Karoshi and Frozzd

Karoshi (Windows, 2MB, free) - A platformer in which your goal on each level is to kill yourself. A bit of black humor is mixed in with some very strange ideas and thinking outside the box is really required if you want to beat this one.

Frozzd (Windows, 2.8MB, free) - Another platformer from the same developer as the "Karoshi" games. This one won the YoYo Games Winter Competition and is a pretty cool little game with some great graphics and a very fun storyline. This one was made on Gamemaker 7 and if you like Mario Galaxy then I think you should check this one out too.

The problem of karoshi has been taken much more seriously in recent years in Japan, where the phenomenon is most prevalent among white-collar workers. A recent CNBC video shows some typical salarymen describing their endless hours of work and the empty homes that await them each night, and how a series of stress-induced physiological changes build up over time and can result in a stroke or heart attack. The number of compensated karoshi cases has peaked, but the real number is far higher since many victims can't prove that their deaths were due to overwork.

Several campaigns are now underway to encourage workers in Japan to take their vacation time and prevent overwork-related mental disorders, including a Buddhist ritual this month in which thousands of lanterns were lit with messages of regret about unused paid leave. A grassroots movement also exists for the same purpose, and a group called "Lunchtime for Overworkers" is trying to get Japanese companies to offer their employees better scheduling and flexibility.