Life & Death
Life & Death is a computer game published in 1988 by The Software Toolworks. The player takes the role of an abdominal surgeon. The original packaging for the game included a surgical mask and gloves.
Life & Death
- Date
- 1988
- Publisher
- Life & Death was published by Mindscape.
- Genre
- life simulation game
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Life & Death is a computer game published in 1988 by The Software Toolworks. The player takes the role of an abdominal surgeon. The original packaging for the game included a surgical mask and gloves.
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wikidata · Q3832164
In this article
The object
The object
In this sequel, the player is a neurosurgeon.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Life & Death • Developer — Jake Smith & Don Laabs (Atari ST & Amiga conversions by Simon Beal) • Publisher — The Software Toolworks • Designer — Dr. Myo Thant • Released — 1988 • Genre — Simulation • Modes — Single player • Platforms — Mac OS, MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Apple II, FM Towns, NEC PC-9801, X68000
Gameplay
Gameplay
In the role of a resident abdominal surgeon at fictional hospital Toolworks General, the player must diagnose and treat a variety of maladies including kidney stones, arthritis, appendicitis, and aneuritic aorta. The last two require the player to perform surgery.
Reviews
Reviews
• Games #99
Places
Named by the record
Places
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- United States
Named but not plotted · 1
Life & Death is associated with United States.
Country
Reception
• Illustration — Life & Death emphasized realism and visual detail even with limited colors. Compute! complimented Life & Deaths graphics and sound, stating that the game effectively used CGA's four colors and the PC speaker, and stated that the game's warning to those queasy of blood was accurate. An author on Gamasutra praised the game for its attention to detail and the way it offers significant depth and challenge despite only the mouse. Franklin N. Tessler, M.D. in Macworld noted the Macintosh version's gore and difficulty, stating that "If the embossed photo of a bloody brain on the box doesn't get to you, the challenge and frustration of playing the game just might". He approved of the game's educational value and stated that it was "surprisingly realistic", albeit with some errors in the documentation. Tessler criticized the "annoying" copy protection, monochrome graphics, and lack of a save function. Life & Death was nominated for Software Publishers Association (SPA) awards for Best Game, Best Simulation and Best Use of Technology.
Citations
References
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authority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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