Simulation Games of the 2020s, Part 1 Codexery

Drug Dealer Simulator

A drug-dealing simulation with mixed reviews and basic mechanics.

Drug Dealer Simulator

Drug Dealer Simulator is a 2020 simulation game from developer Byterunners and publisher Movie Games S.A. Players take on the role of a drug dealer who mixes and sells narcotics to build a criminal empire while evading police and the DEA. An in-game mixing table lets players combine substances like amphetamines, baking soda, and ibuprofen into custom drugs, which they can obtain by searching random drop-off points provided by a cartel member named Eddie or by purchasing them at a gas station. Selling high-quality drugs raises the player’s reputation, unlocks more customers, and eventually allows them to control territory in the city. As the empire expands, managing drug compositions becomes critical, as poor mixtures can kill clients.

The game launched on April 16, 2020, to mixed reviews, earning a score of 59 out of 100 on Metacritic from nine critics. Reviewers often called it barebones and lacking challenge beyond police encounters. Josh Hawkins of Shacknews said the game felt like a half-finished early access title, held back by basic systems, though he liked the mixing mechanic and wished for more substances. Rob Gordon of Screen Rant agreed that the game offered little challenge after the introduction and stuck to a repetitive loop. Andy Kelly of PC Gamer described it as ugly, dumb, and clunky but noted it had more effort than other sims of the time. Steve Hogarty of Rock Paper Shotgun found it ugly yet fun, praising its writing and voice acting as entertainingly bizarre.

In April 2025, Movie Games S.A. launched an investigation into another indie drug-dealing game, Schedule I, for alleged IP infringement, which led to a wave of negative user reviews for Drug Dealer Simulator on Steam.

A sequel, Drug Dealer Simulator 2, was released on June 20, 2024. It keeps the same premise but adds features like a multiplayer mode and a larger in-game map.

Quick Facts

Title
Drug Dealer Simulator
Developer
Byterunners
Publisher
Movie Games S.A.
Platforms
Microsoft Windows
Released
April 16, 2020

Facts from the source article.

Lore & Background

Drug Dealer Simulator puts players in the role of a drug dealer with ties to a fictional cartel. Players create and sell drugs while avoiding the local police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Drugs are created using an in-game mixing table, which allows the player to combine existing substances such as amphetamine, baking soda, and ibuprofen. These substances are obtained by searching random areas where a cartel member named Eddie drops the player off, or by buying them at a local gas station. Selling quality drugs increases the player's reputation, allowing them to reach more customers and eventually form a drug empire. As the player's territory grows, managing drug compositions becomes more important, as poor mixtures can lead to the death of clients.

Reader's Guide

Drug Dealer Simulator was released to mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of 59 out of 100 based on nine reviews. Critics noted the game's lack of challenge beyond police encounters and described its systems as basic, making it feel like a half-finished early access title. The mixing mechanic was viewed positively, but reviewers felt it needed more substances and possibilities. The game was described as ugly, dumb, and clunky by some, though others found it fun despite its ugliness and praised its writing and voice acting as entertainingly bizarre. In April 2025, Movie Games S.A. launched an investigation into another indie drug-dealing game, Schedule I, for alleged IP infringement, which led to Drug Dealer Simulator amassing negative reviews on Steam. A sequel, Drug Dealer Simulator 2, was released on June 20, 2024, adding a multiplayer mode and an expanded map.

Did You Know?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Drug Dealer Simulator?

It is a 2020 simulation game in which you play a drug dealer building a criminal empire by mixing and selling narcotics while staying ahead of police and the DEA. Byterunners developed it and Movie Games S.A. published it.

What do you actually do in Drug Dealer Simulator?

The core loop has you combining raw substances such as amphetamines, baking soda, and ibuprofen at an in-game mixing table to craft custom drugs, then selling them to raise your reputation and unlock more customers. You source ingredients by hitting random drop-off points handed to you by a cartel contact or by grabbing them at a gas station.

Who is Eddie in Drug Dealer Simulator?

Eddie is a cartel member who gives the player random drop-off locations where drug ingredients can be scavenged. He is one of the two main ways to obtain the raw materials needed at the mixing table.

How was Drug Dealer Simulator received by critics?

It scored 59 out of 100 on Metacritic from nine reviews, landing in mixed territory. Reviewers generally acknowledged its straightforward drug-dealing loop as both its identity and its main limitation.

Is there a sequel to Drug Dealer Simulator?

Yes — Drug Dealer Simulator 2 launched on June 20, 2024, continuing the franchise's criminal-empire premise. The original title had released on April 16, 2020.

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