Nobody Wants to Die

Nobody Wants to Die is an incredible experience. Engaging detective gameplay, an incredible soundtrack, and a fascinating noir-yarn come together to create one of my favorite games in a long time.

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In "Nobody Wants to Die," play as Detective James Karra in a futuristic, alternate New York City of 2329, where immortality is a luxury for the wealthy. As a member of the Mortality Department, Karra investigates a series of murders targeting the elite, utilizing time manipulation abilities and advanced technology. The case uncovers dark secrets of the city's powerful figures as Karra works with young police liaison Sara Kai.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,305 reviews

story457 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

Stunning graphics and art direction, creating a captivating cyberpunk noir atmosphere.
Engaging story with intriguing themes, exploring concepts of immortality and morality.
Strong voice acting and character development, making the narrative immersive.

Gameplay is overly linear and hand-holding, lacking real detective work and player agency.
Multiple endings feel unsatisfying and are difficult to achieve without replaying the entire game.
The story can become convoluted and leaves many questions unanswered, especially towards the end.

story
1,077 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Nobody Wants to Die" is a compelling blend of cyberpunk and noir detective themes, drawing comparisons to works like "Altered Carbon" and "Blade Runner." While the narrative is engaging and features intriguing characters, many players noted that it can feel convoluted and rushed towards the end, leaving some plot threads unresolved. The game is primarily story-driven, with choices that impact dialogue and endings, but the linear gameplay and lack of significant player agency may disappoint those seeking a more interactive detective experience.
- “The story is captivating and the investigations are really unique.”
- “Nobody wants to die is an experience that has to be played, very immersive noir story, it won't keep you busy with useless slog like many modern games do, straight to the point amazing experience, recommended.”
- “The narrative of 'nobody wants to die' is both moody and compelling, drawing players in with its engaging plot and well-crafted characters.”
- “The story is convoluted, which was probably intentional, but exciting.”
- “The story unfortunately is often really illogical, feels like it's missing pieces and jumps to irrational conclusions.”
- “The story was ultimately disappointing in my opinion, but the atmosphere and setting are interesting enough to make it an enjoyable 6-ish hour experience.”
gameplay
428 mentions
28 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Nobody Wants to Die" is primarily a linear, narrative-driven experience that heavily relies on simple mechanics such as walking, clicking on highlighted objects, and using a time-rewinding feature to reconstruct crime scenes. While the game features intriguing detective mechanics and a visually stunning aesthetic, many players find the gameplay repetitive and overly guided, lacking the depth and complexity expected from a detective game. Overall, it serves more as an interactive story than a traditional game, appealing primarily to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay.
- “The gameplay is fun and putting together clues makes your head think; the only thing I wish I could've gotten more out of the game is seeing more of the events take place rather than listening to them from another room, or behind a black screen.”
- “The gameplay mechanics in 'Nobody Wants to Die' are intuitive and rewarding.”
- “The gameplay is focused around rebuilding crime scenes with sufficiently advanced technology, with a story straight out of the classics.”
- “Where it falls down is the super-on-rails gameplay and the atrocious way the ending is handled.”
- “In regards to the gameplay, this is a game where you play a detective, but never actually get the opportunity to do any detective work.”
- “The gameplay is mostly non-existent and consists mostly of walking up to a highlighted objective and interacting with it.”
graphics
408 mentions
65 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals and intricate art design that evoke a blend of cyberpunk and noir aesthetics reminiscent of "Blade Runner" and "Altered Carbon." While the game showcases impressive graphical fidelity, particularly with the use of Unreal Engine 5, some players noted performance issues and optimization challenges, especially on lower-end hardware. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the immersive experience of the game's narrative and atmosphere.
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, from the popping colors from the neon signs to the dark and dirty trash littered hallways in the shady parts of town.”
- “The art style is unique and beautifully crafted, creating an atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.”
- “Graphically, it is one of the most beautiful games I've played this year, and I wouldn't mind another game in the franchise with this same art style.”
- “You really do need something 30 series cards or up (or AMD equivalent). I tried my luck running a 1060; I got 30 fps on the lowest settings in 1080p most of the time, but one of the focal points of the game is its graphics.”
- “The motion blur is intense enough to cause dizziness, and the graphical load can be too intense for an older series of graphics cards.”
- “Performance is completely down the drain. Usually, my PC can handle high-end games with relative ease, but this has had my PC crash and freeze up multiple times even with all graphics settings floored to the minimum. I would not recommend buying until it's fixed (if it does).”
atmosphere
168 mentions
64 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and richly detailed design, drawing strong comparisons to iconic titles like *Bioshock* and *Blade Runner*. Reviewers highlight the stunning visuals, exceptional sound design, and strong voice acting that collectively create a captivating noir cyberpunk experience. While some note that the gameplay may be linear or lacking in depth, the overall ambiance and storytelling are considered standout features that enhance the player's engagement with the world.
- “This game is absolutely drenched in style and atmosphere.”
- “The art style is unique and beautifully crafted, creating an atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.”
- “The atmosphere is immaculate, calling back to Blade Runner, Bioshock, and noir movies.”
- “At first, the visuals and atmosphere of the game really captivated me, but after only an hour of playing the game, it started feeling dull and worn-out.”
- “The dialogue often feels forced, and the overacting by some voice actors only adds to the unintentional humor rather than the intended atmosphere.”
- “The characters and atmosphere are nothing we haven't seen many times before.”
music
89 mentions
60 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the noir atmosphere, featuring a mix of jazz and orchestral elements that evoke a strong sense of place and emotion. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the stunning visuals and storytelling, some note that it can be repetitive or not always perfectly aligned with the gameplay moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack perfectly encapsulated the 1940s noir atmosphere despite being set in this futuristic nihilistic universe.”
- “The music wraps around you like a smoky jazz club after midnight, the visuals painting a grim picture of a city that’s seen better days.”
- “Nobody wants to die is an incredible experience, with an engaging detective story, an incredible soundtrack, all set in a fascinating Blade Runner-esque world where each decision changes your path, one of my favorite games in a long time.”
- “The soundtrack is sadly not very memorable.”
- “The music is alright, I feel like in some moments the music doesn't really hit very well with what's going on in the moment though.”
- “It under delivers on every front outside of the visuals and music.”
optimization
69 mentions
22 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, even on high-end systems. While some users report decent performance with settings adjusted, others find it poorly optimized, particularly in demanding scenarios. The lack of an exclusive fullscreen option and inconsistent performance across different setups further contribute to the sentiment that the game requires substantial optimization improvements.
- “Thankfully, all kinds of modern upscaling solutions from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel are implemented to help with performance while maintaining visual fidelity.”
- “The game’s performance is impressive given the quality of the visuals.”
- “Movement and fluidity of the game as a whole is very well done and optimization is great.”
- “The game has potential, but it was released too early and needs a lot of optimization.”
- “Performance is completely down the drain; usually, my PC can handle high-end games with relative ease, but this has had my PC crash and freeze up multiple times even with all graphics settings floored to the minimum. I would not recommend buying until it's fixed (if it does).”
- “The game randomly stutters and drops frames at weird times, which I'm sure is just an optimization issue but still requires a reload to fix it.”
replayability
27 mentions
19 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with many players noting a lack of substantial branching paths and limited endings, which diminishes the incentive for multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the ability to explore different dialogue options and endings, others feel that the story-driven nature and predictability reduce the overall replay value. A few players found enough enjoyment in revisiting the game for different outcomes, but many agree that it doesn't justify extensive replaying.
- “Has great replay value and a really cool story.”
- “Even if it stole ideas from many different sources, the mix is a wonderful short game of 5 hours of gameplay, but with high replayability.”
- “A big redeeming factor is that the game has a bit of choices that matter with things like 'so and so liked that' or 'this choice will affect the story,' and that does make it quite a bit more interesting and gives some replay value.”
- “Seriously, you should use a guide for the good ending right away because there is no replayability at all, maybe in 10 years when you forget most of it...”
- “There isn't much replay value in this game at all, but I decided to 100% it because I was lucky I only needed 3 achievements in the second playthrough, 2 of which are decision-based and 1 that I just missed the first time around.”
- “Honestly, there isn't much replay value in the game so you won't really feel like replaying the thing all over again just to try to get a different ending.”
grinding
17 mentions
6 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and repetitive, particularly in the detective mechanics and puzzle-solving elements. While some players found enjoyment in the overall experience, many noted that the gameplay can become monotonous, especially in the second half, leading to a lack of motivation for replaying. Overall, the game is described as having enjoyable moments, but the grinding elements detract from the experience for several players.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One of the game’s notable drawbacks is how some mechanics and puzzles become repetitive and tedious.”
- “The mechanics get very tedious, very quickly.”
- “I refunded it as the tedious detective mechanics got too annoying.”
stability
13 mentions
23 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
69 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a flawless experience with no glitches or crashes, while others encountered frequent visual glitches and occasional freezes. Overall, many users noted impressive graphics but highlighted the need for patches to address minor bugs and inconsistencies.
- “Technically polished, beautiful graphics, no glitches, freezes, or bugs encountered during my playtime.”
- “Yes, it is very short, but runs great right on release and I can't ask for much more than that.”
- “Runs great, great graphics.”
- “The visuals seem great at times, but the constant glitches (shadows and reflections glitch like hell; there are really few surfaces in the game that don't look like they have a huge noise texture flickering above them).”
- “After restarting the game, I can no longer finish the loading screen because the game freezes up.”
- “If Cyberpunk and Life is Strange had a baby, it would have more glitches than their parents combined.”
humor
11 mentions
91 % positive mentions
-18 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a well-integrated blend of lighthearted banter and clever jokes, enhancing the otherwise dark noir atmosphere. Players appreciate the amusing interactions and secrets, as well as the engaging dialogue that feels natural and adds to the overall experience. While some found the humor inconsistent, many enjoyed the comedic elements that provided levity in a grim setting.
- “There's many little funny secrets to explore and interact with.”
- “And I just loved that, unlike too many noir things, they didn't just make it pure dark but rather had a fitting amount of humor and lighthearted banter in it.”
- “The conversations don't feel forced, the humor is light but convincing, and the ambiance is perfect (sitting on the neon sign smoking a cigar was a great moment).”
- “If it was supposed to be funny, then any sort of humor is eradicated by the behavior of the characters.”
- “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, making it hard to enjoy the comedic moments.”
- “The attempts at humor are so cringeworthy that they detract from the overall experience.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its haunting soundtrack and a story that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming, deeply engaging players and making them feel invested in the characters' struggles. However, some players felt a lack of emotional connection to the characters and criticized the voice acting and subtitle inaccuracies, which detracted from the overall experience. While the game is short, it leaves a lasting impact, with some players expressing strong emotional reactions, both positive and negative, to the narrative's resolution.
- “I cried at the end, like a baby.”
- “The sound design, including the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, further amplifies the emotional impact of the story and gameplay.”
- “The story is both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time; yes the game is short but I was hooked the entire time.”
character development
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and purposeful progression, contributing significantly to the narrative and world-building. However, some players feel that the character development can be superficial at times, lacking subtlety. Overall, the game effectively intertwines character arcs with the unfolding story, though the pacing of progression may feel unconventional to some.
- “The game takes you through some genuinely interesting story-building and lore-building, doing detective work on a series of related incidents, while also doing a lot of character development for the protagonists.”
- “✔️ Good world building & character development.”
- “The character development is skin deep and really on the nose.”
- “The plot felt deep, as did all the character development, but the progression felt odd; like I was waiting to unlock new tools or choose the next mission, although I suppose that's for a different game or style.”
- “Each action feels purposeful, contributing to the overall narrative and character development.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some users feeling that the advertising misrepresents the gameplay experience, suggesting it is more passive than interactive. While the graphics and atmosphere are praised, there is a sentiment that the game industry often prioritizes profit over artistic integrity, contrasting this title with more commercially-driven franchises.
- “Like most advertisements, it looks a lot more interactive than it actually is.”
- “Awesome graphics and atmosphere; it's games like this one that remind me that games are an actual art form, while the Call of Duties, Battlefields, and Fortnites of the world do their best to convince me that gaming is nothing but a disgusting cash grab.”
- “The story does seem kind of flat and confusing so far, but they have some pretty cool ideas; I definitely think they are advertising it a little wrong though because it is way more of a 'you walk around and the game happens' as opposed to 'you make stuff happen.'”