Lobotomy Corporation
Lobotomy Corporation is a 2018 indie horror rogue-like strategy management simulation video game developed and published by South Korean studio Project Moon for Microsoft Windows. Set in a futuristic dystopia, the game follows the management and operations of the titular energy company that harvests energy from strange and dangerous entities known as "Abnormalities". The premise of Lobotomy Corporation is cited to be inspired by the SCP Foundation, Warehouse 13, and The Cabin in the Woods.
Initially a standalone game, Lobotomy Corporation has become the basis for a connected series of video games, webcomics, and web novels, including the direct sequel deck-building game Library of Ruina, and a connected installment, Limbus Company.
Development
In an interview for GameSpark in 2018, Project Moon CEO Kim Jihoon explained how the development of Lobotomy Corporation began:Kim Jihoon also wrote in the interview that the development team initially consisted of four people, but grew to ten prior to release.
Setting
Lobotomy Corporation is set in the City, a dystopia where 26 mega-corporations known as "the Wings of the World" control the planet. Each corporation begins with a unique letter of the alphabet, from A Corp to Z Corp. Lobotomy Corporation, also called L Corp, is able to produce large amounts of sustainable energy by harvesting it from entities known as Abnormalities.Abnormalities are creatures that are manifested from the human consciousness. They embody deep psychological aspects of humanity. Each Abnormality has its own archetype, which is denoted by its classification number. Some Abnormalities are based on concepts, fears, or ideas, such as The Queen of Hatred and Mountain of Smiling Bodies. Some are tool Abnormalities that have a wide range of effects on your employees, and others are based on fairy tales and old stories, such as Little Red Riding Hooded Mercenary or Snow White's Apple. The corporation’s task is to extract energy from them by managing them safely, though this often requires cruel and morally questionable practices.
Lobotomy Corporation is split into multiple branches and facilities, each one made up of various departments. The game takes place in the facility located under the HQ of Lobotomy Corporation, where each department is managed by a Sephirah.
Reception
The game was released in April 2018. In January 2023, nearly five years after launch, Project Moon reported the game had sold over 1 million copies.In a review for Rock Paper Shotgun, Alec Meer praised the ambience and design of the game, but highlighted an excessive amount of dialogue, compounded by a poor English translation described as "awful", and concluded “Lobotomy Corporation is unnecessarily complicated and too small and repetitive, all at the same time." The English version has since been entirely retranslated.
A sequel, deck-building game Library of Ruina, was released for Windows and Xbox One in August 2021. A third installment, dungeon role-playing game Limbus Company, was released in February 2023.