Order 13 takes the everyday ‘clock in, do your job and clock out’ formula and twists it into a descent you never see coming! A new kind of fear, the one that awaits you in the dark, the one that stalks its prey. Order 13 is the latest in the psychological horror, job simulators. You wake up in a grimy little office, flickering lights, the hum of conveyor belts, a lone computer, and a heavy, suffocating silence. Except for a radio playing soothing music, like being in one of the safe rooms in Resident Evil. But you’re not entirely alone… You’ve got a cat. Yep, your only co-worker is a feline companion. Your mission: journey into the darkness and retrieve customers’ orders before what lurks out there turns you into their dinner! You’ll be handling all kinds of orders, everything from heart-shaped chocolate boxes to toy trains… and yeah, even actual human hearts.
Order 13 sees you as a new worker for The Jolly Box Company, and your mission is to make sure every daily quota is met. Or you may just end up like some of your predecessors, who you will find hanging from the beams or trying to give you a hand…literally! Once the quota has been met, sleep and repeat until you find a way to escape. As each day ends, the difficulty increases. More creatures will stalk you. More orders are pushed further to the back of the warehouse. This makes it longer to collect the order, and of course, new areas are unlocked, like the basement, which can throw a player off entirely.
Each location has its own differences; for example, the warehouse you began in has little to no lighting. So visibility is a major struggle. Smaller creatures will scurry past you, even sometimes standing beside you as you pick up an item. This took some getting used to, so always keep an eye out. This location is more cramped, overfilled with debris, and boxes. There can also be forklifts blocking your path, causing you to divert from your chosen path. Then we have the basement. Although I found this an easier place to explore, once I understood the layout, which goes by alphabetical order. This is also one of the smallest locations in the game, making it more of a challenge when trying to hide or even escape the enemy. As you proceed, the environments get increasingly more difficult and the monsters become more aware and double in numbers.
Each shift starts at your terminal, where you’ll print out customer requests and scan a barcode that points you in the direction of the next collection. Sounds simple, until you realise the place is barely lit, and your only lifeline is the flashlight you have to buy. The scanner tells you where to go. Once you find the spot, you punch in the keypad code and retrieve the item… If nothing gets to you first. But be aware that inside this warehouse, a deformed monster hunts. This becomes aware and sprints at you the moment it sees or hears you. What was supposed to be a punch-in, punch-out job becomes a fight for your life. The game, however, isn’t unfair, as throughout the warehouse, you will find small gaps under the shelving that can be used to hide. Sounds like working at Amazon, right? This job is far from easy. Damn you, Jeff! Once you have collected the item, make your way back to the office and proceed to the conveyor belts. Use a large box and fill it with the protective peanuts, and place your item gently into the box.
*Proceeds to launch the item from across the room*. Don’t forget to use tape and remember to stick the order label to the box, or you will be penalised! Congratulations, you survived your first order. In the bottom left corner, you may notice a bar with a small cat face next to it. If you spend too much time in the warehouse, you will notice this may be close to a ZERO. If so, then there is a very important survival rule.
DON'T LET THE CAT DIE!
Your cat’s bar is not only the cat lifeline, but also your own. Imagine it as a bit of an hour glass, leaving the office will set this timer off! If you take too long, the cat timer drops… FAST! If this hits zero, the cat dies and you fail. Don’t threat as this ain’t a roguelike, you are able to retry the same day.
Once you complete the quota for the orders you will be awarded an income. The money can then be used to make both yours and the cat’s lives easier. You can buy everything from an upgraded scanner that will give you the option to take more orders at once. The flashlight will help you navigate darker areas. A backpack. This allows you to carry more orders, cutting out the back and forth over, and over again. Upgraded ticket holders allow you to take up to three customers at once. The certificates will increase the value of the items. A toolbelt. I have to emphasise on this. You cannot carry both the scanner and flashlight without this. BUY IT ASAP! Trainers remove the slow speed and asthma attack every time you decide to run.
Now we go onto the cat. There are more items which will relax the cat more. The cat’s happiness is the main factor. Buying more things for the cat gives you more time every day. This can vary from food, toys, or even a new bed. The cat can also be made to look how you want. In an update, the developers added more fur styles. I believe it was a good feature to add. It gives players the option to bring their cat into the game. If it’s your fur baby, of course, you’ll become more vigilant and protective. You can also kit your cat out with some cool accessories… I went with a pair of shades for my cat, Milo.
As I progressed further into the game. I noticed the atmosphere got darker. More graphic. I noticed the gore element went from medium to high. Seeing this made me feel uneasy. Who ripped that guy to pieces? Who hung these bodies from the ceiling? Seeing what the monster is capable of adds to the sense of fear. These moments also remind me of times when I’ve been at work. The feeling that you aren’t alone. The developers have played incredibly well on this thought.
Visually, the game looks well-made. It is so gory that YouTube demonetises anyone who shows it in their videos. But graphically, it isn’t a bad-looking game, especially for an indie horror game.
Remember, I told you that if the cat’s life bar hits zero, it dies? Well, that is not the only way to know how badly your cat is suffering, nope. You will hear the most excruciating sound that sounds like a cat being skinned alive! It is a horrible and probably the most unsettling sound in the whole game. I can confirm that the developers at Cybernetic Walrus had to change this sound as it used to be ten times worse, so thanks, guys!
The cat’s scream was a great highlight, even though it still haunts me. It’s just a sound that I will never forget, especially if you are completely oblivious; this will affect you no matter how many times you hear it. I really dread to think what it used to sound like. But amazing work from the developers using a sound to basically indicate to the players to “MOVE NOW”.
If you are into other types of indie psychological horror job simulators, such as the Mortuary Assistant, Autopsy Simulator, then you are in the perfect place. The game is made for those who love doing a job in a game but with a sense that something sinister is afoot. Maybe you like the idea of being told to do a job, knowing you could die at any moment? Because that is exactly what Order 13 is! Now, if horror ain’t your forte. If you would rather play without any scares and gore. Good news! There’s an option to turn all of this off, giving you the chance to just work!
The only downside for me is that there was no story regarding Order 13. There is no lore. Why was I kidnapped? Did I have a choice? What are those creatures? Who was there before me? All I know is that after a few days, I get the chance to escape. I, for one, love a good lore behind any game; that’s why I really enjoy games like FNaF and Poppy Playtime, for example. Those games use notes and recordings to tell more of the story. I’d love to know the answer to all these questions. But for now, those questions will remain a mystery.
Thank you to the team at Cybernetic Walrus and Stijin from Oro Interactive for providing a key for review purposes.
Positives
💚 Unique Concept: Turns a “clock-in, clock-out” job into a clever horror experience.
💚 Atmosphere & Tension: Dark, claustrophobic environments that feel immersive.Increasing difficulty each day creates real dread.
💚 Companion Mechanic: A cat that relies on your performance adds emotional stakes.
💚 Cat Customisation: Style your cat with fur types and accessories.
💚 Upgrades: Buy gear to improve runs and encourage replayability.
💚 Shift Progression: Retry days without roguelike resets.
💚Audio Design: Creepy sound cues, including haunting cat screams.
💚 Gore Factor: Brutal visuals that push boundaries.
💚 Inclusivity: Option to play without horror for a relaxed experience.
Negatives
❌ Lack of Lore: No backstory for your role, the company, or the monsters.
❌ No Collectables: Misses the extra world-building found in games like FNaF or Poppy Playtime.
❌ Cat’s Death Scream: Effective but intense for sensitive players.
Co-owner of Indie Critical. I’m passionate about highlighting independent voices in film, games, and culture. I focus on honest, thoughtful reviews and love helping great indie projects get the recognition they deserve. When I’m not writing or editing, I’m probably diving into the latest hidden gem or discovering the next big thing in the indie scene.
Written by
Lewis Langton
