Autism Simulator
Learning and science
interactive simulation
SHOW HN2025
779points
857comments
#31of 3,837 in 2025
Top 1%of 2025 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
50 positive, 83 neutral or asking, 6 mixed, 72 critical, out of 211 comments about the project. Thread score -0.07.
Idea: 28 for, 29 againstDesign: 7 for, 34 againstExecution: 0 for, 6 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Relatable and well-made, captures real experience
From 3 comments
I am AuDHD and this is 80% my experience. I saw this post in the morning pondering if I call in sick or work because of insomnia and being unable to have the energy. I commute to…
theasisa on HNGetting "old internet" vibes from this one. Good job. I'm not at all familiar with Autism, and I have no idea what "Masking" means at all, but every option I choose seems to…
ryandrake on HNI think this is nice as it underlines how certain seemingly small things can feel incredibly disturbing to another individual (non-autistic one as well!) It seems like one of…
yreg on HN
Useful for building empathy
From 2 comments
So interesting to me how many comments here, which are intended to be critques of the game, unknowingly end up giving insights into the autistic experience. I'm not sure if this…
flippantHippo on HNI think this is nice as it underlines how certain seemingly small things can feel incredibly disturbing to another individual (non-autistic one as well!) It seems like one of…
yreg on HN
Objections
Scoring and choices feel confusing or railroaded
From 3 comments
A lot of the behaviors this seems to force I don't understand - like railroading whether to skip breakfast or not. I am well aware that for kids with autism frequently there are…
Glyptodon on HN> To keep your job and avoid conflict, you must "mask." Masking means hiding your natural habits and feelings, while imitating the social behaviors that coworkers expect. Why do…
latexr on HNGetting "old internet" vibes from this one. Good job. I'm not at all familiar with Autism, and I have no idea what "Masking" means at all, but every option I choose seems to…
ryandrake on HN
Feels like a burnout simulator rather than autism-specific
From 2 comments
This just seems like "burnout" simulator. What makes it unique to having autism vs being overworked in a job you hate in an alienating urban environment not congenial to human…
atleastoptimal on HNEh, this just feels like "software engineering simulator." I don't have autism but a good bit of this feels familiar (am I on the spectrum?) I'm an introvert and have struggled…
ikerino on HN
Masking is conflated with ordinary workplace behaviour
From 2 comments
A lot of the behaviors this seems to force I don't understand - like railroading whether to skip breakfast or not. I am well aware that for kids with autism frequently there are…
Glyptodon on HN> To keep your job and avoid conflict, you must "mask." Masking means hiding your natural habits and feelings, while imitating the social behaviors that coworkers expect. Isn't…
HiPhish on HN
Feels whiny or blames the diagnosis
From 1 comment
I'll be honest, it feels a bit whiney. Many of us in tech are somewhere on the spectrum, but owning your problems is the first step to handling them and this doesn't feel like…
webprofusion on HN
Requests
Open source the code
From 2 comments
> Getting "old internet" vibes from this one. Good job. Thank you. Neovim has radicalized my design sensibilities and I really miss the internet I used in the 90s as a kid. > I'm…
joshcsimmons on HNI will share the source code in a few days once it's cleaner. It'd be relatively easy to fork it and plug a new story into the code :)
joshcsimmons on HN
Add cheat sheet or clearer guidance on choices
From 1 comment
Getting "old internet" vibes from this one. Good job. I'm not at all familiar with Autism, and I have no idea what "Masking" means at all, but every option I choose seems to…
ryandrake on HN
Add an undiagnosed mode or more nuance
From 1 comment
I tried this -- I am undiagnosed, but my kids are diagnosed. On one hand I thought parts over-dramatized, on the other hand I thought parts were watered down. Misophonia for me…
lq9AJ8yrfs on HN
Questions
What is the medication and how it works in the game
From 2 comments
What is the medication you're supposed to take? Ritalin or something?
steeleyespan on HNIs it supposed to work. I am in the spectrum and I feel like while energy may go to zero, there is in reality a separate resilience masking, where you actually keep up for the…
cgio on HN
Why do breakfast choices affect masking
From 1 comment
> To keep your job and avoid conflict, you must "mask." Masking means hiding your natural habits and feelings, while imitating the social behaviors that coworkers expect. Why do…
latexr on HN
Alternatives named
Other empathy simulators for neurodivergence
From 1 comment
So interesting to me how many comments here, which are intended to be critques of the game, unknowingly end up giving insights into the autistic experience. I'm not sure if this…
flippantHippo on HN