Bloodmoney builds on the familiar foundations of clicker games but subverts the genre with a dark twist. The core mechanics are simple:
- Money by Clicking: Each click on Harvey generates $1, with a goal of $25,000. You can purchase tools as you play, which increase your income per click but also make your damage more severe.
- Upgrades and Tools: Feathers ($100), syringes ($2), rocks ($4), scissors ($8), hammers ($1,500), matches ($6,000), and knives ($10,000) are some of the tools you can acquire. Clicking becomes more lucrative but is morally questionable as each tool increases the level of violence.
- Short but Effective: A typical playthrough lasts about half an hour, making it accessible and replayable to experiment with different results.
The emotional impact of each action is masked by the simplicity of the control system—click to deal damage, or use the Tab key or number keys to switch tools. The game's eerie soundtrack and pastel graphics are in stark contrast to the game's dark theme, making for a strange yet engaging experience.