Labor Day is a day of contradictions. On one hand, it is to celebrate the contributions of workers yet, on the other hand, it forces workers to…well…work on the very day that celebrates workers. Usually not for holiday pay or for any sort of extra incentive that should be implemented when working on a holiday – especially one meant to uplift workers. It’s really a holiday for the cushy workers. But for those in sales and food service, it’s just another holiday that means working harder and dealing with more obnoxious customers. Which is why we are offering a list of 10 video game recommendations for Labor Day that all you fine folks, who get today off, can check out and experience life as a downtrodden worker who doesn’t get the holidays off.
Having worked in retail for 15 years, I’m not bitter that everyone else got Labor Day off.
Not…one…bit…
1. Farming Simulator 22
Speaking of professions that don’t take Labor Day off, farmers deserve a lot of respect. Without the farmer’s dedication and efforts, the world wouldn’t be able to progress as it has. So we recommend gamers check out Farming Simulator 22 which will let them tackle the farming experience; allowing players to manage every aspect of modern agriculture. From plowing fields and planting crops to raising livestock and selling produce, even building greenhouses and beehives, the game will let you live the life of a farmer.
Price: $29.99
2. American Truck Simulator
While the farmer is responsible for keeping countries fed, it is the truckers who are needed to bring food from the farm to your plate. Without truckers, stores wouldn’t be able to be stocked on time, if at all. So while you might prefer the vast highways of the United States, just be cognizant that the items you are delivering are vital to keep society going. American Truck Simulator lets you drive through deserts, forests, and urban landscapes as you deliver goods across the country. The game captures the essence of the American trucking industry, making it a fitting tribute to the hardworking truckers who keep the economy moving.
Price: $19.99
3. Euro Truck Simulator 2
For those of you who want the European experience, Euro Truck Simulator 2 also lets you hit the open road as a long-haul trucker delivering cargo across Europe. The game provides a detailed and realistic trucking experience, complete with managing your fuel, following traffic laws, and navigating complex road networks. It’s a great way to experience the laborious life of a trucker.
Price: $19.99
4. Supermarket Simulator
If you’ve had the privilege of never having to work in retail, now is your chance to experience some of that. Supermarket Simulator puts you in charge of running your own grocery store. Manage inventory, serve customers, and ensure your store runs smoothly. The game captures the repetitive yet satisfying nature of retail work, highlighting the importance of organization and customer service. It’s an engaging way to reflect on the often underappreciated labor involved in keeping our supermarkets running.
Price: $12.99
5. Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?!
If you think retail is tough, try the food service industry. Especially for those who enjoy fast-paced, food-related challenges, Cook, Serve, Delicious! 3?! puts you in charge of a food truck, traveling across a post-apocalyptic America and serving up a variety of dishes. The game emphasizes multitasking and quick decision-making in order to mimic the hectic nature of the food service industry.
Think you can handle it?
Price: $19.99
6. Crime Scene Cleaner
Perhaps you want to try something off the beaten path, maybe a job where you can really get into the grime and crime of things. Well, Crime Scene Cleaner gives you the unique task of cleaning up after dastardly deeds have been committed. As a professional cleaner, you must meticulously scrub away evidence, restore order, and make sure no trace of the incident remains. The game’s focus on detail and thoroughness will give you a taste of the often-overlooked labor of cleaning professionals.
Imagine having to do that kind of work on Labor Day. After all, crime stops for no one!
Price: $19.99
7. PowerWash Simulator
However, maybe cleaning blood and guts isn’t for you. Yet you still enjoy cleaning things. You could always go for a more relaxing yet satisfying experience which PowerWash Simulator provides. The game lets you clean various dirty objects and locations using a high-powered water jet. It’s a great way to unwind while appreciating the simple satisfaction of a job well done.
Fortunately for you, you won’t have to deal with annoying customers while playing this game.
Price: $24.99
8. Space Engineers
Of course, you might not be interested in the mundane, terrestrial life of a laborer. So why not go into outer space? In Space Engineers, you take on the role of an astronaut engineer tasked with building and maintaining space stations, ships, and other structures in the great black void. The game’s focus on engineering, problem-solving, and creativity makes it an interesting choice for those who, not only, enjoy hands-on, technical work, but are fascinated with space itself.
A fitting recommendation for those who want to experience the labor of engineers who design and build the infrastructure that powers our world—and beyond in a sci-fi setting.
Price: $19.99
9. Deep Rock Galactic
The hum-drum repetitiveness of labor means that your life is stable, yet mostly uneventful. So our next recommendation throws all of that out the window as a space miner. However, Deep Rock Galactic is not a simulator, but a cooperative first-person shooter where you get to play as a team of space dwarves mining resources on dangerous alien planets. The game combines intense combat with resource management, emphasizing teamwork and strategy. The challenging environment and the need for collaboration make it a great metaphor for the hard work and camaraderie found in many labor-intensive jobs.
Just remember that you are a Dwarf and you’re digging a hole! Diggy Diggy Hole! Diggy diggy hole!
Price: $29.99
10. Papers, Please
The next recommendation is one that should resonate with many people dealing with the negative results of unfettered immigration. Here in America, the Biden-Harris administration has allowed the highest number of criminal aliens to enter our country (minimum of 10 million people), rewarded them (free money, free housing, free food, free benefits), and is even trying to let them vote in our elections.
However, unfettered immigration is not the problem for Papers, Please because immigration is tightly controlled. So you would think it would be easy. Not so.
When it comes to Papers, Please, you take on the role of an immigration officer in the fictional, dystopian country Arstotzka. Your job is to inspect documents and determine who can enter the communist country, making quick decisions that can have far-reaching consequences. The game’s focus on the repetitive, stressful nature of the job and the moral dilemmas it presents makes it a thought-provoking experience that highlights the often-overlooked labor behind border control.
A job where you, as a parent, need it to provide for your family. A fact which can be used against you in ways you may not consider as you try to balance efficiency and morality. Papers, Please may seem simple, its depth elevates it above the rest of the simulators we recommend.
Price: $9.99
Labor Day is certainly a time to recognize and celebrate the value of hard work and these games can offer a unique way to step into the shows of other jobs and do just that. Whether you’re driving a truck across the country, managing a farm, or cleaning up after a crime scene, these games immerse you in the various forms of labor that keep our world running. It is also a reminder that not all jobs are equal. That there are those who have to work on a day that is supposed to “celebrate” their hard work and sacrifice.
So, this Labor Day, take a moment to appreciate the work that goes into these professions. Especially the professions that keep our countries running, food on your plate, and electricity to heat and cool your homes among so many other things you take for granted.
For those you working today, thank you even if you didn’t have a choice. This list was also for you to provide a way to decompress and maybe look at different career paths for something that may improve your life.
Now that you have seen our list, what video games would you recommend people play on Labor Day?
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