dilemma. Each scenario is paired with its own minigame, giving the experience a little more variety than simply answering a series of questions.
The black and white presentation is simple but effective. It suits the stripped-back nature of the concept and keeps everything easy to understand. There is also some genuine fun to be found in the minigames. One has a Where's Wally-style approach, except you are searching for your trolley, while others provide similarly straightforward challenges.
The problem is that the concept wears thin very quickly. However many variations are added, the basic premise remains the same, and the minigames cannot completely disguise that repetition. Once the novelty disappears, there is little to keep you engaged.
The game is also extremely short. You can work through the main content in around ten minutes, leaving very little reason to return afterwards. The idea has potential, but there simply is not enough depth or variety to make it feel like a substantial game.
That becomes particularly noticeable at £8. The Trolley Solution feels far more suited to being a free or ad-supported title, perhaps as a quick browser or mobile game. At that level, its simplicity and brevity would be much easier to overlook.
There is nothing inherently wrong with what is here. The premise is clever, the presentation is clean and some of the minigames are entertaining. Unfortunately, the limited content means the experience is over almost as soon as it has begun.
The Trolley Solution is a decent idea that needed considerably more content to justify its asking price. It can provide a few minutes of amusement, but there is not enough here to keep you entertained beyond that.
Score: 4/10
Out Now on Steam
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