Build and expand your drug empire while battling rivals and evading the law in Schedule I. Read on to learn everything we know, our review of the early access, and more.

Everything We Know About Schedule I

Schedule I Story Plot

Players take on the role of a small-time drug dealer with no cash or connections to their name who just arrived at a grungy city in the West Coast called Hyland Point. The end goal is to build their fledgeling drug empire from the ground up, expanding in size and scope with properties, business, employees, and more—all while avoiding (or going head on) with law enforcement and rival competitors.

Schedule I Gameplay

Schedule I’s gameplay revolves around growing the player’s drug empire from the bottom up. Players can produce a wide range of drugs to satisfy their customers, each with its own unique production process and special recipe. New drug variants can be created from these base substances, thus creating new variants with certain properties that are sure to be a hit in the market.

As profit begins to increase, players can then expand their headquarters to accommodate more products, as well as hire employees and build an automated production for maximum efficiency. Players can also invite up to three friends in co-op multiplayer to help create the biggest drug cartel in town.

However, the life of a growing drug kingpin is not easy, as hostile entities from intensifying law enforcement to deadly rival competitors will always be on the lookout for any opportunity to eliminate any unwanted individuals. Using their fists, melee weapons, or firearms, players can go head to head with these enemies and gain the upper hand.

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Schedule I Release Date

Schedule I is released in Early Access on PC via Steam for $19.99. According to the developers, the Early Access phase is projected to be for approximately two years.

Digital Storefronts
Steam
$19.99

Schedule I Review [Early Access] | Breaking Bad Simulator

Ever since watching Breaking Bad, I’ve been fascinated by the life of a drug pusher—not that I’d ever act on that curiosity, of course. But when I came across Schedule I, that interest immediately reignited. The game practically feels like an interactive Breaking Bad—starting from a small-time hustler and climbing the ruthless ladder to become a full-blown kingpin. I’ll admit, my expectations weren’t exactly high (pun intended), but just from the trailer alone, it looked like a wild, chaotic ride that I couldn’t resist diving into.

From Walter White to Heisenberg

The Breaking Bad parallels don’t stop at just playing the role of a drug dealer—right from the jump, the game throws you into a scene that feels ripped straight from the show. You wake up in a rundown van, eerily similar to Jesse and Walter’s mobile meth lab from Season 1, and your starting location—a dry, desert landscape—feels unmistakably like Albuquerque. Then, you get straight to work.

The game eases you in with a step-by-step tutorial on growing and selling weed, almost like a criminal apprenticeship. Unlike Breaking Bad, where Walter dives headfirst into meth production, here you start small—learning the ropes by growing kush before eventually branching out into harder substances. The process itself is surprisingly methodical and, dare I say, relaxing.

You’ll hit up a hardware store for grow tents and soil, track down a dealer for kush seeds, carefully water and maintain your plants, and wait for them to grow. There’s a strange sense of satisfaction in this cycle, and I found myself hooked on the rhythm of it all.

But the game isn’t just about making the product—you have to move it too. Selling drugs is just as engaging as producing them, offering multiple ways to get your supply into the hands of eager buyers.

You can list your weed on an online shop and negotiate with customers, or hit the streets and convince locals with free samples before cutting a deal. I love that you can haggle on prices, pushing your luck to maximize profit.

Set the price too high, and buyers might walk; go too low, and you're leaving money on the table. The whole process really makes you feel like Walter White, slowly growing a business, earning repeat customers, and expanding your operation from a sketchy van to a motel, and eventually to bigger and better facilities. It’s easy to lose track of time just running your empire.

Of course, it’s not all smooth sailing. Rival dealers will challenge your turf, forcing you to throw hands—or bullets—to defend your business. And the cops? They’re always on the lookout for busts, adding an extra layer of tension. If you get caught, a fun mini-game kicks in where you have to frantically hide your stash and dispose of any incriminating evidence before they pin you as a dealer.

There’s already a surprising amount of depth in this game, and I can’t wait to see what else the devs are cooking up for the full release.

Charming Goofy Visuals

Despite the mature subject matter, the game’s goofy, over-the-top visuals do a fantastic job of keeping things lighthearted. Rather than being a distraction, the exaggerated, cartoony NPCs add a layer of charm that makes the whole experience feel more fun than gritty. Their ridiculous expressions and movements are downright hilarious, making even the most questionable actions feel more like a wacky business sim than a serious crime drama.

Personally, I think this visual style works in the game’s favor—not only does it make everything more entertaining, but it also helps create a clear boundary between fiction and reality. Unlike Drug Dealer Simulator 2, which leans into hyper-realism and ends up feeling uncomfortably uncanny, this game embraces its absurdity, making it much easier to enjoy without feeling morally conflicted.

In a way, the cartoonish aesthetic actually makes the gameplay even more addictive, drawing you in with its quirky style while keeping things engaging and fun.

A Surprisingly Interesting Story

I wouldn’t call this Breaking Bad-level storytelling, but the narrative still packs enough intrigue to keep you hooked. You start as a small-town dealer, hustling to make ends meet, until a police raid on your Uncle Nelson forces you to flee to the city. From there, Nelson—now in hiding—becomes your shady mentor, guiding you through pay phones as you climb the ranks of the drug trade. The higher your notoriety, the deeper you get tangled in the criminal underworld, with new threats emerging the more successful you become.

It’s not the deepest story, but there’s a surprising amount of charm in its execution. The writing doesn’t take itself too seriously, blending humor with the grind of your rise to kingpin status. Watching your empire grow—while dodging cops, rivals, and the consequences of your actions—feels genuinely rewarding. I just hope the narrative keeps up its momentum and continues to expand on the high-stakes chaos of your illicit empire.

Grow Your Shady Business With Friends

This game also features a multiplayer mode, letting you and up to three friends build your empire together—because crime is always more fun with company, right? All it takes is adding your friends on Steam, and boom, you’re in business. The teamwork aspect is where things get really interesting: one person can handle production, another can run deals, someone else can keep an eye out for the cops, and if you’re feeling extra organized, maybe even have a getaway driver on standby.

The chaos that unfolds makes this perfect for a Discord call or even a streaming session with friends. Whether you’re running a tight operation or just messing around and causing havoc, the multiplayer mode adds a whole new layer of fun. It’s the kind of game that thrives on shenanigans, and I can already see it becoming a go-to for co-op mayhem.

Tons of Fun Mini-Games

Just like the story, I wasn’t expecting this game to have mini-games—what is this, Like a Dragon? But honestly, I’m all for it! The variety is genuinely entertaining, from playing Pong on a TV to hitting up the casino for a little card action. You can even go full street brawler, beating up NPCs before they call the cops.

But the biggest surprise? I actually found myself hooked on picking up trash. Yeah, you heard that right—there’s a trash-to-cash machine that converts your garbage into money, and somehow, it’s weirdly satisfying.

These mini-games add a ton of personality and break up the core gameplay in a way that keeps things fresh. I really hope they expand on this in future updates, especially for multiplayer. Give me more weird side activities, and I’ll gladly sink even more hours into this chaotic game.

Minor Nitpicks and Suggestions

Being an Early Access title, I expected some rough edges, and sure enough, I ran into a few bugs—like not being able to pick up certain items or NPCs mysteriously vanishing. There were also occasional FPS dips and stuttering, nothing game-breaking but noticeable enough to take me out of the experience for a moment. Thankfully, no crashes so far, which is a good sign.

That said, considering this is the work of a one-man team, TVGS has done an incredible job crafting such an ambitious game. My biggest hope is that he can bring on more developers to help iron out these issues so he can focus on expanding the game’s content—maybe more mini-games, new mechanics, a manual save button, or even a wider variety of drugs to manufacture and distribute.

Just like the game’s progression from small-time hustler to drug empire tycoon, TVGS needs to do the same—build a team, scale up, and take Schedule I to even “higher” heights.

A Dope Game So Far, Especially With Friends

For just $20, this game offers a surprisingly addictive and rewarding experience—definitely a better addiction than actually doing drugs. If you're a fan of management and strategy games that let you build something from the ground up, like The Sims or Spore, you'll find plenty to love here. The progression system is incredibly satisfying, making every step from small-time hustler to kingpin feel earned. And if you’ve got friends to play with, the fun only multiplies. Who knew running an empire—without the legal consequences—could be this engaging?

Game8 Reviews

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Schedule I Product Information

Title	Schedule I
Release Date	March 25, 2025, 2025 (Early Access)
Developer	TVGS
Publisher	TVGS
Supported Platforms	PC(Steam)
Genre	Simulation, Co-Op
Number of Players	1-4
ESRB Rating	RP
Official Website	Schedule I Official Website