PCGame

SIDE EFFECTS

Turn-based medical roulette where unknown pills can kill you

hirohun, Mr.Pootsley, Jaybooty, Lofar42 · Published by Free Lives · Released Nov 21, 2025

IndieStrategy

Reviews
Very Positive
83% of 924
Recent reviews
Very Positive
85% of 28 in 30 days
Players
9
daily peak, Oct 28, 2026
Steam Deck
Verified
Last update on Steam
10 months ago
Dec 17, 2025
Minimum PC
Relatively modern dedicte…
2 GB RAM · 0.5 GB disk
Full requirements

What is SIDE EFFECTS?

A first-person strategy game about surviving a medical trial. You take pills with unknown effects, keep your resistance above zero, and choose experimental items and treatments between rounds to improve your odds. Play alone or compete to be the last survivor in online matches for up to four players.

For you if...

  • +you enjoy bluffing and adapting to an opponent's choices
  • +you like dark, surreal horror settings

Not for you if...

  • −you prefer predictable outcomes over gambling with each turn
  • −you want teammates working toward a shared victory

What players say

83% of 924 reviews are positive · 85% of 28 in the last 30 days

Players praise the pill-based roulette concept. Earlier reviews report freezes, soft-locks, and matches failing to start, alongside complaints about players quitting lobbies. Difficulty finding opponents also appears in newer feedback.

Screenshots and trailer

SIDE EFFECTS screenshot 1

SIDE EFFECTS system requirements

Minimum: Relatively modern dedicte…, 2 GB RAM, 0.5 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

Can my PC run SIDE EFFECTS?

Tell us your graphics card once and every game page will answer this for you.

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Minimum

OS
Windows 10
Processor
Intel Core i3
Graphics
Relatively modern dedicted graphics card (Vulkan support required)
Memory
2 GB RAM
Storage
500 MB available space
Notes
Vulkan support required

Recommended

OS
Windows 10
Processor
Intel Core i5
Graphics
Relatively modern dedicted graphics card (Vulkan support required)
Memory
4 GB RAM
Storage
500 MB available space
Notes
Vulkan support required

Does SIDE EFFECTS have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: PvP online. It also has a single-player mode.

Does SIDE EFFECTS run on Steam Deck?

Verified Yes, Verified by Valve: it works on Steam Deck out of the box.

  • All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
  • In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
  • Default graphics settings perform well on Steam Deck
  • Singleplayer gameplay requires active internet connection

PC version details

DRM
None declared on Steam
Controller
Keyboard and mouse
Platforms
Windows
Steam features
Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Languages
Text only: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Simplified Chinese.

Does SIDE EFFECTS use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam

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