Finals Week is a cooperative exam-cheating simulation developed by DESTINYbit and published by Pretty Soon, scheduled for release on PC via Steam on October 29, 2026. The game centers on groups of students trying to navigate exam sessions in a 1990s school setting without studying. Rather than relying on individual scoring, the core loop enforces a strict shared-fate system where all participants pass together or fail together.
Players must complete exam sheets under time limits while avoiding the gaze of a patrolling teacher. Getting caught talking, wandering, or trading notes triggers disciplinary actions, ranging from write-ups to physical classroom restraints.
Shared-Fate Mechanics and Classroom Regulations
The central challenge in Finals Week stems from its team-wide dependency. The Student Handbook inside the game specifies that every student must finish within the allotted time limit, meet or exceed a set minimum grade threshold, and maintain satisfactory conduct. If any requirement fails, the entire class receives a failing grade.
Official exam regulations prohibit several specific classroom actions:
- Leaving your assigned desk without permission
- Talking or whispering to other students
- Throwing objects across the room
- Consulting unauthorized reference materials or textbooks
When teachers detect violations, they issue write-ups. Patrolling instructors monitor line-of-sight and room audio, reacting to open microphones and sudden player movements. Teachers will actively confiscate contraband or throw chalk erasers with high accuracy at offending students. Accumulating too many infractions leads to escalating physical restraints, including the Cone of Shame, which hinders a player's ability to navigate or view neighboring desks.
Cheating Arsenal and Classroom Equipment
Survival requires coordinating tools scattered across classrooms and hallways. Players can gather items during pre-exam countdowns or sneak them across aisles while the instructor is turned away.
| Tool or Item | In-Game Function | Source Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Textbooks | Contain direct answers for specific questions; can be stored in pockets or passed across desks. | Steam Data & Playtest |
| Note Sheets & Drawing System | Freeform drawing allows players to write answers on sheets, desks, walls, or teammate faces. | Steam Data |
| Walkie-Talkies | Permit short-range voice communication across opposite sides of the room. | Steam Data & Playtest |
| Cellphones | Deliver remote text or solution exchanges between desks. | Official Announcements |
| Binoculars | Enable zooming in to read distant test sheets or wall boards. | Steam Data & Playtest |
| Tranquilizer Blowgun Pen | Stuns or temporarily distracts the teacher to create cheating windows. | Steam Data |
| Thrown Objects & Paper Balls | Serve as decoys to draw the teacher away from desks or pass small notes. | Steam Data & Playtest |
| Classroom Computers | Digital terminals found in specific rooms that load exam-related references. | Playtest Stream |
Exam Progression and Seating Strategy
Exam sessions feature different subjects, such as Zoology, Marine Biology, and Physical Education. Each test comes with unique parameters and required grade thresholds, such as a C+ or a class-wide D average.
Before each test timer starts, players must manually select their seats and sign an attendance sheet. If students fail to choose a seat before the countdown ends, the classroom system randomizes seating assignments. Spreading out allows team members to gather scattered textbooks and distract the instructor from multiple angles, but sitting too far apart complicates note passing and visual peeking.
During tests, questions require different methods to solve:
- Cognitive memory: Some prompts require players to use the in-game Focus or think ability directly at their desks.
- Environmental searching: Answers can be hidden inside lockers, classroom drawers, or flipped chalkboards that require memorization before the teacher turns them over.
- Classmate copying: Players can lean their character models to inspect adjacent desks, turn pages on neighboring papers, or fill in answers on a teammate's test directly.
Between-Exam Hallway Hub and Customization
Between test periods, squads return to the school hallway hub. This intermission area functions as a low-stress staging ground where players can plan subsequent routes, practice throwing baseballs, shoot basketballs, or decorate statues.
Passing examinations unlocks new cosmetic rewards. Players can visit the locker room and photo areas to customize character appearance, including different hairstyles, outfits, and color palettes.
PC System Requirements
Finals Week runs on Windows operating systems and requires a microphone for optimal team coordination. Official Steam store specifications outline the necessary hardware.
| Specification | Minimum Requirement | Recommended Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i7-3820 or equivalent | AMD Ryzen 9 3900XT or equivalent |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics Card | Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or equivalent | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 or equivalent |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 2 GB available space | 2 GB available space |
| Additional Notes | Broadband internet; microphone strongly recommended | Broadband internet; microphone strongly recommended |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Finals Week support solo play or require a full team?
Official Steam data lists both single-player and co-op capabilities under its feature tags. While designed primarily as a multiplayer experience where players pass or fail as a group, solo play is technically supported.
How does voice detection work with the teacher?
In-game teachers react to audio volume and line of sight. Using proximity chat or unmuted microphones while the teacher is patrolling nearby raises suspicion levels and can lead directly to write-ups.
What happens if one player fails their exam?
The game operates on a shared-fate condition. If one player accumulates enough write-ups to fail or drags the overall grade below the classroom requirement, the entire group fails the run.
