Not For Broadcast

Quite possibly the best FMV game ever, Not For Broadcast had me both laughing and scrambling in a panic when the channel's viewership dropped. Even if you’ve never had any interest in FMV games before, Not For Broadcast will surely change your mind.

89%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

monetization, grinding

95% User Score Based on 9,428 reviews

Critic Score 83%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $2.05

Buy NowGet on Steam$24.99

About

"Not For Broadcast" is a darkly comedic game where you control a live television broadcast, deciding which camera angles to show and which content to censor. Balance the demands of egotistical celebrities, pushy sponsors, and politicians to keep your audience entertained, all while dealing with unexpected technical issues. Your choices shape the narrative and tone of the broadcast.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,442 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

monetization126 negative mentions

Unique gameplay that combines live-action footage with decision-making mechanics, creating an engaging experience.
Strong writing and acting, with well-developed characters that evoke genuine emotions and reactions.
The game effectively satirizes media and politics, prompting players to reflect on their choices and the consequences.

Gameplay can become repetitive, especially during longer broadcast segments, leading to potential boredom.
Technical issues, such as crashes and freezing, can disrupt the experience and require players to replay lengthy segments.
The tonal shifts between comedy and serious themes may not resonate with all players, leading to a disjointed experience.

story
3,913 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
59%
2%
The story of "Not for Broadcast" is a compelling blend of dark comedy and political satire, set in a dystopian world where players control a news broadcast, influencing public perception through their choices. Players navigate complex moral dilemmas that affect both the overarching narrative and personal storylines, with multiple endings that enhance replayability. While the game features engaging live-action performances and humor, some players feel that the text-based segments detract from the immersive experience, and the story's pacing can be uneven at times.
- “This game is an incredible demonstration of creativity and storytelling.”
- “The story is so investing and the actors deserve many awards for their performances!”
- “The story, despite being so absurd and unserious with the comedy in the first few hours, evolved into something far more profound, sinister almost.”
- “The way the story is brought together by the actors and game mechanics makes it such a fun and entertaining game to play.”
- “It almost feels like they had a story planned out, then they lost the script at some point and just came up with a bunch of disparate unrelated material to stay on their production schedule.”
- “The scenes where you are out of the studio could do with more depth; it does feel like you make three choices between each time you actually play the game that affect your personal story instead of the world's story, and these two stories are only connected by you and no other choice or character.”
gameplay
2,313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay of "Not for Broadcast" is characterized by its unique blend of live-action video editing and interactive mechanics, requiring players to manage multiple tasks such as switching camera feeds, censoring content, and maintaining viewer engagement. While many players find the gameplay engaging and innovative, some criticize it for being repetitive or overwhelming, particularly with the introduction of new mechanics that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully combines humor, storytelling, and challenging gameplay, making it a standout title in the genre, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its complexity and pacing.
- “A phenomenal game with innovative gameplay mechanics.”
- “Each game is unique in its mechanics and each comes with its own challenges.”
- “The gameplay is engaging and offers enough of a challenge to keep you focused, but you can opt for a lower difficulty if you just want the story bits.”
- “The gameplay is awful.”
- “The awards show segment in particular was so boring, so unfunny, and had so little gameplay that it was insulting.”
- “The only critique is that its mechanics become /slightly/ grating near the end, and ultimately make re-playing it undesirable.”
humor
2,027 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Not for Broadcast" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging performances, and a unique blend of dark and absurd comedy, often drawing comparisons to British humor and Monty Python. Players appreciate the game's ability to balance laugh-out-loud moments with serious themes, creating a dynamic experience that keeps them entertained while also provoking thought. However, some reviewers noted that certain comedic elements can feel forced or repetitive, and the humor may not resonate with everyone, particularly those unfamiliar with British comedic styles. Overall, the game is celebrated for its originality and the way it effectively uses humor to enhance its narrative and gameplay.
- “The writers had to have had an incredible time taking real headlines and stories and situations from the news and adjusting them *just* enough to be distinct, as well as the hilariously absurd and obvious names for the characters in these stories.”
- “Absolutely brilliant game; super funny humor throughout, and a good moral to the story as well about swinging the pendulum too far either direction, masterfully done!”
- “The humor in the game is cleverly delivered through witty dialogue, absurd scenarios, and the unpredictable nature of live television.”
- “The awards show segment in particular was so boring, so unfunny, and had so little gameplay that it was insulting.”
- “Maybe it could have worked as a comedy, but critically it's not funny unless you are really into weak low-budget sketches where no one behaves realistically and the acting is over-the-top caricatures.”
- “But it seems like the game decided to never expand on that, doing the same thing over and over again in favor of this weird dark comedy storyline about oppressive governments, media propaganda, and some of the most unfunny 'lol random' comedy I've ever seen.”
music
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and well-produced tracks, with many players noting that certain songs become earworms. While some musical segments can feel lengthy and the rhythm mechanics may be challenging, the overall soundtrack enhances the game's comedic and immersive experience. Players appreciate the variety of musical styles and the clever songwriting, making the music a standout feature that complements the game's humor and narrative.
- “The music, story writing, and the sheer amount of content that this game has is incredible.”
- “The sound design, excellent voice acting, and immersive soundtrack enhance the overall experience.”
- “Great story, great actors, amazing music.”
- “If I had any critique, the musical numbers feel really long and the rhythm game with it is not super forgiving.”
- “You just have to sit through the exact same conversations and songs and dances every time you want to do a different route.”
- “The music rhythm sections can be a pain keeping with the beat, just seemed a bit unforgiving or just slightly off.”
replayability
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The game boasts high replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings and branching narratives influenced by player choices, with some users noting up to 14 unique endings. Many players appreciate the opportunity to experiment with different strategies and outcomes, enhancing the overall experience. However, a few reviewers express concerns about potential repetitiveness and limited content in early access, suggesting that while replay value is significant, it may not be infinite.
- “The branching narrative based on player choices adds replayability, encouraging experimentation to witness different outcomes.”
- “The replayability is simply fantastic, and this game could keep you entertained for weeks, if you went through the story, picked different options, etc. This game has so many variations that you could easily watch a full playthrough on YouTube, buy the game, play it, and not have the experience ruined.”
- “However, having multiple endings helps the replay value significantly, and is one of the main reasons I returned after some time not playing to write this review, check out the DLC, and (eventually) unlock all the tapes!”
- “There probably is some replay value here and there (14 epilogues), but it's a one-time deal for me, too much time spent on nothing, just re-watching what you've already seen.”
- “It also seems to suffer from the same problem all story-heavy/gameplay-light games do, which is a near-complete lack of replay value.”
graphics
190 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
The game's graphics feature a nostalgic, low-fi aesthetic reminiscent of VHS tapes, which adds a charming retro vibe, complemented by a unique blend of live-action and animated visuals. While many players praise the beautiful graphics and immersive art style, some report technical issues such as freezing and optimization challenges, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received, though there are calls for improvements in certain areas to enhance accessibility and performance.
- “The game's visual style adopts a nostalgic, low-fi aesthetic reminiscent of VHS tapes, adding a charming retro vibe to the experience.”
- “The graphics are beautiful even though you play in such a small environment.”
- “The graphics are fantastic.”
- “Instead of creating an 'intertemporal' storyline as intended, it just makes the whole thing feel tired, and it's not helped by 'oh hum' sprites and 3D artwork that simply won't do in 2022 or beyond.”
- “Only criticism: background graphics during text choices look horrible.”
- “Great game but if you don't have at least a lower-mid-range computer, don't expect to be able to play this on even the lowest graphics settings.”
optimization
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing stuttering and performance issues, particularly during scene transitions, while others report smooth gameplay. Despite these concerns, many praise the overall performance quality and engaging mechanics, suggesting that further optimization could enhance accessibility and enjoyment for a wider audience. Overall, while the game showcases impressive acting and storytelling, its optimization remains a notable area for improvement.
- “You can choose ads, switch between screens, and manage the frequency; meanwhile, your performance affects how much money you make and what different organizations think of you.”
- “The fact that you can view all the alternate-camera performances after each session (that you will most likely miss if keeping up with action) is a great bonus that fleshes out the experience and storytelling.”
- “With exceptional performances from its cast, a unique and varied system of mechanics that changes with each broadcast, and tons of extra story content, any budding media mogul will be both delighted and horrified with all that Not For Broadcast has to offer.”
- “This game has some optimization issues; I think they should tone down some of the graphics and stuff so it’s more accessible to more people.”
- “The video was stuttering and it affected the gameplay severely.”
- “Game is not optimized.”
emotional
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, with players experiencing a roller coaster of feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. The superb acting and engaging narrative create strong connections to the characters, leading to genuine empathy and emotional investment. Many reviewers noted that the blend of humor and serious themes, along with impactful moments, made it one of the most emotionally compelling games they've played, often leaving them in tears or deep reflection.
- “I cried three times while playing so far, and I really enjoyed the comedy of the game as well as the serious nature.”
- “These amazing performances are the main reason why I genuinely became very attached to the characters, why I laughed, why I cried, why I cared about this fictional setting, and why I cared about its politics and message.”
- “It's very rare that I've had a game have such a wide emotional range, but Not for Broadcast absolutely brought me to tears with both laughter and sadness.”
monetization
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is intricately tied to player choices, particularly in selecting advertisements and managing broadcast content, which directly influences in-game performance and financial outcomes. Players appreciate the humor and creativity of the parody ads, noting that their decisions can lead to significant consequences, such as viewer loss or financial gain. However, some users have reported bugs that hinder gameplay, affecting their ability to issue ads and complete the game effectively.
- “However, at present the game is plagued by a bug that makes it impossible for me to complete it, as the buttons to issue the ads are locked and that means a guaranteed loss every time.”
- “Lost my viewers since I failed to show ads, lmfao.”
- “I was not able to watch the propaganda advertisements.”
grinding
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
40%
56%
The grinding aspect of the game has received significant criticism, with many players noting that it can be excessively tedious, particularly due to the inability to skip previously viewed content and the repetitive nature of certain gameplay mechanics. While some appreciate the story and choices, the overall sentiment suggests that the grinding elements detract from the experience, making it feel like a chore rather than an engaging activity. Players often express that they would need "a second life" to endure the grinding required for replaying the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A lot of grinding.”
- “The problem is that there is no way to skip excerpts already watched, which makes the game quite grindy to replay.”
- “I get there is a nice social message here that people identify with, but the gameplay loop itself is tedious and boring.”
- “It never changes and whilst it's fine for a handful of playthroughs, it's going to become tedious to anyone who decides to play from the beginning again.”
stability
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
2%
92%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent crashes, bugs, and glitches that disrupt gameplay and require players to replay sections. Many users report problems such as freezing menus, static screens, and unresponsive controls, particularly on the Steam Deck, making it difficult to progress. While some players have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game is currently too buggy to provide a smooth experience.
- “Runs great on the deck and feels immersive with the weather effects and other wacky things that challenge you.”
- “There were no glitches or bugs I found.”
- “Runs great on the deck and feels immersive with the weather effects and other wacky things that challenge you.”
- “Currently extremely buggy on Steam Deck. I really want to love this game, but unfortunately, I still cannot get past the second mission because of the constant crashes or when all the broadcast screens display static when the audio can play for a second or two, all this even after a full reinstallation.”
- “Game is buggy and broken. It seems that the videos not playing (kind of essential to the game) is such a common issue that there is an alternative build on Steam, but even with that, I still can't proceed past the very beginning. No videos play, and the buttons to select feed don't unlock - it's game over a few seconds later.”
- “And there were just so many glitches it made the game unplayable.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and quirky qualities, enhanced by live-action elements and strong performances from actors. Reviewers highlight the effective blend of humor and a dark, dystopian tone, creating a compelling experience that evolves as the story progresses. The soundtrack and overall design contribute significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere, making it a standout feature despite some gameplay frustrations.
- “The live-action elements, including the performances of the in-game actors, contribute to the immersive and quirky atmosphere.”
- “I've been having a blast playing this game for only 3 and a half hours, with the game immersing me with its atmosphere, the broadcast, and the story.”
- “Being early access, at the time of this review only three levels are available, making for an experience that is relatively short, but nonetheless quite dense in plot and atmosphere; the broadcasts strike a good balance of humor, wit, and a looming air of dread of things to come, as the country begins a slow and steady decline into what seems to be a growingly authoritarian state, reeled in by a freshly voted in new government with bold and hopeful new promises of a bigger, better future.”
- “If you heard about games like Beholder or Papers, Please, then you know how important atmosphere is for those types of games, and I have to say, NFB absolutely perfected the dark atmosphere of dystopian worlds. Even though the first part is a true comedy, in NFB's middle, you definitely will fall into the cold hands of depression.”
- “A sharp irony that succeeds and makes you smile, bitterly, in an overtly dystopian atmosphere.”
- “I sensed the rapport of the actors in the game and could tell that it was quite a close-knit sort of atmosphere.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
Character development in the game has been praised as some of the best seen in gaming, with strong acting that reveals the personalities of the main cast. However, early gameplay suggests that the depth of character development is limited at this stage, with expectations for further exploration as the game evolves.
- “Some of the best character development I have ever seen in a game.”
- “In my opinion, the acting is great and it helps to give you a small glimpse of the personalities of the main cast both when on-air and off-air. While there is not a lot in the way of character development of the main cast at present from the few hours that I've played, I assume that this will probably be worked on at a later stage while core mechanics and gameplay are touched up on.”
- “In my opinion, the acting is great and it helps to give you a small glimpse of the personalities of the main cast both when on-air and off-air. However, there is not much in the way of character development for the main cast at present from the few hours that I've played. I assume that this will probably be worked on at a later stage while core mechanics and gameplay are refined.”