Humanity Must Perish

About

Humanity Must Perish is a single player casual simulation game with comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Zetsubou and was released on September 25, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

Humanity Must Perish is a short, comedic visual novel in which the fate of humanity is placed in the hands of a witty, pessimistic android.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 178 reviews

story34 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features well-crafted art, engaging backgrounds, and interesting characters, making it visually appealing for a free title.
The humor is often clever and entertaining, with a mix of nerdy references and comedic situations that keep the experience light-hearted.
Despite its short length, the game presents thought-provoking themes about humanity and environmentalism, encouraging players to reflect on serious issues.

The game lacks meaningful choices, offering only one decision at the end, which diminishes the interactive experience typical of visual novels.
Some humor, particularly involving crude jokes and sexualization, may be off-putting to players and detracts from the overall narrative.
The story can feel preachy at times, with overt political messages that may alienate players looking for a more subtle approach to its themes.

story
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The game's story is a short, linear narrative centered around an android tasked with observing humanity to determine its fate, featuring a mix of humor and philosophical themes. While some players appreciated the comedic elements and the exploration of human nature, many criticized the lack of meaningful choices and character depth, noting that the story felt simplistic and at times jarring. Overall, it offers a quick, entertaining experience, particularly for those who enjoy science fiction and light-hearted storytelling, but may disappoint those seeking a more complex or branching narrative.
- “For a free game by a solo developer, it's pretty darn good; it has funny bits, albeit nerd humor, and I enjoyed the story.”
- “The story was short but deep and interesting at the same time.”
- “I'm glad I played it, as it was a fun story about an android that is sent into the public to blend in as a human and learn whether or not humanity should live.”
- “However, the game only had one split path; there were no in-between options. When I think of a visual novel, I think of a story that can change as I go depending on my choices. With this game, your only input is how the story ends.”
- “Overall, the story feels like a thinly veiled rant on man vs. nature, while its characters are paper-thin and unlikable.”
- “Granted, there's some level of suspension of disbelief that's sort of required for a comedy game, but a story typically establishes its own sort of internal logic, which this game simply didn't follow.”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mix of light-hearted and nerdy jokes, often revolving around programming and technology, which some players found entertaining while others felt it leaned too heavily on gross-out humor. While many appreciated the clever writing and character interactions, some noted that certain jokes, particularly those involving toilet humor, could be off-putting or uncomfortable. Overall, the game offers a humorous experience that appeals to fans of casual visual novels, though its comedic style may not resonate with everyone.
- “I liked Kyuu's humor and the little pop-ups that explained the more technical terms (not that I needed them myself; I just liked that they were there for those who would need them).”
- “For a free game by a solo developer, it's pretty darn good; it has funny bits, albeit nerd humor, and took me an hour to 100% it while still enjoying the story.”
- “While being hilariously funny most of the time, it also manages to get a clear philosophical influence into it.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
28%
12%
The music in the game is generally described as fitting and pleasant, enhancing the overall experience without being particularly memorable. While some players found the soundtrack enjoyable and well-timed, others noted it was decent but not remarkable, serving its purpose without leaving a lasting impression. Overall, the music complements the game's art and narrative, contributing to a solid, if not standout, auditory experience.
- “The game is great, art is made well, backgrounds, characters, great for a free game, music choices were timed great as well.”
- “I enjoyed this visual novel a lot - lovely music, amusing dialogue, and the social/philosophical commentary was interesting as well.”
- “The music is quite good as well and forms a good background to the main story.”
- “The music was decent, but not remarkable.”
- “Music: 4/10”
- “The art, music, and writing are adequate (for a free product) but all that has surprisingly secondary significance here.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their clean and appealing art style, with many reviewers noting the quality of the character designs and backgrounds. While some minor criticisms exist, such as a specific character design that detracted from the experience, the overall visuals are considered enjoyable and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere. The combination of good artwork and fitting music enhances the overall experience, making it a visually appealing choice for players.
- “I honestly played the game for the achievements, so I did not actually read the visual novel, but the art style was really amazing!”
- “The visuals are well done and the CG artwork looks great.”
- “Well put-together visual novel with a nice art style, funny humor, and good choice of backgrounds and BGM.”
- “Graphics: 6/10”
- “Visually, the art style is anime-like, though everything is depicted by still pictures.”
- “The art style is lovelier than some games that you have to pay for and has some very odd characters.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is criticized for being minimal and largely consists of poorly written dialogue that lacks depth and engagement, resembling more of a visual novel than a traditional game. Players encounter a pop-up mechanic intended to teach technical jargon, but it feels awkward and ineffective, further detracting from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay, however, is quite lacking.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “There is also a weird pop-up mechanic to supposedly teach you the 'jargon' and 'science intensive' words like CPU and artificial intelligence.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users consistently rating it a perfect 5/5. Reviewers highlight its immersive environment, engaging sound design, and overall mood that effectively enhances the gaming experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with its stunning visuals and haunting sound design.”
- “Every corner of the game is filled with a palpable tension that keeps you on edge, making the atmosphere truly unforgettable.”
- “The combination of ambient sounds and detailed environments creates a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening the experience to a frustratingly slow reading process where players must click to progress through text, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative. The lengthy introductions are particularly criticized for their lack of engagement.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “The intro was very long and incredibly tedious.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a straightforward monetization model, offering a completely free experience without in-app purchases or advertisements, which users appreciate for its simplicity.
- “Doesn't bother with anything too complex like in-app purchases and has no ads while being free.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, with a compelling story that evokes personal reflection on choices and endings. Many describe the experience as relaxing and heartwarming, highlighting its ability to connect with players on an emotional level.
- “It's a good story, but I did find myself wondering if my choice of ending was made due to my own emotional response or if this was really what a machine would pick.”
- “My first visual novel, which I found relaxing and heartwarming.”