Free terminal game · macOS / Linux / Windows · v3.36

UNICORN

Play as a VC writing checks—or as a founder building the company. Sixty turns. One shot at the exit that makes the letterhead.

Install with Homebrew Download binary

Open source · runs in your terminal · no account required

UNICORN terminal splash: choose VC or Founder mode
The game, in your terminal

Two paths

Pick a side of the term sheet

Same five-year clock. Opposite pressures. Shared progression across fifty levels.

VC Mode

Write the checks

Start with a $1M–$2.5M fund. Bet across 45 startups, defend ownership with pro-rata, and unlock an Opportunity Fund when a breakout hits 3×.

  • Compete against AI VCs with distinct strategies
  • Follow-ons, syndicates, management fees
  • Climb global net-worth and ROI boards

Founder Mode

Build the company

Pick one of 10 starting companies (SaaS, DeepTech, GovTech, and more). Hire the team, raise Seed through Series C, ship the roadmap, and negotiate the exit before the board forces your hand.

  • SaaS metrics, churn, and tech debt
  • Cap table, board seats, acquisition offers
  • IPO, strategic sale, or secondary

Install

From brew to first turn

macOS and Linux via Homebrew. Binaries for every major platform. Source if you want to hack.

Homebrew

brew install james-see/tap/unicorn

Then run unicorn in your terminal.

Binaries

Latest release macOS Apple Silicon macOS Intel Linux Windows

From source (Go 1.24+): go install github.com/jamesacampbell/unicorn@latest

Live scores

Global leaderboards

Top runs worldwide. Filter by mode, difficulty, and ranking metric.

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How it plays

Sixty months on the clock

Short loops. Hard choices. Achievements and permanent upgrades carry across runs.

VC loop

Pick difficulty, scan the market, place bets, then press on when the round is done.

  1. Choose Easy through Expert (Hard/Expert unlock with level)
  2. Invest across sectors; watch dilution and fees
  3. Follow on when portfolio companies raise
  4. Submit your fund return to the global board

Founder loop

Pick a company to build, hire the team, win customers — then fundraising and exit math.

  1. Choose a starting company (SaaS, DeepTech, GovTech, Hardware…)
  2. Ship features, manage burn and churn
  3. Raise rounds without giving away the company
  4. Exit via IPO, acquisition, or secondary
Full guide on GitHub