Therapy Simulator: Finally, a Game That Lets Me Pretend I’m Qualified for Something

If you’ve ever wanted to sit in a therapist’s chair without the years of training, ethical responsibility, or risk of accidentally ruining someone’s life, Therapy Simulator on Steam has arrived to scratch that oddly specific itch and as someone who has willingly played everything from “Gas Station Manager 2021” to “Bee Tycoon,” I dove in headfirst. The game’s Early Access launch feels like a love letter to those of us who enjoy simulations that are less about realism and more about the delightful chaos of pretending to be competent in a profession we absolutely should not be trusted with.

From the moment you start, Therapy Simulator makes it clear that it’s not trying to teach you real psychology. Instead, it embraces the absurdity of human emotion with a cast of patients who swing wildly between heartfelt vulnerability and comedic meltdown, often in the same sentence. Every session plays out like a branching narrative experiment where your dialogue choices can soothe, confuse, or accidentally escalate the situation into something that would make an actual therapist quietly leave the room. And honestly, that’s the charm. The writing leans into humour without losing the tiny spark of sincerity that keeps the whole thing from becoming pure parody. It’s like the game knows therapy is serious, but also knows humans are ridiculous, and it lets both truths coexist in the same conversation.

Because it’s Early Access, the game still has that “freshly assembled IKEA furniture” wobble to it. It's functional, but you’re aware a few screws are missing. The developers are upfront about this, encouraging players to jump in only if they’re comfortable with a work‑in‑progress. Personally, as a connoisseur of janky indie sims, I consider this part of the experience. There’s something endearing about watching a game grow, especially when the devs are active, responsive, and clearly having fun with the concept. The community seems to agree, with early reviews leaning positive and players already swapping stories about their most unhinged patient encounters.

What surprised me most is how replayable it is. Even though the mechanics are simple, the branching dialogue means every session can veer off in unexpected directions. One moment you’re offering calm, grounded advice; the next, you’re knee‑deep in a conversation that feels like it escaped from a sitcom. It’s the kind of game where you finish a session, lean back, and think, “Well, that was a choice I made,” before immediately starting another round to see how badly you can mess things up on purpose.

In its current state, Therapy Simulator is a charming, weird, and surprisingly cosy little narrative sandbox. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, and it doesn’t expect you to either. If you’re the kind of player who enjoys quirky indie experiments, dialogue‑driven chaos, or the general thrill of pretending to be qualified for jobs you absolutely shouldn’t have, this Early Access release is already worth your time. And if the developers keep expanding it with the same playful energy, it might just become one of those cult‑favourite sims people recommend with a knowing grin.

Here at XPN Gaming we don't give review scores to Early Access Titles as it seems unfair to fully rate something that is WIP. However, a full review will be written when the game leaves Early Access :)