Not the Robots

About

Not the Robots is a single player strategy game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by 2DArray and was released on December 12, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

"Not the Robots" is a turn-based strategy game where players control a group of humans avoiding detection by robots. Survive in randomly generated levels by using stealth, tools, and the environment to outsmart and evade the robots. With each successful escape, use gained resources to research and discover new items and abilities to increase your chances of survival.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+29

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 462 reviews

gameplay46 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Unique gameplay mechanic where players must eat their own cover to progress, adding strategic depth.
Challenging and engaging stealth gameplay with procedurally generated levels that keep each run fresh.
Great soundtrack and stylish presentation enhance the overall experience.

Random enemy movement and infinite detection range can lead to frustrating and unfair situations.
Lack of a clear narrative or purpose can leave players feeling disconnected from the game.
Repetitive gameplay and limited content may lead to a decline in interest after initial playthroughs.

gameplay
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The gameplay is a unique blend of stealth and puzzle mechanics, featuring a core loop that is both engaging and challenging, particularly for fans of the genre. Players navigate procedurally generated levels while utilizing innovative mechanics, such as consuming furniture for cover, which adds a strategic layer to the experience. While some find the gameplay simple and repetitive, others appreciate its depth and the satisfying difficulty curve that evolves as they progress.
- “The gameplay is challenging and unique, while the randomly generated levels create a different experience every time you play.”
- “Not the robots is a breath of fresh air, and has some of the most tense stealth gameplay I've seen in a while.”
- “This game is a unique experience which hybridizes stealth and tactical/puzzle gameplay to great effect.”
- “These things have no tactical value for the gameplay whatsoever; they don't give you choices or make the game interesting.”
- “Also, gameplay is uninspired and the whole feel is very much lacking.”
- “Unfortunately in practice, I find that the mechanics can quickly become not only tiresome but even frustrating, and the random level generation can be quite disappointing.”
story
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
74%
7%
The game's story is described as a mix of humor and absurdity, featuring a robot consuming furniture while navigating a world filled with quirky challenges. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling method through collectibles and audio logs, many find the narrative weak, fragmented, and lacking depth, which diminishes replay value and overall engagement. Overall, the story is seen as an interesting but ultimately underdeveloped aspect of the game.
- “The music is atmospheric, the story is subtle but fascinating, and the gameplay is engaging with a really good difficulty curve!”
- “As the story comes together, it justifies most of the game's arbitrary mechanics and reveals the game world as somewhat dark place.”
- “With almost infinite replayability, super speedy playthroughs, and an interesting storyline to boot, you'd be crazy not to pick it up!”
- “The story is pretty much non-existent and the game seems to be more of 'here are a series of levels you can play through.' There isn't any rhyme or reason to the thing.”
- “This game makes no sense, I was confused the whole time I played it and it has a terrible storyline to it or from what I saw.”
- “Add to that some fairly weak 'story' clips found throughout levels, and I just can't recommend it.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The music in the game is a standout feature, with many reviewers praising its unique, procedurally generated soundtrack that draws from a pool of over 70 looping tracks, creating a dynamic and atmospheric experience. While some players found the music to be atmospheric and fitting for the game's tone, others described it as depressing or unremarkable, leading them to prefer their own playlists. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's highlights, contributing significantly to its engaging gameplay and stylish presentation.
- “The music is atmospheric, the story is subtle but fascinating and the gameplay is engaging with a really good difficulty curve!”
- “Each level has different music (however slightly different) that is pulled from a pool of 70 looping tracks and put together for your listening pleasure.”
- “Not the Robots has one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard in a long time and I don’t think I’ve even heard a quarter of its potential tracks.”
- “I came back to it the next day and played it without the depressing, ominous, and unpropitious music (if you can even call it that), and instead played my own music, and I had a blast.”
- “The music is god awful.”
- “Visuals are very nice in this game, but I am not a big fan of the music.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
41%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising their polish and unique aesthetic, likening them to top-tier Nintendo titles, while others find them subpar or forgettable. Many players appreciate the smooth performance and the gritty yet whimsical art style, though some note issues with camera angles and optimization. Overall, while the visuals are generally well-received, there are calls for improvement in certain areas.
- “First off, the graphics are outstanding, especially at the performance, with the gameplay and default controls being fantastic.”
- “It plays smoothly, sounds great, and its visuals have a very gritty yet childlike cartoon quality to them that makes it that much more enjoyable to roll around in.”
- “Graphics are polished and look really funky, conjuring up thoughts of a 21st century version of Berserk.”
- “The graphics are poor considering that it's a pretty recent game.”
- “The visuals are decent and, of course, this is not where the game gets its charm and replayability, but it did put a bit of a damper on the whole experience.”
- “Nonetheless, there may be some further graphic optimization needed.”
replayability
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it offers high replay value through procedural level generation and evolving gameplay elements, some players feel it loses interest after unlocking all content and story bits. Many appreciate the randomization and variety that keep the experience fresh, but others note that once everything is unlocked, the excitement diminishes significantly. Overall, it is seen as highly replayable, especially for those who enjoy different playstyles and challenges.
- “Maximum replay value because it continues to evolve the more you play it.”
- “It's highly replayable, and fun no matter what your playstyle.”
- “With almost infinite replayability, super speedy playthroughs, and an interesting storyline to boot, you'd be crazy not to pick it up!”
- “It sort of lacks replay value after you unlock everything but will keep you entertained until then, and I've never quite played anything like it.”
- “I think the idea was that the random generation was going to make it replayable, but I just don't see that happening.”
- “The visuals are decent and, of course, this is not where the game gets its charm and replayability, but it did put a bit of a damper on the whole experience.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its clever and humorous concept, particularly the absurdity of a robot sneaking around to eat office furniture, which resonates well with players. The humor is effectively integrated into the audio logs and story segments, enhancing the overall experience and making it a standout feature for fans of roguelike and stealth genres. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate dark humor and quirky gameplay.
- “I'm not much of a stealth game player, but the roguelike style plus the humor hidden in the audio logs is great motivation to put some hours into this title.”
- “This is a wonderful rogue-like procedurally-generated stealth-oriented game with brilliant mechanics, nice graphics, and a good sense of humor going for it.”
- “I recommend this game to anyone who likes strategy games or who finds a robot sneaking around office buildings just to eat furniture absolutely hilarious (because I certainly do).”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The game's atmosphere is a standout feature, effectively blending colorful visuals with a tense, ominous tone that keeps players on edge, especially in later levels. The subtle yet engaging music complements the noir mystery theme, enhancing the overall experience while allowing players to immerse themselves in the intriguing story. The combination of jumpscares and a well-crafted difficulty curve further amplifies the heart-pounding atmosphere throughout the gameplay.
- “The music is atmospheric, the story is subtle but fascinating, and the gameplay is engaging with a really good difficulty curve!”
- “It sounds boring, but just like the music, it fulfills two requirements: it creates an ominous and tense atmosphere which works incredibly well in the game’s favor, and it’s pretty much as unintrusive as physically possible.”
- “The style and atmosphere is excellent; they hit the noir mystery feel from the start and stuck with it.”
- “It sounds boring, but just like the music it fulfills two requirements: it creates an ominous and tense atmosphere which works incredibly well in the game’s favor, and it’s pretty much as unintrusive as physically possible.”
- “This also reminds me of Receiver thematically, with the dark, mysterious atmosphere, and unusual story background.”
- “It's completely optional and out of the way - in fact, you'll need to put some effort into putting it all together - but it completely changes the atmosphere of the game.”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
Overall, the game demonstrates strong performance and stability, with outstanding graphics and effective gameplay mechanics. However, some users note that further graphic optimization could enhance the experience. The leveling system, which rewards players based on performance after death, adds an engaging layer to the gameplay.
- “First off, the graphics are outstanding, especially at the performance, with the gameplay and default controls being fantastic.”
- “Nonetheless, there may be some further graphic optimization needed.”
- “Very pleased with the performance and stability of the game.”
- “First off, the game has a leveling system, in which you gain experience each time you die, based on your performance in the previous playthrough.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and pointless, leading to frustration with the controls. While the game may offer initial enjoyment, it quickly becomes repetitive and unenjoyable.
- “For some reason, I thought this was going to be fun, but it's just pointless and tedious.”
- “The game was fun for a few minutes, but it eventually became tedious, and the controls are frustrating at times and mediocre at best.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly discussed in the provided text, but it hints at a humorous integration of advertisements within the storyline, suggesting a satirical take on consumerism. Players seem to appreciate the clever use of in-game ads that contribute to the narrative, although the overall impact of monetization on gameplay remains unclear.