Two indie developers just released one of the strangest gaming experiences of 2025. Butter Side Down is a $6 choose-your-own-choice game created by brothers Kalle and Lachlan MacDonald that takes place entirely inside a fake operating system called BC-3. You answer bizarre questions for your job, make phone calls to coworkers who include vampires and French partisan alligators, play card games, and somehow all of this ties together into a genuinely satisfying mystery. It’s weird in the best possible way.
What Even Is This Game
Butter Side Down drops you directly into BC-3, a fully functional virtual computer with absolutely no instructions. Your job is to locate answers to a series of mysterious questions hidden in various files across the desktop. How you find those answers is entirely up to you. You’ll poke around files, make phone calls, play card games, and gradually piece together what’s actually happening in this bizarre world.
The game stars an ensemble cast of genuinely weird characters including Basil Bonser, Adam Spargo, Grey Michael, Beatrice, Jeep Johnson, and Rotten Ruggerio. These aren’t your typical office coworkers. The Money Lady is a vampire (apparently that’s hot but inappropriate to pursue romantically). Your supervisor seems cool but mysterious. There are aliens, jesters, and characters with backgrounds that somehow tie together in a strangely believable way despite being absolutely absurd.
Your Job Is Answering Random Questions
The core mechanic involves answering a series of completely bizarre questions. The topics are all over the place, covering subjects that would make no sense if you tried to narrow them down. That randomness is part of the charm. You’re essentially working a surreal office job where answering nonsensical questions is your responsibility, and commiserating with equally confused coworkers is how you cope.
The second major activity is making phone calls to your colleagues. You have limited conversation options, but each choice reveals something about their character, backstory, or the larger mystery. These interactions are where Butter Side Down shows its writing strength. The dialogue is sharp, funny, and manages to build genuinely interesting characters despite the absurdist tone.
The Fake OS That Feels Real
BC-3 is described as a fully functional, historically accurate virtual computer. You navigate through files, open programs, play card games like Ceremony Gap and Flanagan’s Wager, and interact with various systems that feel surprisingly authentic. Games with fake operating systems have become a legitimate subgenre, with titles like Hypnospace Outlaw and Pony Island using simulated desktops as vehicles for their narratives.
What makes Butter Side Down different is that the OS is practically the entire game. This isn’t just a framing device. The experience of exploring BC-3, discovering hidden files, and figuring out how everything connects is the core of what makes the game engaging. According to reviewers, figuring out what you’re supposed to do isn’t particularly difficult, but actually accomplishing it requires careful exploration and attention to detail.
Humor That Actually Lands
Butter Side Down is fundamentally a collection of jokes, both visual and textual. Reviewers consistently praise the humor, describing it as ranging from amusing to hilarious. Nothing splits sides, but most of it earns respectful nods and genuine laughs. The comedic tone manages to stay consistent without becoming grating or trying too hard.
What’s surprising is that despite the absurdist humor and bizarre world-building, everything leads to a genuinely satisfying ending. Multiple endings, actually. The game features 45 different conclusions depending on how you answer questions and what choices you make. That’s substantial replay value for a game that can be completed in about 80 minutes on your first playthrough.
Made By Two Brothers For Six Bucks
Butter Side Down was created by Kalle MacDonald and Lachlan MacDonald, two brothers who self-published the game on Steam on September 22, 2025. The fact that two people made something this cohesive and polished is genuinely impressive. The game features a dynamic soundtrack that evolves based on your choices, 59 achievements to unlock, and enough secrets hidden in the crevices of BC-3 to keep completionists busy for hours.
At six dollars, the price point is incredibly reasonable. You’re getting a complete experience with multiple endings, substantial replay value if you’re into achievement hunting, and a genuinely unique gaming experience. Reviewers consistently mention that while the game won’t rock your world, it’ll make your afternoon. That’s exactly the kind of modest promise that indie games should be making and delivering on.
Completion Time and Replay Value
A single playthrough takes approximately 80 minutes if you’re focused on reaching an ending. However, with 45 different endings to discover, 59 achievements to unlock, and countless hidden secrets scattered throughout BC-3, dedicated players can extend their time significantly. The question becomes whether you’re the type of player who wants to see everything or just experience the core narrative.
The replayability isn’t just about collecting achievements for the sake of completion. Different choices lead to genuinely different narrative outcomes and character interactions. Exploring alternative paths reveals new jokes, character details, and story elements that add depth to the world. For players who enjoy thorough exploration and experimentation, Butter Side Down rewards that curiosity.
Who Should Play This
Butter Side Down is perfect for players who appreciate weird indie games that take creative risks. If you enjoyed Hypnospace Outlaw, Pony Island, or any game that uses simulated operating systems, this will appeal to you. Fans of interactive fiction and choose-your-own-adventure narratives will find plenty to love. People who appreciate absurdist humor and bizarre world-building where vampires, aliens, and jesters coexist in office environments should definitely check it out.
The game might not appeal to players seeking action, traditional gameplay loops, or serious narratives. This is an experimental narrative experience that prioritizes humor, mystery, and exploration over conventional game mechanics. If you need constant stimulation and fast pacing, Butter Side Down probably won’t hold your attention. But if you’re willing to engage with something genuinely strange and inventive, it’s absolutely worth the six-dollar investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Butter Side Down?
Butter Side Down is a bizarro choose-your-own-choice game where you navigate a fake operating system called BC-3, answer strange questions, make phone calls to bizarre coworkers, play card games, and solve a mystery. It was created by brothers Kalle and Lachlan MacDonald and released on September 22, 2025.
How much does Butter Side Down cost?
The game costs $6 on Steam. It’s a one-time purchase with no microtransactions or additional content costs.
How long does it take to beat Butter Side Down?
A single playthrough takes approximately 80 minutes. However, with 45 different endings and 59 achievements, completionists can spend significantly more time exploring all the content.
What platforms is Butter Side Down available on?
Currently, Butter Side Down is only available on Steam for PC. There are no announced plans for console releases or other platforms.
What kind of game is Butter Side Down?
It’s an interactive fiction game that takes place entirely within a simulated operating system. You navigate through files, answer questions, make phone calls, and play card games while unraveling a mystery. Think of it as a narrative adventure with fake OS exploration mechanics.
How many endings does Butter Side Down have?
The game features 45 different endings depending on your choices and how you answer various questions throughout the game. Some sources suggest there might be even more hidden endings.
Is Butter Side Down multiplayer?
No, Butter Side Down is a single-player experience. The game focuses on personal exploration and narrative choices rather than cooperative or competitive multiplayer.
What makes Butter Side Down unique?
The game’s commitment to its fake OS interface, absurdist humor, and bizarre world-building sets it apart. Unlike other games that use simulated desktops as framing devices, Butter Side Down makes the OS exploration the core experience.
Do I need to be good at computers to play this game?
No. While the game takes place in a simulated operating system, it’s not particularly difficult to figure out. Reviewers consistently note that navigation and understanding what to do isn’t challenging for most players.
Is Butter Side Down appropriate for all ages?
The game’s content rating hasn’t been specified, but the humor and themes suggest it’s aimed at mature audiences. The absurdist tone and office setting imply adult-oriented content, though specific content warnings aren’t prominently featured.
Conclusion
Butter Side Down represents exactly the kind of creative risk-taking that makes indie gaming special. Two brothers made something genuinely weird, inventive, and entertaining for six dollars. It features a fake operating system you actually want to explore, bizarre characters you care about despite their absurdity, and a mystery that delivers a satisfying conclusion after 80 minutes of strange questions and stranger phone calls. Will it change your life? Probably not. Will it make your afternoon memorable and give you something unique to talk about? Absolutely. In an industry increasingly dominated by safe bets and sequel fatigue, Butter Side Down dares to be different. Download it, boot up BC-3, answer those bizarre questions, call your vampire coworker, and see what happens when you embrace the weird. For the price of a fancy coffee, you get an experience unlike anything else released this year. That’s a bargain worth taking.