In 1789, Benjamin Franklin famously quipped that in this world, nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes. Centuries later, that very phrase inspired an independent video game that has captured the morbid curiosity of players worldwide. While the original PC version launched in February 2020, a special digital-only version arrived on the Nintendo Switch eShop on September 10, 2020, bringing its unique blend of bureaucracy, dark humor, and existential dread to Nintendo's hybrid console.
It features a blend of dark humor, philosophical questions, and corporate satire.
, the Switch version offers a portable way to experience the mundane life of a Grim Reaper. Core Gameplay Features Death And Taxes Nintendo Switch Gameplay death and taxes switch nsp eshop exclusive
While it is a console exclusive for a period in certain narrative contexts, it is also available on PC (Steam/Itch.io) and was later ported to Xbox and PlayStation. NSP Reference:
Have you played Death and Taxes? Which ending did you get first? Let me know in the comments below. In 1789, Benjamin Franklin famously quipped that in
: The game features a branching storyline with over 30 possible endings based on your moral choices. Review Highlights
Originally developed by Estonian indie developer Leene Künnap under the studio name Placeholder Gameworks, Death and Taxes was released for PC on February 20, 2020, before making its way to consoles. The premise is brilliantly absurd: you take on the role of the Grim Reaper, not as a cloaked wraith reaping souls with a scythe, but as a lowly office employee. It features a blend of dark humor, philosophical
For under fifteen dollars at standard pricing, the game provides immense replayability via multiple branching narrative paths, secret endings, and customizable Reaper aesthetics. Details & Specifications $12.99 USD on the eShop Download Size Playable Modes TV, Tabletop, Handheld Control Features Full Joy-Con & Touch Screen Support Completion Time 3 hours (Main Story) to 17+ hours (All Endings) The Reality of the "eShop Exclusive" Status
The gameplay loop is deceptively simple. You are presented with a profile containing a person's age, occupation, hobbies, and a snippet of their personality. Using a set of rules provided by your employer (Fate), you must decide who stays and who goes.
Death and Taxes on Switch is exactly that. There was no physical cartridge release at launch. To get the game on your system, you must visit the eShop, pay the standard price (often on sale for as low as a few dollars), and download it directly to your console. In Europe, for example, the game is explicitly listed as "eShop uniquement" or exclusively on the eShop. This is a common route for indie titles, allowing developers to bring their creations to a wide audience without the significant overhead of manufacturing physical media.