Clock-out Denied

Roadmap Thank you to everyone who has tried the demo and hit the wishlist button so far. Crossing 500 wishlists is a solid milestone for the project, and with the free demo currently playable on our Steam page, we wanted to share our development roadmap so you know exactly what is in the pipeline. Early Access Release 0.1 Our initial Early Access launch expands role variety, controls, and match pacing. - The Director enters as a new boss archetype. This boss trades movement speed for a wide, 360-degree flashlight beam to catch employees off guard. - The Intern arrives as a new playable employee archetype. - The Startup map drops players into a messy, cluttered office environment where navigating narrow spaces while managing tasks is critical. - Promotion Mode changes the match dynamic entirely. When the boss successfully signs an employee up for overtime, that employee becomes a boss as well. - Two confidential worker tasks will be added to the general objective rotation. - Native gamepad support will be fully integrated. Future Minor Updates After the 0.1 launch, we will roll out regular minor patches to keep matches varied: - Additional unannounced Boss archetypes - Additional unannounced Employee archetypes - Brand new map layouts and extra worker tasks Future Major Update: Middle Management Mode Our next major content milestone introduces Middle Management, an undercover social deduction mode built around proximity chat and paranoia. - The Cat avatar is completely disabled for all players. - The Boss enters disguised as an Intern using a Mouse avatar. - The undercover Boss cannot use a flashlight and can only use the Mandatory Overtime ability. - Boss vision is heavily restricted to just a few feet, even when office lights are on. - Proximity chat is essential for employees to figure out who is safe while finishing their tasks and staying separated. If you haven't tried the demo yet, just press the download link above and let us know what you think in the Community Hub, and consider wishlisting the game to stay in the loop for Release 0.1. About the Game It’s 4:57 PM. The office lights are low. The Boss is searching for anyone trying to escape overtime. Clock-out Denied is an asymmetric multiplayer social stealth game where one player becomes The Boss and the rest play as Employees trying to survive the final minutes of the workday. Drag desks, cabinets, and office furniture into place to create shadow corridors, hiding spots, and defensive forts before the hunt begins. When the lights go out, darkness is your best disguise. Before each round, Employees get a short setup phase to reshape the office. Move furniture, block sightlines, and create pockets of darkness across the map. Once the Boss starts hunting, those player-made shadows become your escape routes. But hiding is not enough. Employees must leave cover to complete Slacker Tasks, trigger distractions, and prepare the clock-out machine before time runs out. The Boss is not just another seeker. Each Boss archetype changes how the office feels: The Micromanager sweeps rooms with a wide industrial floodlight and hears whispers from farther away. The Intern moves quickly with a flickering penlight, but can trip over furniture moved by Employees. The Director places temporary security pings and tags Employees from farther away, slowly tightening control over the office. Every Boss forces Employees to rethink their hiding spots, routes, and distractions. The core rule is simple: if you are in total darkness, you are invisible. Stay out of the Boss’s lamp. Use shadows to move across the office. Whisper through proximity voice chat to coordinate with coworkers, mislead the Boss, or panic loudly when someone knocks over a chair at the worst possible time. The office itself can betray you. Client calls, noisy furniture, water cooler slowdowns, and failed tasks can all reveal your position or make the Boss even more dangerous. Every round ends with a mandatory final sprint. When the clock hits the last 10 seconds, surviving Employees must break cover and rush to the clock-out machine. No more hiding. No more waiting. Everyone left alive has to move. The Boss knows exactly where you are going. - Asymmetric multiplayer stealth where one Boss hunts multiple Employees - Dynamic shadow gameplay where total darkness makes Employees invisible - Player-built hiding routes using movable office furniture - Setup Phase for building forts, shadow corridors, and escape paths - Slacker Tasks that force Employees to leave safety and take risks - Boss archetypes with different lights, tools, strengths, and weaknesses - Proximity voice chat for teamwork, deception, and chaotic office panic - Final 10-second sprint where every surviving Employee must run for the clock-out machine - Corporate noir style with high-contrast lighting and a darkly comedic office setting The Boss has a list of overtime. You are on it. Hide in the shadows you built, finish your tasks, and clock out before the office claims another shift.