Not Tonight

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,471 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Not Tonight Game Cover
Social commentary delivered with baseball bat subtlety, Not Tonight owes a huge debt to Papers, Please, but finds its own voice in the bit-parts of post-Brexit Britain.
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In "Not Tonight," players navigate a dystopian, post-Brexit Britain as a bouncer, making tough decisions and managing their reputation to stay employed in a society that scapegoats and deports immigrants. Players must balance political correctness with the demands of clients and authorities while dealing with the consequences of their actions. The game features a blend of survival management and choice-driven narrative, offering a unique and thought-provoking experience.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,471 reviews
story371 positive mentions
grinding36 negative mentions
  • Great art style and music that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • Engaging story with humorous dialogue and interesting characters.
  • Challenging gameplay that keeps players on their toes with various tasks.
  • Repetitive gameplay that can become tedious over time.
  • Some mechanics are not clearly explained, leading to confusion.
  • Ending feels rushed and unsatisfying compared to the buildup of the story.
  • story907 mentions

    The story of "Not Tonight" is a satirical exploration of a post-Brexit world, focusing on themes of xenophobia and political turmoil, with players navigating choices that impact their gameplay and the narrative. While some players appreciate the humor and character development, others find the story predictable, repetitive, and lacking the depth of its predecessor, "Papers, Please." Overall, the game offers an engaging experience, though opinions vary on the effectiveness and originality of its storytelling.

    • “The story is great and there are many choices you can make throughout that affect your gameplay and how the game ends.”
    • “The story is 10/10, full of satirical humor.”
    • “The story involved gets deep and your choices matter which I love.”
    • “The story is predictable and shallow but it feels like it was not the main focus when the game was designed anyway.”
    • “The execution of the story is poor and just repetitive degradation.”
    • “This game is okay... the story is completely forgettable and it's the usual government bad let's side with the revolution, just like Papers, Please that seems to be the main inspiration for this game.”
  • gameplay730 mentions

    The gameplay of "Not Tonight" draws heavily from "Papers, Please," featuring a similar mechanic of checking IDs in a nightclub setting, but it has been criticized for its repetitiveness and lack of new mechanics as the game progresses. While some players appreciate the engaging story and humor, many find the gameplay tedious and overly simplistic, leading to a sense of monotony over time. Overall, it offers a fun experience for fans of the genre, but it may not sustain interest for the entire duration due to its limited variety and repetitive tasks.

    • “Not tonight has quite ingenious gameplay; every detail is really well thought out.”
    • “The gameplay steadily ramps up in challenge, and while I did have to reload saves during one point, I found I was able to keep up with the increasing challenges.”
    • “The gameplay and mechanics are great, and it's a silly, somewhat brooding game.”
    • “Took me 13 hours to beat, but my save file did get deleted the first time I tried playing through it due to it having perhaps the worst save mechanics I have ever witnessed for a story game like this.”
    • “The biggest problem is the extremely repetitive and boring gameplay loop.”
    • “It's glaringly obvious that it's trying to piggyback off of Papers, Please's success but lacks the hook of any interesting story or plot, and it lacks increasing mechanics and difficulty which is what made Papers, Please so damn good.”
  • music422 mentions

    The music in "Not Tonight" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy and diverse soundtrack, which enhances the game's atmosphere and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the way the music dynamically shifts when club doors open, creating an engaging auditory experience that complements the pixel art and humor. Many have noted that the soundtrack is not only enjoyable within the game but also features tracks that players have added to their personal playlists, highlighting its lasting appeal.

    • “The music is catchy, and I love the style of animation.”
    • “The music is excellent and catchy, and made all the more enticing by the snippets you catch each time the venue doors open while you're stood outside in the rain with your clipboard and hi-vis.”
    • “The game has phenomenal music, witty and funny dialogue, and overall really likable characters.”
    • “The music is most often muffled, however, as you are the bouncer standing outside working away.”
    • “I had to play Papers, Please in segments because it got too repetitive and boring over time, but the addition of music and different clubs in Not Tonight allowed me to stay immersed and want to play longer.”
    • “The gameplay was kinda okay and the only thing I really liked about the game was the music.”
  • humor221 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its satirical and darkly comedic elements, often drawing comparisons to titles like "Papers, Please." Players appreciate the witty dialogue, engaging characters, and the ability to balance serious political themes with humor, although some note that the jokes can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and entertaining experience, filled with clever quips and a charming aesthetic that enhances its comedic appeal.

    • “The writing can be both surprisingly funny and incredibly dark, but manages to keep a very good tone despite the contrast.”
    • “It's hilarious, it's hectic, and it's the closest you'll get to being a door guy without the actual bruises.”
    • “The dialogue manages to be both thoughtful and hilarious - there are gaming and European culture references embedded everywhere.”
  • graphics214 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. While some users note that the graphics are simple, they appreciate the attention to detail and the engaging visual aesthetics that complement the gameplay. Overall, the art style is considered beautiful and fitting for the game's themes, drawing favorable comparisons to titles like "Papers, Please."

    • “The aesthetics, music, and visuals of this game are absolutely stunning.”
    • “The graphics are oddly beautiful for the aesthetic they are aiming for - the backgrounds are very pretty, and you really want to study them.”
    • “The art style is fantastic, the music is amazing, and gameplay is enjoyable.”
    • “The difference in character graphics here is very different because the hair on some people is only composed of a few pixels and the background can make it hard to see the hair properly.”
    • “Good game, similar to Papers, Please; personally, I believe it needs to have better graphics if it requires checking ID photos, as sometimes you cannot tell they are different from the NPCs.”
    • “The graphics are rather simple.”
  • atmosphere50 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a standout feature, characterized by its fantastic pixel art, immersive music, and a blend of humor and storytelling that enhances the overall experience. However, many players note that the atmosphere can also be gloomy and oppressive, which may detract from enjoyment for some. Overall, the detailed environments and compelling soundtracks contribute significantly to the game's sociopolitical satire and emotional depth.

    • “The pixel art is fantastic, and the atmosphere draws you in.”
    • “The amount of detail that's worked into the fore- and backgrounds of all the locations is nothing short of amazing, and it really helps to set the atmosphere.”
    • “There is decent storytelling here, and the humour is on point, but it's the atmosphere where Not Tonight shines brightest.”
    • “The atmosphere can often be gloomy and oppressive, which may affect some players.”
    • “In some levels of the game, the day can get disrupted by a terrorist attack, and the atmosphere right afterwards feels so bleak and heavy.”
    • “While I enjoyed Papers, Please, that also had to do with its incredibly hopeless atmosphere.”
  • grinding42 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. While some found the initial gameplay engaging, it quickly devolved into a monotonous cycle of similar tasks, leading to frustration and a sense of obligation rather than enjoyment. The lack of variety and mechanics, along with technical issues, further exacerbates the grind, making it a significant drawback for many players.

    • “Amazing story and great gameplay, it's just challenging enough to be fun but not tedious.”
    • “It looks like it could be so good but it just misses the mark of being that level of tedious but fun and rather just winds up being clunky and frustrating.”
    • “However, as the game went on, choices felt more arbitrary and mechanics felt more tedious, that when I reached the final chapter, I felt like I was playing only for the sake of seeing how it ends but not really because I was enjoying the game.”
    • “The game does get incredibly tedious to play - checking IDs/guest lists over and over, and going into an auto-pilot mode just to get through the shift feels like a real job at times, but I feel this accurately reflects the struggle the main character is going through in the game itself.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits a mixed level of replayability. Many players appreciate the opportunity to explore different endings and story options, while others find the experience somewhat linear with limited incentives to replay beyond achieving completionist goals. The presence of hidden achievements and varied gameplay styles contributes positively to its replay value, though some players feel it could benefit from additional content or events to enhance this aspect further.

    • “There are so many ways to play this game (most of them wrong), and the replayability is definitely there.”
    • “It definitely has replay value (at least in my opinion) and the mechanics are fun, the writing is witty, and the message is relevant.”
    • “There's so much more to the story, and there's so much replay value.”
    • “Not an RPG, not a puzzle, not an adventure, no replay value, no play value... not at all what is advertised.”
    • “This game just feels too linear and apart from improving your score, there’s not much incentive for replayability.”
    • “Replayability is probably lacking a bit as well.”
  • emotional22 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players feeling a lack of emotional weight compared to titles like "Papers, Please." While the game does evoke some emotional attachment and moral dilemmas, many feel it falls short in depth and storytelling, leading to a less impactful experience overall. The music is noted as a highlight, providing a comical yet occasionally heartbreaking backdrop, but the overall emotional investment is seen as limited.

    • “Music was good, it was comical, and also a little heartbreaking.”
    • “You become emotionally attached to them.”
    • “The game is very emotional and at times you feel as though to keep your job and your home you must deny and or be racist yourself as to not lose the game.”
    • “Political foolishness, boring storyline, and cringe throughout.”
  • stability20 mentions

    The game's stability is marred by several bugs, particularly with the save/load functionality and occasional input freezes that may require level restarts. Users have reported various visual and control glitches, though the developers are responsive and have issued patches to address some issues. Overall, while the experience is mostly smooth, the presence of these bugs detracts from the overall polish.

    • “Buggy save-game loading functionality.”
    • “End game is buggy and doesn't work as intended.”
    • “Some small bugs (one quite annoying which freezes the inputs and requires you to restart the level).”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its depth and thought-provoking nature, contributing to an impressive narrative. However, some players feel it lacks closure and could benefit from more robust character design and realistic gameplay elements to enhance immersion and further develop the characters. Overall, while the story and character arcs are compelling, there are notable areas for improvement.

    • “The game's complexity and political themes may challenge some players, but the character development and story are so impressive that I would say this is a thought-provoking game that offers a different experience.”
    • “Though it has a fantastic story and great character development, I can't help but feel no remorse for anybody in line.”
    • “However, character development leaves much to be desired in terms of 'closure'.”
    • “Had more attention to items, more realistic payments at the end of the day, more furniture, an actual incentive to keep working at the same place rather than the unrealistic multiplier (immersion breaker for me personally) and there would certainly be more room for character development.”
    • “The art design is brilliant, I love the high detail pixel environments (unaware if that's ironic or not), although character design could be a bit more robust.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy has been criticized for its heavy reliance on ads and promotional content, which detracts from the overall narrative experience, leaving players feeling that the storyline is shallow and overly commercialized.

    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions from ads.”
    • “The storyline felt very shallow for what it was advertising for, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The reliance on ads and in-game purchases significantly undermines the game's potential and enjoyment.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization aspect highlights that the presence of problem customers, such as those with fake IDs or drug issues, can negatively impact income and performance reviews, as their behavior may lead to financial losses and incidents that affect overall bar operations.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Not Tonight

Play time

7hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 22 analyzed playthroughs

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