Human Expenditure Program(Bloodmoney 2)

A twisted virtual pet horror game that puts Harvey's life in your hands, blending dark humor and emotional storytelling in a sequel to BLOODMONEY!

Human Expenditure Program (HEP) is a short indie horror visual novel that turns a virtual pet simulator concept into a psychological thriller. Developed by solo creator SHROOMYCHRIST (known for the cult hit BLOODMONEY!), the game launched on PC via itch.io in September 2025. After spending an evening with this game, I can’t stop thinking about its mix of dark humor, emotional storytelling, and downright unsettling gameplay. In Human Expenditure Program, you take care of a digital man named Harvey Harvington as if he were your pet – feeding him, playing with him, and keeping him happy – but there’s a sinister catch that makes this experience anything but a typical Tamagotchi. Let me walk you through why this bizarre little game has made such an impression on me.

Gameplay: Virtual Pet Meets Moral Dilemma

The game presents Harvey’s life as a retro computer program, complete with clickable icons for feeding, play, and care. You’ll monitor his hunger, mood, and well-being via a quirky desktop-style interface. At first glance, the pixel art visuals and point-and-click setup make it feel like a cute retro pet sim – Harvey greets you from inside a little window, eager for attention. You can buy him food like candy or cake, play mini-games with him, and even pet him. Best of all, the game gleefully tells you that “you get PAID!” for taking good care of him. However, the longer you play, the more you realize something is very off.

The gameplay revolves around a series of five mini-games woven into Harvey’s daily routine. Each day, new activities unlock – from a memory matching puzzle to an arcade-style challenge – which are as fun as they are disturbing. For example, one mini-game is a dark twist on whack-a-mole where Harvey pops up and you… well, you whack him. Another has you frantically “saving” Harvey by clicking away creeping eyeballs in his virtual house. These activities aren’t just for laughs; they’re how you earn the in-game currency and keep Harvey’s stats stable.

Managing Harvey’s needs is surprisingly strategic. You’ll juggle feeding him on time, keeping his mood up, and earning enough money to afford better items. If you ignore his hunger or happiness for too long, the program isn’t happy about it – and the narrative will take a darker turn. This blend of resource management with ethical decision-making is where Human Expenditure Program truly shines. Every action, whether it’s buying Harvey a treat or pushing him through a difficult mini-game, makes you question your own motives.

Features

Virtual pet mechanics with a human twist: Feed, play with, and care for Harvey as if he were your pet.
Five varied mini-games: From memory puzzles to whack-a-mole, each tied into the story.
In-game currency and upgrades: Earn money and use it to buy food or items for Harvey.
Multiple endings: Two major endings (and variations) based on your playstyle, with each run lasting about 30 minutes.
Dark consequences for failure: Neglecting Harvey can trigger unsettling outcomes.

Story and Themes: A Dark Tale of Love and Exploitation

While the gameplay feels like a twisted little pet simulator, the story behind Human Expenditure Program is what makes it unforgettable. You soon learn that you’re not just some random player controlling Harvey – you’re actually Eun-Mi Harvington, Harvey’s wife. A brilliant but morally compromised programmer, Eun-Mi has secretly uploaded her husband’s consciousness into this simulation as part of an experiment. Harvey has no clue that his loving spouse is literally pulling the strings.

Every night, after you tuck Harvey into bed, Eun-Mi runs a secondary program: the infamous BLOODMONEY! simulation. It turns out the horrific scenario in BLOODMONEY! – where Harvey is tortured for cash – was actually happening inside Harvey’s simulation all along. Eun-Mi has been effectively renting out her husband’s mind, letting strangers inflict pain on him in exchange for money, then wiping his memory each morning. She justifies it as harmless, but as you play, the moral weight becomes unbearable.

The themes here are intense and thought-provoking. HEP explores greed, guilt, and the moral limits of technology. Eun-Mi is both villain and tragic figure – exploiting her own husband while revealing glimpses of desperation. The game forces you to sit with that discomfort. With two distinct endings, you’ll experience heartbreak, horror, and perhaps even a twisted sense of pity.

Connection to BLOODMONEY!

Human Expenditure Program is essentially BLOODMONEY 2 in terms of narrative. The original game asked, “How far would you go for money?” This sequel recontextualizes it as: “How far would you go to undo what you’ve done for money?” Playing HEP without BLOODMONEY! is still possible, but the payoff is far greater if you’ve seen Harvey’s ordeal firsthand in the first game.

Art Style and Presentation

HEP uses a deceptively cute, colorful art style that slowly degrades as the story darkens. Harvey starts cheerful and cartoonish, but his environment and appearance decay as the horror unfolds. The voice acting is excellent – Harvey’s sincerity and Eun-Mi’s chilling determination bring the story to life. The soundtrack mixes upbeat mini-game jingles with eerie ambient tracks, keeping you constantly on edge.

Platforms, Tech, and Developer Info

Platform: Windows PC (download via itch.io)
Engine: RPG Maker
Developer: SHROOMYCHRIST, a solo indie developer also behind BLOODMONEY! and Don’t Forget

The game is short (~30 minutes per playthrough), replayable, and available as a pay-what-you-want download. The community response has been overwhelmingly positive, praising its originality, emotional weight, and disturbing themes.

Final Thoughts

Human Expenditure Program is not a game you simply “finish” and forget. It’s an unsettling blend of retro pet simulator aesthetics with a deeply tragic and horrifying story. It makes you laugh at its dark humor, then forces you to confront the cruelty lurking beneath the surface.

If you’re a fan of horror games that combine strong storytelling with unique mechanics, this is a must-play. Just don’t expect to walk away unshaken.

May be you like:

Brainrot Craft: Brainrot Craft is a free merge-puzzle game where you combine everyday items and animals to unlock hilarious “brainrot” meme creatures.