The Onion just dropped its first-ever video game, The Onion Voting Simulator 3D, right in time for the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. In a recent interview with Polygon, the satirical site shared how this project came to life.
This game marks a milestone for a publication known for its satire since 1988. With the midterms set for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the game focuses on voting and the political spectacle around it.
The title hints at the game’s tone. “Voting Simulator 3D” takes cues from budget simulation games and early 3D titles. This approach fits perfectly with The Onion’s knack for parodying the very things it satirizes. Polygon’s headline describes the game as one that “skewers American politics.”
The Polygon interview serves as the key source for insights on how the game was developed. However, the excerpt available at publication time doesn’t cover platforms, pricing, runtime, or technical credits. We won’t speculate on those details. For more, check Polygon’s full interview to hear directly from the creators about the design process.
The timing is crucial for a political satire game. A title linked to an election cycle has a limited window to capture attention. Releasing it close to the midterms shows a clear intention to capitalize on the news cycle instead of launching it as a standalone product.
| Game | The Onion Voting Simulator 3D |
| Developer/publisher | The Onion |
| Milestone | First video game from the outlet |
| Election it targets | 2026 U.S. midterms (November 3, 2026) |
| Price, platforms, review scores | Not yet confirmed in available source material |
Community Pulse
No player reviews, Steam feedback, or social media posts about the game were available at the time of writing, so we can’t share any community reactions. We’ll update this section once players have had a chance to chime in.
What To Watch
- Launch details: Information on platforms, pricing, and whether it’ll be free will affect its reach.
- Player reception: Initial reviews and user ratings will reveal if the game succeeds as a game or just as a joke.
- A second game: If the release gains traction ahead of the midterms, The Onion might explore more interactive projects.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
