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Not Tonight 2

Not Tonight 2 does a decent job of adapting Papers, Please to a terminally hateful America, but the premise wears thin with every pit stop.
Not Tonight 2 Game Cover
77%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, replayability
79% User Score Based on 272 reviews
Critic Score 67%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCWindows
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Not Tonight 2 Game Cover

About

Not Tonight 2 is a single player role playing game. It was developed by PanicBarn and was released on August 9, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Not Tonight 2 is a narrative-driven, management simulation game set in a dystopian, alternate 1970s England. As an immigration officer, players must balance paperwork, personal relationships, and moral dilemmas while enforcing the government's controversial policies. With multiple endings, players' decisions significantly impact the game's outcome. This sequel builds upon the original by introducing a larger world, more nuanced characters, and a more personal story.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
Not Tonight 2 screenshot
+7
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79%
Audience ScoreBased on 272 reviews
story59 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • Somehow improves on itself in the sequel, with a wonderful take on American government and immigration.
  • The addition of a story mode is a huge improvement over the previous installment, making the game more engaging.
  • The humor is spot on, with hilarious moments like the 'mushroom soup' incident that adds to the overall enjoyment.
  • The game feels too easy compared to the first, lacking the challenge and complexity that made the original more engaging.
  • Some levels and mini-games can feel frustrating and gimmicky, detracting from the core gameplay experience.
  • The political commentary can come off as heavy-handed and one-sided, which may not resonate with all players.
  • story
    189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and engaging narrative, particularly the character arcs and political themes, while others criticize it for being less compelling than its predecessor and overly linear. Many players appreciate the humor and unique storytelling approach, but some feel the characters lack depth and the plot can be disjointed or heavy-handed. Overall, while the story is seen as a significant aspect of the game, opinions vary on its execution and emotional impact compared to the first installment.

    • “The story is well made and obviously meant as a warning.”
    • “The story is amazing, the game isn't too long or too short.”
    • “The way the story is told works well, with the three story-arcs for each character each being interesting and unique.”
    • “The main characters feel soulless, the side characters don't stick around long enough to even remember, and the story isn't engaging at all.”
    • “The story is completely devoid of charm, likeable characters, or interesting plot points.”
    • “The story isn't engaging in the slightest, and the bad design choices make that aspect even worse.”
  • gameplay
    131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Not Tonight 2" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor while introducing new elements that add variety and challenge, though opinions on these additions are mixed. Players appreciate the engaging, time-sensitive decision-making and unique location-based gimmicks, but some find certain mechanics frustrating or overly simplistic compared to the original. Overall, the game offers a fun and dynamic experience, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its political themes and occasional design flaws.

    • “The gameplay mechanics of Not Tonight 2 closely resemble those of its predecessor, emphasizing time-sensitive decision-making and attention to detail.”
    • “The gameplay loop is solid as always; some of the new mechanics are really creative and fun.”
    • “Not Tonight 2 takes all the fun gameplay of the first Not Tonight and it's even better now!”
    • “There is no depth to the gameplay; you just check the IDs the same way for 99% of your encounters, and sometimes you get some wholly uninteresting 'challenge' which doesn't match the style of the game whatsoever.”
    • “The gameplay is just a much less complex and engaging version of Not Tonight 1's gameplay.”
    • “Instead, I am really disappointed because the simplicity and fun of the first game are now replaced by an overcomplicated gameplay and boring dialogues.”
  • music
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Not Tonight 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its ability to set the atmosphere and complement the game's environments. However, several users feel that the soundtrack lacks the standout quality of the original game, describing it as more forgettable and less varied. While some tracks are praised for their energy and fit within the game's context, others are criticized for being annoying or not matching the locations effectively. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor.

    • “Not Tonight 2 is a game I mainly play for the atmosphere — especially the music.”
    • “The soundtrack slaps, again.”
    • “The music goes along great with the venues you work in.”
    • “The disco/bars soundtrack is also much more forgettable unfortunately, and in the first game I think it was one of the stars of the show.”
    • “Most of them are decent but some of them are absolutely dreadful like the cult names or musical tickets.”
    • “Also, all of the music in Not Tonight 2 felt rather same-y to me.”
  • humor
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of political satire and absurdity, with many players finding it hilarious and engaging, particularly in its portrayal of American culture and politics. While some appreciate the cleverness and variety of comedic scenarios, others feel that the humor can be one-sided or overly simplistic, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully blends fun mechanics with a humorous narrative, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.

    • “The game introduces a variety of mini-games that add layers of complexity and humor, such as rhythm-based challenges, word association tasks, and even scenarios involving cults and casinos.”
    • “The very blatant jabs at American culture are really funny, and I do not care what anyone else thinks.”
    • “This game was an absolute joy to play and fed into my type of humor.”
    • “It was over-the-top, to the point where it was not funny and felt like straight bashing.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and often felt forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
    • “I found the humor to be cringeworthy, relying too much on clichés and cheap gags.”
  • graphics
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant pixel art style and detailed aesthetics that enhance the overall experience. While some users find the visuals charming and reminiscent of the first game, others criticize certain elements, such as cutscene portraits, for feeling out of place. Overall, the graphics are considered enjoyable and fitting for the game's themes, contributing positively to the gameplay and storytelling.

    • “The graphics are insane!!”
    • “Charming pixel art graphics and various mini games make playthrough enjoyable with different challenges.”
    • “The visuals are also gorgeous and the music matches perfectly.”
    • “The graphics are also poor.”
    • “Cutscene portraits' art style seems out of place and jarring - I preferred the original's pixel portraits.”
    • “Graphics are okay, not the best pixel art around but are enough for this game as it was for the first one.”
  • grinding
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it detracts from enjoyment and progression. While some appreciate the reduced grind compared to the original game, many still feel that the repetitive tasks and lack of free play options make the experience feel unfair and overly drawn out. The beautiful pixel art is a highlight, but it doesn't fully compensate for the grinding issues.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “I love how the grinding mechanics allow for character progression and skill development.”
    • “The jobs are teeth-grinding; there's no real progression and the story is pretty depressing, honestly.”
    • “I felt that the original Not Tonight was too grindy.”
    • “I sense that it was perhaps the point to make Not Tonight 2 feel more out of your hands, but after a certain point, it goes past enjoyable for me and just feels unfair and tedious.”
  • replayability
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the challenge of completing achievements and higher difficulty levels, others find the overall progression too linear, leading to limited incentive for multiple playthroughs. A few users even report zero replayability, indicating a lack of diverse experiences in subsequent runs.

    • “High replay value in order to get all the achievements by making the 'correct' decisions.”
    • “While it lacks much replayability, I have put a solid number of hours into it.”
    • “However, there definitely is some replay value when it comes to trying to complete the game on higher difficulties, trying to collect all the achievements, and trying to purchase all of the outfits.”
    • “Zero replayability.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to create attachment through character portraits, evoking a mix of discomfort and sadness that enhances the overall experience. While some find the story lacking, the game effectively balances serious themes with absurdity, offering a satirical yet poignant reflection on potential futures.

    • “I really enjoyed the addition of the polaroid portraits, as it gave the characters a face and made me feel more attached to them.”
    • “That one made me feel super uncomfortable and sad, but in a good way.”
    • “It expertly balances the serious and the absurd, giving a satirical yet heart-wrenching portrayal of one of many possible futures.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of Not Tonight 2 is highly praised for its calming, meditative quality, largely enhanced by its evocative music. Players appreciate the game's strong political undertones and anti-utopian setting, which contribute to a mood-driven experience that is both engaging and relaxing. Overall, the atmosphere is a key highlight, making it a compelling choice for fans of slower-paced games.

    • “Not Tonight 2 is a game I mainly play for the atmosphere — especially the music.”
    • “It creates a calm, almost meditative atmosphere that helps me relax while playing.”
    • “If you’re looking for a politically charged game with a strong sense of atmosphere and music that carries the experience, Not Tonight 2 is worth your time — especially if you enjoy slower, mood-driven games.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, while the music, art, performance, and storylines received praise, players noted significant optimization issues, particularly with luck-based mini-games and side quests that negatively impacted performance. These design flaws were seen as a major let-down, although they did not detract from the overall enjoyment unless players aimed for full achievement completion.

    • “The music, art, performance, and storylines were very good.”
    • “It was perfect except for some optimization problems.”
    • “The main letdown of some of these mini-games was that they were entirely luck-based and counted against your performance for the night, which is a monumentally stupid design decision that fortunately doesn't matter unless you're trying to go for all achievements.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report encountering glitches and bugs, particularly with the checklists, indicating that the game is not entirely bug-free.

    • “There are some glitches and bugs with the checklists.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to progress.”
    • “I experienced several freezes during gameplay, which ruined the experience.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its immersive and appealing design, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “Great game with a really immersive and cool character design.”
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67%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
9h Average play time
8-13h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Not Tonight 2 is a role playing game.

Not Tonight 2 is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Not Tonight 2.

Not Tonight 2 was released on August 9, 2021.

Not Tonight 2 was developed by PanicBarn.

Not Tonight 2 has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Not Tonight 2 is a single player game.

Similar games include Not Tonight, Beholder 2, Costume Quest 2, The Talos Principle 2, Road 96: Mile 0 and others.