The Game of Life

All humans love games. The higher the stakes and the bigger the rewards, the better. So what better way for a government to motivate its citizens to perform their best than to turn life itself into a game?

The rules are simple. During your early childhood, you live in a Nursery, and on your twelfth birthday, you enter the Game of Life. You spend your youth trying to master the Game by proving your loyalty and strength, earning food, weapons, points, and other rewards for accomplishments. If you reach level 150, you're declared a Winner, one of the elite. You'll spend the rest of your days in Finish Line, a scenic clifftop utopia that's about as good as it gets.

However, if you're killed in the Game by another player, you're immediately dispatched from the Game and forced to survive in the harsh, unknown wilderness that is the world outside. There are no second chances. For anyone. Ever.

Cover by @MayTijssen

Highest Ranking: #441 in Science Fiction