Tedium is a game that expresses the experiences of an Asian student navigating the American school system. Gameplay is presented via standardized testing booklets wherein players must complete monotonous drills. As the game progresses, players are served with biting discouragements that criticize and question their performance. Designer Rebecca Wang drew inspiration from the negative comments she grew up hearing from her own parents.

Tedium also serves as a critique on the emphasis of academic performance over individuality. While any player can complete the game’s tedious drills, without the more thought-provoking and identity-building extracurriculars, players will ultimately fail.