The optional theme is: THE GRIND
Some ideas to get your gears turning: A clock ticking away. Skateboarding tricks. Hard repetitive work to get through a challenge. Gear puzzles. A narrative game in a dead end job. Grind coffee beans as a barista serving customers. Make lots of money. Keep it simple with an idle clicker. Show your players something they want to achieve at the start and make them work for it. The choice is yours!