Landslide: The Cost of Winning

A satirical political strategy game where every shortcut works. That's the problem.

You're a small-town candidate (pick your animal: beaver, owl, raccoon, hare, tortoise or peacock) running for City Council in Port Calloway, a city where the potholes have more followers than the mayor. Win, and you climb: Mayor, then State Legislature, on the long road to the White House.

WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT
• Every story has three answers: the honest one, the spin, and the corrupt shortcut. The shortcut always helps today. It always costs you later.
• Corruption is never shown as a number. You see it creeping in: the screen turns purple, a journalist starts circling, a federal-inquiry headline appears.
• Sal calls. You don't know what he wants until you pick up. Declining means never finding out.
• A living city map: send your canvassers, hold rallies, and beat your opponent's campaign bus to the neighbourhoods that matter.
• Live timed debates with zingers that can backfire, then an election-night count, area by area.

HOW TO PLAY
• Free, no download, no account. Open www.backroomdealgames.com in your browser. It's built for phones (portrait) but works on desktop too.
• Tap "Run for City Council", make your candidate and start. Short tips guide you through the first story.
• The first race takes roughly 10–15 minutes. Keep going if you're enjoying it.

WHAT I'D LOVE FROM YOU
• Play at least the first race (City Council) to election night.
• Tell me where you got confused, bored or stuck, and anything you didn't understand.
• Did you take the corrupt shortcuts? Why or why not?
• Were the story cards too long to read?
• Did tapping the story pin on the map feel meaningful, or just like a "Next" button?
• Would you play the next race? What would make you want to?
• Your device and browser, plus a screenshot of any bug.

All characters are fictional animals. Any resemblance to real politicians is their fault.