A choose-your-own-adventure startup game for the terminal.

Install

mkdir -p .claude/skills/unicorn-or-bust && curl -L -o skill.zip "https://agentskills.codes/api/skills/download/26" && unzip -o skill.zip -d .claude/skills/unicorn-or-bust && rm skill.zip

Installs to .claude/skills/unicorn-or-bust

Activation

This is the description your AI agent reads to decide when to run this skill — the better it matches your request, the more reliably it fires.

Start the Unicorn or Bust game. Use this skill when a user wants to play the Unicorn or Bust game - a choose your own adventure game where you play as a startup founder navigating challenges to build a unicorn. The game is powered by the unicorn-or-bust MCP server with dynamic challenges, resource management (runway, morale, product, investor hype), and stat progression.
373 chars✓ has a “when” triggerlonger than Claude Code's old 250-char listing cap (fine on current versions)
Beginner

Key capabilities

  • Simulate startup founder decision-making
  • Manage resources including runway, morale, and product
  • Track investor hype and stat progression
  • Navigate dynamic business challenges
  • Trigger character-specific fatal flaws

How it works

The skill interacts with an MCP server to manage game state, presenting challenges that require resource trade-offs to reach unicorn status.

Inputs & outputs

You give it
Founder name, pitch, and archetype
You get back
Game turn narration and updated stats

When to use unicorn-or-bust

  • Playing a startup simulation game
  • Managing founder resources in a game context
  • Simulating business challenges

About this skill

Unicorn or Bust

A choose-your-own-adventure startup simulation game where players navigate challenges as a founder trying to build a unicorn company.

Game Overview

The player creates a founder character with:

  • Founder Name - Funny/satirical names work best (e.g., "Russ Hanneman", "Clark Zuckberg")
  • Pitch - Hilarious one-liner startup concept
  • Archetype - Character type (e.g., "The Hustler", "The Visionary")
  • Archetype Stat - Core strength: technical, hustle, or credibility
  • Fatal Flaw - Character weakness that can trigger disadvantages

Gameplay Flow

1. Start the Game

Call start_game with founder setup and the first challenge. It's useful to ask the user for their character name and one-liner. If user does not respond, make up something creative and funny.

2. Play Turns

Call play_turn for each player decision. Do NOT describe next challenge options in your text — they appear in the UI. Only narrate what happened.

Resource Management

  • Runway - Cash available (always visible)
  • Morale - Team morale (unlocks month 3)
  • Product - Product market-fit (unlocks month 5)
  • Investor Hype - Investor interest (unlocks month 7)

Game End Condition

Stop calling play_turn when the game ends (omit nextChallenge in the final turn).

Key Principles

  • Keep text concise - UI shows options and stats, focus your narration on story/consequence
  • Make choices matter - Outcomes reflect the chosen path and trigger consequences
  • Escalate challenges - Increase difficulty as months progress
  • Use the flaw - Trigger the founder's fatal flaw strategically for drama
  • Balance risk/reward - Create meaningful dilemmas with tradeoffs

When not to use it

  • When performing actual business strategy or financial modeling

Prerequisites

unicorn-or-bust MCP server

Limitations

  • Game ends when the simulation concludes
  • Focuses on satirical startup tropes rather than realistic business outcomes

How it compares

It provides a gamified simulation of startup dynamics rather than a static business planning tool.

Compared to similar skills

unicorn-or-bust side by side with the closest alternatives in the catalog.

SkillInstallsUpdatedSafetyDifficulty
unicorn-or-bust (this skill)118moNo flagsBeginner
pptx3936moReviewAdvanced
nano-pdf632moReviewBeginner
video-downloader1017moReviewBeginner

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Example prompts that trigger this skill in your AI assistant.

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