Autism Simulator

About Autism Simulator

You’re an autistic software engineer starting another week at a job that feels like walking a tightrope. The game doesn’t give you a sword or magic powers, just a keyboard, a cubicle, and the constant pressure to blend in.

Every morning, you pull on your headphones, double-check your facial expressions, and practice your good morning tone. It’s not acting exactly - it’s survival. The rules of the office are invisible but rigid: don’t talk too long about your interests, don’t flinch at sudden noises, and definitely don’t look too uncomfortable in the break room.

What Masking Feels Like

Masking is the core mechanic of the game. It’s the quiet performance of being fine. You conceal the hand gestures that aid concentration, mimic speech rhythms, and mirror subtle movements. You appear to others to be the ideal teammate: calm, competent, and trustworthy. But on the inside, you're balancing a dozen invisible tasks to stay up to date.

The catch? Every minute you spend pretending costs you Energy, one of the game’s key stats. Run out, and your mask starts to slip - maybe you miss a social cue, react too bluntly in a meeting, or freeze under pressure. Suddenly, the safe routine starts to crack.

Stats and Survival

Created by Josh C. Simmons and hosted on Vercel, Autism Simulator is a narrative-driven, stat-based simulation about surviving a workplace designed for neurotypicals. Players balance four key metrics:

• Energy
• Masking
• Competence
• Relationships

The challenge isn’t to win - it’s to make it through the week without collapsing under invisible pressure.

A Glimpse Into Everyday Struggle

The game captures the subtleties that words rarely convey: the flickering lights that seem too bright, the overlapping voices in an open office that never quite fade away, the exhaustion that sets in before lunch. It’s not dramatic, just real. For autistic players, it may feel achingly familiar. For neurotypical players, it’s a window into why so many autistic professionals end each day feeling hollowed out.

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