I appreciate a game that isn't afraid of being controversial enough as to remind those of what history once was and how absolutely horrendous it definitely was. However, since the game is apparently 'not to be taken seriously' then I suppose that sentiment is rather lost on me and there's not really anything to be learned or gained from this game. Which is unfortunate, because I like using video games as my only source of educational purpose.
I think the game could do well from a more strategical approach to both it's gameplay and design. Where you may better prepare for the oncoming year ahead in a planned manner, but then forced into unforseen consequences that may make or break your playthrough. Similar to Oregon Trail or Paper's Please in that sense, I suppose.
I would definitely like a more altruistic approach to player choice and how they may go about their life. Specifically without the need to steal or do actions that may be attributed as 'negative'. In this era of wild west laws and immoral practices, however, it would ultimately lead to faded inquiries and begotten virtue. Seeing as, 'good and evil' are just fallacies in their hypocrisy in this horrific world, as well as our own. Very well done narratives can come from this and I yearn for more games to come from historical influences, very much like Fallout: New Vegas has.
Regardless of that, I suppose we should leave game development for games such as those to developers who are properly read up on those subjects than someone who's making one for laughs. But that seems all too often the latter than the former, these days.
Anyway, it reminds me of this one life sim game I once played, as well as watched my favorite streamer/game developer 'CharlieWinsmore' play called 'Real Lives'. This game is however more monotonous than it and takes a very long while to age and accrue anything. Which would make sense if it had some moral, lesson, or point it was trying to make that it was very impossible for a slave back then to earn any amount of income, all of which had to be dumped into helping either themselves, their family, or their fellow slaves. But instead, it just seems to be a gameplay quirk to have to progress through the game in itself than any alternative scenario. Real Lives does that a bit itself, albeit lacklusterly, but it's point is that it's very difficult living life when you start poor and destitute. You can also spam the 'age a year' button in that game and didn't have to wait until the days pass in an arbitrary timer until your character has aged enough to the point you've reached an end point.
The game is okay, it has potential, but I don't really see it exfoliating on such.