Jackpot Crash Course Review (PC)

Going into Jackpot Crash Course, I honestly didn’t expect it to turn into something straight out of Squid Game or The Hunger Games. I thought I was getting a simple visual novel to pass the time, but instead, I found myself pulled into a bizarre world of crime, punishment, and emotionally crushing decisions. The game wastes no time throwing you into the chaos, and before long, every choice started feeling unbearably heavy. Somehow, though, that emotional damage is exactly what kept me hooked. It’s a short but deeply moving experience, one that constantly made me want to jump back in and see if I could make better choices and save myself from the regret.

Funny how this special hidden gem is free on Steam. I still am in disbelief that a hidden gem this special demands no money from me. All I needed to do was download it, and voila, I was all set to go on an adventure I’ll long remember. Although the game comes from indie devs RachelDrawsThis, Ekrix, and Bell Kalengar, they’ve worked on previous impressive projects. RachelDrawsThis is known for her story-driven thriller games, developed on RPG Maker. While often short, they leave a lasting impression, and I’m always on the lookout for more of her games. 

Still, my expectation for Jackpot Crash Course wasn’t set in stone. Reading the blurb, it gave me the impression of a story that could totally go off-topic. Anything involving criminals competing to survive could take all kinds of turns for the worse. But also, possibly unexpected turns that reveal the untapped kindness of humanity. With an open mind, I stepped into the game’s world of Modos, unsure what I’d find.

Tough Times

The star of the show is the story. Jackpot Crash Course has such a deceptively inconsequential story. But you dig deeper into it and realize just how heavy its themes are. What stuck out to me was that 12 criminals would be fighting to stay alive. They’ll do so by playing casino games like Blackjack and Roulette. And I thought that would be the main gameplay where I’d spend most of my time. Turns out, Jackpot Crash Course goes against all odds and actually tells a profound story. 

The world of Modos has become overly corrupt. Corporations are greedier than ever, and crime rates have gone up. And the authorities respond by enforcing harsher crime and punishment. It’s a solution that works for some time, before it creates another problem of crowded prisons. Prisons that are, mind you, already underfunded by the government. And so, you have criminals suffering illnesses and malnutrition, with no hope in sight. 

At least until private companies come in, offering the chance to participate in the Bet and Forgive competition. It’s a tough competition to get into, but criminals still apply because winning could mean freedom. Even the criminals on death row could very well walk free. It’s a deal too good to be true, of course. And you find out why soon enough, when you realize that you’ll be the person in charge of who lives and who dies. There can only be one winner out of 12 contestants. How do you choose who dies and who gets to walk free? 

Favorite One

Through favorites, of course. It’s the staple in film, media, and even real life, where the people who are most loved are more protected. The ones with big personalities that are like a magnet, drawing you closer to them. It’s interesting because at the start of Jackpot Crash Course, all the contestants are criminals. And worse, these are criminals on death row. So, they must have done terrible things to receive the worst punishment. 

It’d totally ruin the experience to know what exactly the contestants did, and I’m glad Jackpot Crash Course holds these cards close to its chest. Instead, you get to learn about these characters for the first time through the game’s visual novel gameplay style. All you have are text-based stories and dialogue that I actually had fun with acting out with a friend. It’s strong writing that fleshes out the characters’ personalities so much that you form close bonds with them. 

You’ll definitely land on personal favorites, whether it’s their corny jokes or dark humor. The overall tone of the writing is dark comedy. So, you might find some places a little broody. But it’s all fun to unravel, never crossing the line too far. Plus, you’ll even find some flirtations pretty enthralling. One character is pretty aggressive with their flirting, and you find yourself rooting for them to succeed in wooing their love interest. 

Emotional Rollercoaster

The story is so well written, in fact, that there are characters you’ll hate. And that’s a pretty impressive feat to achieve that shows how moving each of the characters is to stir such strong emotions in you. And that’s the point, really, for Jackpot Crash Course, which calls itself a “death game.” The stakes are so high. Death is very much a possibility for any of the characters. No one is safe until you reach the end and are left with only one winner.

So, how do you pick them off? Which character do you kill first? Which one do you still entertain to let them hang around? The more characters you kill, the tougher it gets as well. It might be relatively easier to kill off a character in the beginning, and hardly feel anything. But the more you form stronger bonds with the characters, the more it gets tougher to kill them off. And at times, you just don’t have a choice. You have to pick the better option, even if the decision still leaves you gut-wrenched. 

Jackpot Crash Course has a way of leaving you totally destroyed. It’s funny because those consequences for your actions are entirely of your own making. No one makes the decision for you but yourself. So, you’re the only one to blame. A silver lining, though, is how you can take different paths. You can replay the game and try out a different route that might lead to a better outcome. And that’s another strong suit of Jackpot Crash Course, how damn replayable it is even after you’ve met all the characters. You just can’t wait to return and experience their highs and lows again.

Jazzy Tunes

As much as the characters are written so deeply, with strong personalities you grow attached to or detest, the visual style does a lot of heavy lifting for your experience. It’s a striking visual palette and style that perfectly fits the dark comedy vibe of the story. But it’s the character designs that are most impressive, with deep contrasts and expressive faces. They convey emotion so easily that help you to believe every word their dialogue says about them.

Meanwhile, the music hits the spot with its charming jazz. With over 25 original tracks that are delightful to bop your head to, the entire playthrough culminates in a sweet, jolly ride. 

And then it all ends too soon. Only the first chapter is currently available for free. The remaining chapters two and three are on the way, and will launch as DLC packages. I’m unsure when exactly they will be available on Steam and itch.io. The devs confirm that they’re in development. Hopefully, they arrive not too long from now because the ending still has me in a chokehold.

Verdict

Jackpot Crash Course is one of those choice-driven narratives that give you the freedom to chart your own path. But they warn you that your decisions actually matter. Greatly, in fact, because they will determine who lives and who dies. But it’s not just death that makes the decisions you make impactful. It’s how the story is so well-written that you form close bonds with the characters. You find yourself attached to certain characters that you root for to survive, only to have to kill them down the line. 

It’ll only take a few hours to complete the game. But you’ll find yourself wanting to go back and discover alternate paths. You’ll want to correct mistakes so bad that you’ll find yourself trying out all the character paths and choices the game offers. At least until the second and third chapters arrive, and the ending can hopefully be given the justice it deserves, because at present, I’m gutted at the tough decisions I’ve had to make. 

I know the stakes are probably going to be much worse playing Blackjack and Roulette, gambling my life away, pretty literally. But I just can’t help falling in love with the charming personalities in Jackpot Crash Course. Their stories are believable, but also have lots of surprises that keep you glued to finding out what happens next, and how those revelations will influence your decision to kill or save them.

Only one of the 160 reviews on Steam has been negative. The rest are glowing recommendations that I absolutely get behind if ever you find a few hours to spare. Remember, you can download it for free.