Domain-Controller is an indie casual simulation game set on PC that places players in the role of a new IT support hire at a secretive research facility. The core premise combines everyday helpdesk tasks with the unusual setting of a lab that houses zombies, all managed through authentic Windows administration tools. Players handle a ticket queue involving password resets, printer issues, Wi-Fi problems, and hardware troubleshooting while also managing domain-joined systems like door controllers, cameras, and sensors. The experience unfolds across a strict ten-day structure that progressively unlocks access to deeper facility levels.
Gameplay
The gameplay centers on a first-person perspective where the primary interface is a functional PowerShell console. Commands such as Get-ADUser, Add-ADGroupMember, Get-WinEvent, and Invoke-Command operate exactly as they would in a real Windows environment, complete with authentic error messages and behaviors. Each day grants access to one additional floor in the multi-level facility, starting from the offices on the top level and descending through observation areas, dosing and telemetry sections, records storage, cell blocks, the plant, and the comms core. Progression teaches specific administrative skills tied to each floor, including access group management, event log analysis, replication processes, certificate handling, and recovery of deleted objects.
Many tasks require physical movement through the building to reach workstations or interact with staff who submitted tickets. This introduces opportunities to observe the facility's unusual residents up close. When containment issues arise, the building enters lockdown, forcing resolution through the terminal by restarting services, correcting group memberships, or tracing problems in logs. Failure leads to a reset in a decontamination area without ending the overall run, as time continues to advance. Previous staff members have left behind runbooks on each floor along with accounts, scheduled tasks, and replication setups that contain inconsistencies requiring investigation.
Game Modes
The game features a single structured campaign presented as a ten-day run. This linear progression enforces a fixed sequence where new commands and skills are earned through completing work rather than purchased or selected freely. Lockdowns occur as authored events that replay consistently, each with traceable root causes in the system logs and configurations. There are no alternate modes, multiplayer options, or branching campaigns confirmed at this stage.
Core Mechanics and Progression
Progression relies on real administrative workflows rather than abstracted game systems. Remote management tools have limits, pushing players to investigate issues on-site when necessary. The infrastructure itself serves as an ongoing puzzle, with legacy elements from the prior administrator creating complications that interact with the facility's containment protocols. Each floor builds on the last by introducing one focused skill area, ensuring steady advancement without overwhelming new players unfamiliar with PowerShell or Active Directory concepts.
Is It Worth Playing?
Domain-Controller appeals to players interested in simulation experiences that incorporate genuine technical skills alongside narrative elements. The ten-day structure provides a contained, repeatable loop focused on problem-solving in a controlled environment. As an unreleased title scheduled for Q4 2026, it currently has no player reviews or ratings available. Those drawn to precise system administration tasks in an unconventional setting may find the approach distinctive, while players seeking action, exploration variety, or multiplayer features will encounter a narrower scope limited to the single-player campaign. Availability will depend on the final release on PC.