Don't Get Your Hopes Up

About

Don't Get Your Hopes Up is a single player action game. It was developed by Krish Raghav and was released on September 16, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Don't Get Your Hopes Up is an emotional interactive comic following a couple's desperate apartment hunt amid Amsterdam's housing crisis. Blending fiction, documentary, and social commentary, it explores themes of precarity, solidarity, and alienation through visual novel gameplay and striking comic-style art. Experience unsettling choices and a haunting reflection on the elusive feeling of home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 39 reviews

humor6 positive mentions

The game offers an excellent and relatable story that captures the struggles of finding rental housing in urban areas, resonating with players worldwide.
It features brilliant writing, unique art, and engaging music, creating an immersive experience that balances humor with the serious themes of the housing crisis.
As a free interactive fiction piece, it effectively critiques the rental market while providing a surreal yet enjoyable gameplay experience.

Some players found the gameplay repetitive and felt that the application-clicking mini-game was unnecessary and detracted from the overall experience.
The story's surreal elements may not resonate with everyone, leading some to find it confusing or unrelatable.
A few reviews mentioned that the writing could be bland at times, making certain parts of the game feel mundane or boring.

story
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The game's story is praised for its relatability and humor, resonating with players globally while also reflecting specific urban experiences, particularly in Amsterdam. Although some find the narrative surreal and nonsensical, it is considered a must-play for story game enthusiasts, complemented by great art and music. Despite its brevity, players feel it offers significant value.
- “An excellent story that many of us can relate to around the world.”
- “In some ways this could be a story in any major urban metro in the world right now, and in another it is very specific to Amsterdam right now.”
- “Great story, art, and music.”
- “The story is simply too surreal and doesn't make sense.”
- “This is a short story that is too much true.”
- “In some ways, this could be a story in any major urban metro in the world right now, and in another, it is very specific to Amsterdam.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as both hilarious and relatable, blending surreal elements with biting satire that resonates with real-life experiences. Players appreciate the subtlety of the humor, which lightens the mood and prevents feelings of helplessness, making it a standout feature of the visual novel format. Overall, the comedic aspects elicit genuine laughter while providing a thought-provoking commentary.
- “It could be hilarious if it weren't so close to the truth (it's still very funny!)”
- “The subtle touch of humor prevents the player from lingering in that helplessness for too long.”
- “Also made me laugh out loud in its biting satire.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with players noting its excellence and ability to enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the music's contribution to the game's emotional depth, comparing it to the nostalgic feeling of enjoying a favorite novel. Overall, the combination of great writing, art, and music creates a memorable and engaging atmosphere.
- “By the end of the game, I was left with the long-lost feeling of 'reading my favorite short novel on a sunny Saturday afternoon.' Brilliant writing, outstanding visual expression, and excellent music choices.”
- “Some really nice touches and great music for a project like this.”
- “Great writing, art, and music was a bop.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The gameplay is primarily focused on the visual novel format, with each apartment offering a unique experience that enhances the overall narrative.
- “Each apartment is unique, and the gameplay reflects this beautifully.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and keeps you invested in the story.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive, making it easy to immerse yourself in the experience.”
- “Each apartment is unique, and the gameplay (a big word considering it never stops being a visual novel) reflects it nicely.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the mechanics to be clunky and unresponsive, which detracted from the overall experience.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its impactful writing and ability to evoke intense emotional responses, particularly in relation to contemporary economic struggles. Despite its short duration, it effectively captures a specific emotional experience, making it a standout piece in the visual novel genre.
- “A short, free, panic-attack-inducing piece of art that you can get through in an hour, featuring immensely better writing than most free visual novels on Steam. It absolutely deserves more attention for how effectively it solicits a very hyper-specific emotional response to a contemporary economic hellscape.”
- “The game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, leaving players feeling deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
- “Every moment in this game is charged with emotion, making it a powerful experience that lingers long after the credits roll.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics in this semi-autobiographical interactive fiction are praised for their impressive artistic quality, effectively complementing the surrealism and social criticism of the narrative. Users appreciate the visual representation of expat Dutch life, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- “Wonderful graphics and narration, with cute nods to expat Dutch life.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive quality, though some users note that the experience is relatively brief.
- “Very atmospheric, short experience.”