Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines Review

Penny’s got a case of the Mondays in the release of hcnone’s comedic visual novel Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines. The corporate world is always a drag, but should players circle back on this one-of-a-kind take?

Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines Review

Corporate drone Penny has wound up in a sticky situation – she’s got a deadline on Monday and made absolutely zero progress on her work. With six designs for the ZINEBOT 6000 that “excite” and “delight” due in two days, she has absolutely no idea what to do. What even is a ZINEBOT 6000 anyway? A bit panicked with her fate, she ends up at the corporate headquarters on a Saturday night to make things right.

Enter the player, who guides Penny on her creative endeavor in this all-too-quiet office. Throughout this visual novel, players will get a chance to know a bit more about this chronic procrastinator, her friends, her boss Miss Whiskey, and other characters – if she doesn’t go off and play phone games first, that is.

This visual novel might have a simple premise and art style, but it also manages to “excite” and “delight” through sheer charm. Corporate is not known for its thrilling atmosphere, but drinking stale coffee, making calls, and having a conversation with a succulent named Lil’ Succ manages to keep things interesting. Without spoiling too much, the title always makes sure to throw things in the most unexpected directions; something that is absolutely refreshing in the genre. The anime stylings don’t hurt either.

One’s actions throughout Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines also liven things up. This isn’t a title one simply reads through (though there is plenty of that); rather, players can think, move, and act at any given time. The corporate office is yours to explore, and there are a number of choices that determine Penny’s fate. Players will see most of this title on their initial go-around, but it is still great to poke around in a way similar to that of Konami’s Snatcher from the SEGA CD days (remember when?).

The title does run a bit on the short side, and the right way to do things is often the most obvious one, but this is one case where the journey is more important than the destination. While there is a bit more player input in this title compared to visual novels that are purely reading, the game gives you all the tools needed to just as easily take a break or take things at your own pace.

Much like the ZINEBOT 6000, Endless Monday: Dreams and Deadlines excites and delights. This visual novel keeps things simple, but it also does the unthinkable by making corporate life the most fun it has been since Office Space – minus the red Swingline stapler.

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