Happy Clinic, the latest game from Nordcurrent, is a fast-paced time-management game set in the bustling environment of a city hospital that's just launched on mobile. The game puts the player in the shoes of a nurse faced with endless scenarios and challenges, helping doctors to treat any patient in need of some TLC.
They'll also be able to upgrade and improve their hospital with a selection of different staff hires and equipment options, making their tasks easier (or harder) as the days progress. The player character, a nurse named Maria, will also have her own story, revealing memories and details of her life as the player progresses.
As stressful as that premise has the potential to be, CEO of Nordcurrent Viktorija Trofimova says they intentionally kept Happy Clinic lighthearted. "Our goal was to paint the hospital environment in happy, positive colours," she said, "to give players a bright perspective of healthcare. We purposefully avoided dramatic situations and failures that one might expect from a hospital game, but kept the challenge curve rising in different ways so that the players could feel their skillful play rewarded".
Nordcurrent tested their new game on healthcare professionals before launch, to try and portray some of the issues, stresses, and challenges facing them on a daily basis. Anesthesiologist Ričardas Peldžius said of the game: "There is one obvious similarity between Happy Clinic and a real one, that is continuous and often unexpected challenges of solving bottleneck problems". He also commented that the game hits just the right tone when he's in need of a relaxation break - and sends a strong message regarding the critical role of the nurse in a hospital.
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Although Happy Clinic is primarily a source of casual mobile fun, the developers did want the role of a nurse to become clearer to anyone who plays the game. Many of the ailments or situations are toned down for entertainment purposes, but the scope, diversity, and tempo is as close to real life as they could simulate. Various elements of hospital infrastructure are crucial to gameplay, along with a demonstration of how important it is to have high quality equipment in a medical setting.
Players can research new medicines, and learn which specialist is fit for which job. Patients will all have unique combinations of personalities and illnesses, meaning players can get to know a range of friendly faces from across the world. Time is short on every shift, so the better a player learns the ropes, the more effective their hospital will be.
Each level increases the pressure, enabling the player to invest in better working conditions and more staff to help them cure each patient efficiently. Put in the position of effectively running the hospital, Nordcurrent hopes this will illustrate to players just how much pressure emergency room staff are under. It's undeniably tricky at times, but the quick-to-learn gameplay ensures that it remains a relaxing casual game amidst the challenges. There's also an endless mode for improving your skills or just continuing the fun, perfect for keeping entertained anywhere from the sofa to clinic waiting rooms.
Happy Clinic is free to play - try it yourself today on Google Play or the App Store.