Let’s find out

I’m playingRusty’s Retirementas I key in this article.

This cute farming sim runs at the bottom of your screen as you go about your working day.

Where are the running totals!?

The title screen for Rusty’s Retirement, an idle game you can play over the top of other work.

I can’t find the running t- oh, they’re under the turnips.

But can you actually play “idle games” like this while getting your work day done?

Aren’t they distracting and obstructive?

Chatting with work mates while playing farming sim Rusty’s Retirement.

These are important questions.

Wednesday

Like I say, these games are often called “idlers”.

The name is half accurate.

The main menu of Hades 2 is running while Rusty’s Retirement lies on top of the same screen.

But you will always step back.

They are the dream of “passive income” made fleetingly real.

Mere trickery, beneath those of us with refined tastes.

Hades 2 is running while Rusty’s Retirement plays over the top on the same screen.

I plant some wheat and am immediately addicted.

I sow a field while piecing together a news story abouta troupe of Fallout 76 actors.

He is very slow.

A journalist checks their article before publishing, while playing Rusty’s Retirement.

Which makes sense, as he is retired.

I do lots more work today.

I just don’t remember what it was.

A screenshot of a video game news story being written while the author plays Rusty’s Retirement.

Thursday

I start my day by buying a bench for Rusty to sit on.

But I have an important assignment in real life.

Deadlines are important in this business and the pressure is always on.

However, I must also ensure Rusty is harvesting his leaks and carrots.

I cannot neglect the farm.

This will be a challenge.

I can corroborate this fact.

I plant many new crops: corn, onions, lettuce.

I buy more plots of land to exploit.

I install biofuel generators and build a stall for a mouse-like being who sells cosmetics.

20 minutes of the work day vanishes in nit-picky rearranging of robot stations.

Friday

My top tip for progressing in Rusty’s Retirement is to turn the music off at once.

I promise to get it done.

I draft a news story aboutMarvel vs. Capcom Infinite, with one bazillion tabs open.

I plant blueberry bushes and desperately flail between SEO documents and watering bots.

My heart is pounding.

It is a revelation.

I no longer need to play the game at all.

Verdict: can you really work while playing Rusty’s Retirement?

I am a video game journalist.

It is that simple.

formulating a coherent working routine?

I leave that question to the neuroscientists.

Personally, I feel my productivity may have improved.

After all, I got this piece written while simultaneously writing other (more important) pieces.

It is not one of ourbest farming games.

But it does scratch a certain itch.

I discovered this on my last day of farming.