Hard Time is a gritty, unconventional prison simulator that prioritizes emergent gameplay and chaos over polished mechanics. Created by Mat Dickie, it carries his signature low-fi aesthetic and 'ragdoll' physics that make every interaction unpredictable and often hilarious. You aren't just serving a sentence; you're navigating a dangerous social ecosystem where every choice—from who you talk to, to how you exercise—can lead to a riot or a friendship.
The game is unique because it tracks your mental health alongside your physical stats. Spend too much time in solitary or get into too many fights, and your character might lose control. This creates a fascinating role-playing experience where the goal isn't just to 'win,' but to survive the daily grind of incarceration. It’s rough around the edges, but that's part of its charm. It’s a deep, living simulation that offers a level of freedom rarely seen in mobile games. It’s dark, weird, and surprisingly compelling.
Available on: iPhone, iPod
Version 1.4.4Tue Nov 17 2020
- Higher resolution display, making full use of notched screens in either landscape orientation.
- Enhanced compatibility with iOS 14.
- Fewer onscreen ads (only between scenes).
Create your own inmate and attempt to survive in a prison where every sentence is a "death" sentence! Rub shoulders with up to 100 fellow inmates in a sprawling facility of 12 unique areas, each filled with fully interactive furniture and props. Plus a life beyond the gates populated by real civilians, with wardens enforcing dozens of different laws to keep you as far away from it as possible.
Each day, you will find your health and mental state slipping away. Both can be restored by sleeping - which is also a good way to pass time. You won't always be permitted to sleep, though, so consuming food and drink bridges the gap. These, along with many other activities such as reading or watching TV, can also help to improve your mental state. If you "lose your mind" you will temporarily lose control of your character - and will almost certainly get into trouble!
Your character also has a set of attributes that you are challenged to improve:
- STRENGTH indicates how much damage you can inflict or absorb. You can improve it by fighting or lifting weights.
- AGILITY determines how fast you move. You can improve it by jogging in the yard or scoring baskets.
- INTELLECT reflects your knowledge - including fighting skills such as counters. You can improve it by reading books.
- REPUTATION is how much other prisoners respect you. It can be improved by accomplishing tasks or intimidating others.
There are also opportunities to earn money - whether you work for it with a broom, trade items at a profit, or run with a gang. Having money increases your opportunities to grease the wheels and make your life inside easier.
You may find that you need to go to the toilet from time to time, in which case you must race to the bathroom! Alternatively, you could find a toilet to sit on or grab some toilet paper to spare your blushes. Failing to do so will damage your reputation and mental state.
I regret that there is more to this game than I could ever explain here, so I hope you enjoy figuring some things out for yourself!
Upgrade to "VIP" to enjoy the full experience without ads - plus access to the editor that allows you to customize your character and every other.
BASIC CONTROLS:
(*Look out for tutorials within the actual game)
A = Attack (on its own to kick, with a direction to punch)
G = Grapple / Throw weapon
R = Run
P = Pick-Up / Drop
T = Taunt (interact with handheld props)
OTHER CONTROLS
- Press ATTACK and RUN together to launch a powerful attack.
- Press any button with any direction (or none) in a grapple to trigger different moves.
- Press RUN and PICK-UP together to set fire to a small object (which can then be used to set fire to a large object).
- Touch the clock to pause the game and bring up options to exit.
- Touch any speech bubble to speed through conversations.
PERFORMANCE
- If you find your device struggles to display lots of characters, considering keeping the "Population" option low.
- "Speed Up Frame Rate" sleeping will require good performance at the default frame rate.
- Head to the "Display" options to tone down other features.
Requires iOS 10.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.Create your own inmate and attempt to survive in a prison where every sentence is a "death" sentence! Rub shoulders with up to 100 fellow inmates in a sprawling facility of 12 unique areas, each filled with fully interactive furniture and props. Plus a life beyond the gates populated by real civilians, with wardens enforcing dozens of different laws to keep you as far away from it as possible.
Each day, you will find your health and mental state slipping away. Both can be restored by sleeping - which is also a good way to pass time. You won't always be permitted to sleep, though, so consuming food and drink bridges the gap. These, along with many other activities such as reading or watching TV, can also help to improve your mental state. If you "lose your mind" you will temporarily lose control of your character - and will almost certainly get into trouble!
Your character also has a set of attributes that you are challenged to improve:
- STRENGTH indicates how much damage you can inflict or absorb. You can improve it by fighting or lifting weights.
- AGILITY determines how fast you move. You can improve it by jogging in the yard or scoring baskets.
- INTELLECT reflects your knowledge - including fighting skills such as counters. You can improve it by reading books.
- REPUTATION is how much other prisoners respect you. It can be improved by accomplishing tasks or intimidating others.
There are also opportunities to earn money - whether you work for it with a broom, trade items at a profit, or run with a gang. Having money increases your opportunities to grease the wheels and make your life inside easier.
You may find that you need to go to the toilet from time to time, in which case you must race to the bathroom! Alternatively, you could find a toilet to sit on or grab some toilet paper to spare your blushes. Failing to do so will damage your reputation and mental state.
I regret that there is more to this game than I could ever explain here, so I hope you enjoy figuring some things out for yourself!
Upgrade to "VIP" to enjoy the full experience without ads - plus access to the editor that allows you to customize your character and every other.
BASIC CONTROLS:
(*Look out for tutorials within the actual game)
A = Attack (on its own to kick, with a direction to punch)
G = Grapple / Throw weapon
R = Run
P = Pick-Up / Drop
T = Taunt (interact with handheld props)
OTHER CONTROLS
- Press ATTACK and RUN together to launch a powerful attack.
- Press any button with any direction (or none) in a grapple to trigger different moves.
- Press RUN and PICK-UP together to set fire to a small object (which can then be used to set fire to a large object).
- Touch the clock to pause the game and bring up options to exit.
- Touch any speech bubble to speed through conversations.
PERFORMANCE
- If you find your device struggles to display lots of characters, considering keeping the "Population" option low.
- "Speed Up Frame Rate" sleeping will require good performance at the default frame rate.
- Head to the "Display" options to tone down other features.










Hard Time is the ultimate prison simulator where every action has a consequence. Create your own inmate from scratch and attempt to survive a sentence in a facility filled with over 100 other prisoners. Manage your health, reputation, and mental state in real-time. Engage in a deep social system, start riots, join gangs, or try to be a model citizen to earn an early release. With a massive world and a unique physics-based combat system, Hard Time offers a raw and unfiltered look at life behind bars.
Deep character customization and RPG stats
Real-time social interaction with 100+ NPCs
Dynamic physics and combat system
Interactive world with various prison locations
Your Reputation determines how often you are challenged. Perform favors for cellmates to build alliances. Having a high 'Strength' stat will deter most casual bullies, but only a high 'Reputation' will keep the guards from singling you out.
When he wasn't making wrestling video games, MDickie was repurposing parts of his wrestling engine for more topical, message-driven titles...
Ars Technica - Thu Aug 01 2019
Create your own inmate and attempt to survive in a prison where every sentence is a "death" sentence.
AppAdvice - Wed Jun 01 2022
Mat Dickie is an Indie Self-Developing Game Maker, he is widely know for his games such as Wrestling Revolution, and Hard Time.
Know Your Meme - Sat Feb 01 2020
Get a better view of the school sim with this dedicated high-resolution version for tablets! The prison from Hard Time has closed down and...
AppAdvice - Wed Jun 01 2022
If your 'Sanity' meter drops too low, your character will enter a berserk state. Read books in the library or sleep regularly to keep your mind sharp and avoid losing control during tense confrontations.
Yes, you can work in the kitchen, the workshop, or as a cleaner to earn money for commissary items and improve your standing.