Link Steam
indiegame.fan
Death and Taxes header art

Death and Taxes

In this 2D, short narrative-based game, you assume the role of the Grim Reaper... on an office job. Your job is to decide which people are going to live or die. The consequences of your choices are yours to bear, while the mystery of your incarnation awaits revelation!

Steam Page
Developer
Placeholder Gameworks
Publisher
Placeholder Gameworks, Hawthorn Games
Release
February 20, 2020
6 years and 165 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive8,457 reviews85.9%

Does this feel indie?

Vote based on whether this game feels indie to you. You can change your vote at any time. Results earn an IGF score after 10 accepted votes.
No votes yet
Vote on More Games
Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Placeholder Gameworks; Hawthorn Games meets the large-publisher game and partner thresholds.
Search Google: Is Death and Taxes self-published or published by Placeholder Gameworks and Hawthorn Games?Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Death and Taxes and Placeholder Gameworks and Hawthorn Games funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Death and Taxes and Placeholder Gameworks?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.
Placeholder Gameworks; Hawthorn Games is listed as a separate publisher for this release.

Media

11 items

About the Game

In this small Indie, short narrative-based game, you take the role of the Grim Reaper... on an office job. Your job is to decide which people are going to live or die. Your choices will affect the world around you. Keep the chaos away or foil plots to destroy the world and rise through the ranks of Reapers all the way up to MIDDLE-MANAGEMENT, wow!

Death and Taxes is a game in the vein of narrative-based indie titles, such as "Papers, Please", "Reigns", "Beholder" and "Animal Inspector", to name a few. The consequences of your choices are yours to bear, while the mystery of your incarnation awaits revelation!

  • Have a.. totally normal.. office job

  • Talk to your boss

  • Get monies

  • Buy stuff from Mortimer’s Plunder Emporium(?)

  • Decorate your desk

  • Do some paperwork

  • Pet the cat??

  • Stare in the mirror and talk to yourself

  • Don’t let the existential dread set in

  • DONT LET IT SET IN (ONLY THE FATE OF HUMANKIND IS IN YOUR HANDS, IT'S 100% OK)

  • Listen to that one really catchy tune in the elevator

Features:

  • Meaningful choices

  • Branching storyline with multiple [SECRET] endings

  • Make-Your-Own-Grim-Reaper!

  • Fully voiced NPCs

  • Original Soundtrack

  • Original artwork featuring watercolour graphics

  • Dialogue options

  • Upgrade shop

  • Twitch integration!

Indie Game Fan