Project “Last Kilowatt” is a 2D survival game with a diegetic user interface presented as a smart-home tablet. It simulates the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis, requiring the player to divide a limited household budget between utility bills and basic needs.

Gameplay follows a turn-based cycle of 16 simulated hours per day. The player must survive while maintaining the health and morale of a household consisting of a partner and two children. Resource allocation is the central mechanic, requiring constant decisions about heating, electricity and food. Shopping, working and making repairs consume energy points, which depend on household health and morale and directly affect the player’s ability to earn money.

Every decision involves a compromise. Cheap tinned food or switching off the heating reduces costs but damages health and morale. Cutting power to the kitchen causes fresh food to spoil, while leaving the living room in darkness lowers morale. Random global events alter food and utility prices, while unpaid bills can eventually lead to service disconnections. The game can be won, but its final message reminds players that many people experience even harsher living conditions.