Wealthy and emotionally distant investment banker Nicholas Van Orton receives an unusual gift from his wayward younger brother, Conrad, on his 48th birthday – an opportunity to participate in a game that promises to add some much-needed excitement to his dull, routine life. Skeptical at first, Nicholas begrudgingly agrees to engage in the mysterious game offered by the enigmatic company called Consumer Recreation Services (CRS). After undergoing a thorough psychological and physical evaluation, he is informed that the game has begun, although its rules and objectives remain shrouded in secrecy.

As the game unfolds, Nicholas finds himself embroiled in a series of unexpected and increasingly perilous events that blur the line between the game and reality. His once orderly life spirals into chaos, leading him to doubt the motivations of everyone around him, including his brother Conrad and Christine, a waitress he meets who seems to be somehow involved with CRS. The intensity of the game escalates, pushing Nicholas's resourcefulness and sanity to their limits, and forcing him to reconsider the life he has led and the person he has become.