The Office: Somehow We Manage is the newly announced mobile game inspired by NBC's hit sitcom, and given its source material, there's no shortage of iconic scenes from which it could draw. There's no official release date as of yet, but the free to play title will reportedly release later in 2021. Developed by East Side Games, a subsidiary of mobile game company Leaf Mobile, The Office: Somehow We Manage will immerse players in some of the show's most iconic moments.
This is hardly the first game based on The Office and its antics. The Office video game launched back in 2007 for PC, an RPG-esque experience that allowed players to assume the role of their favorite character in the show. There are also a slew of board games, including a trivia game and themed versions of Monopoly and Clue. Some people have also gone so far as to theme parties around some of The Office's most iconic moments and activities.
It's not clear at this time what gameplay in The Office: Somehow We Manage will look like, or how players will get to experience events from the show, and there are some moments from the early seasons, such as Diversity Day and Harassment Training, that haven't aged especially well and should probably be skipped. East Side Games has done other mobile adaptations of shows, such as Always Sunny: The Gang Goes Mobile, which puts players in the heart of some of Paddy's Pub's most outrageous schemes. Using that as a roap, these are some of the best moments from The Office that The Office: Somehow We Manage should probably incorporate into the game.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Dinner Party
The Office: Somehow We Manage would be incomplete without featuring The Office's infamous "Dinner Party", which is arguably one of the best episodes of sitcom television to date. Michael and Jan invite some of The Office's couples for a quadruple-date dinner party, which slowly unravels as the toxicity of Michael and Jan's relationship seeps out. However the gameplay ends up manifesting, this is an episode replete with recognizable quotes and interactive opportunities, whether that means throwing off a game of charades, checking the food for poison, or getting into a relationship meltdown.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Fire Drill
Though only a cold open in season five, The Office's fire drill is one of the funniest things the show has done, which has unlimited potential for The Office: Somehow We Manage. Dwight, frustrated that no one takes his safety precautions seriously, traps the employees of Dunder Mifflin in the office, then lights a small fire to spark an evacuation. As smoke fills the office, pandemonium ensues, from Michael throwing a projector out the window to Oscar attempting to escape through the ceiling, culminating in Stanley having a heart attack. Depending on how gameplay is designed, there are multiple roles and actions for The Office: Somehow We Manage players to take on.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Beach Games
"Beach Games" is among The Office's greatest episodes, blending heartfelt moments with bellows of laughter and full of fun things for The Office: Somehow We Manage players to partake in. It could also provide an opportunity for the game to introduce a multiplayer function, as in the episode, Michael divides the employees into groups to play team-based activities, such as inflatable sumo wrestling and a hot dog eating contest. Additionally, it would be fun for fans of the show to participate in the coal walk that tops off the episode.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Office Olympics
In one of the earlier episodes of The Office, characters show off how they the time when things are slow. Jim quickly takes hold of the idea, turning these activities into veritable Olympic competitions. These range from somewhat silly, like seeing how many M&Ms Kevin can fit in his mouth, to downright physical, like Flonkerton, where employees strap their feet to boxes of paper and shuffle across the floor. Similar to "Beach Games," all of these Office Olympics would make fun additions to The Office: Somehow We Manage. Additionally, the game could tie in some of the challenges from Dwight's search for an assistant in Season 9, which includes completing an obstacle course while holding a hot cup of coffee.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - The Dundies
An annual event for the employees of Dunder Mifflin, the Dundies would be a welcome addition to The Office: Somehow We Manage. The Dundies serve as The Office's version of the Oscars, in which Michael awards his employees specific monikers at a high-class location such as Chili's. Including the Dundies in The Office: Somehow We Manage would give players a chance to participate in one of Dunder Mifflin's classiest nights of the year. Additionally, if the game wanted to include a creative element, players could ideate which awards the employees received.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Party Planning
Several iconic moments throughout the show's nine season run come from drama arising from The Office's party planning committee. Nowhere in the show is inter-office politics more accurately depicted than Angela, Phyllis and Pam, as well as a few other employees throughout the show, as they debate streamer colors, what activities to include in the Christmas party, and try to meet unrealistically high expectations on a shoestring budget. The Office: Somehow We Manage players could dive right in to navigating the opinionated waters of Dunder Mifflin's second-most exclusive club.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Jim's Pranks
Jim pranking his deskmate Dwight is an essential element of the show, especially in its early years. Fans of the show coming to The Office: Somehow We Manage will expect to be able to participate in the Jell-O-submerging and mind-messing antics. Incorporating the pranks could serve as a means of having constant activity in the game not tied to a specific event, such as the Dundies. Pranks could also be another avenue for players to flex their creative muscles, creating their own tricks to perform throughout the office.
The Office: Somehow We Manage - Schrute Farms
Several times over the course of The Office, characters visit Dwight's infamous beet farm. The location has served as a B&B, host to a dinner party, wedding venue, and salesman training facility. It's also the home of Dwight's cousin Mose, an oft-referenced character who sometimes aids Dwight's schemes. Including Schrute Farms in The Office: Somehow We Manage could not only diversify some of the locations in the game, but also help to bring many iconic and hilarious moments throughout the show for players everywhere to experience.
