Not Tonight 2
- August 9, 2021
- PanicBarn
- 10h median play time
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.
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games StoreNot 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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating story with engaging characters and humor, making it enjoyable for fans of the first game.
- The gameplay introduces new mechanics and mini-games that keep the experience fresh and varied across different locations.
- The art style and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
- The game lacks the depth and meaningful choices present in the first installment, making it feel more linear and less impactful.
- Some mini-games rely on RNG, which can lead to frustrating moments where players are penalized for luck rather than skill.
- The political themes can feel heavy-handed and may detract from the enjoyment for players who prefer subtlety in storytelling.
- story159 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging character arcs and political satire, while others criticize it for being convoluted, heavy-handed, and lacking the charm of the original. Many found the narrative disjointed due to its linear structure and multiple perspectives, leading to a sense of disconnect from the characters and plot. Overall, while some players appreciated the depth and thematic elements, others felt the story was forgettable or poorly executed.
“The way the story is told works well, with the three story arcs for each character being interesting and unique.”
“The story is amazing; the game isn't too long or too short.”
“I can honestly say this is one of the best games I've played in a while, and the storyline and plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat.”
“The plot and the story are really bad, like something that I could come up with in 5 minutes.”
“The story is completely devoid of charm, likeable characters, or interesting plot points.”
“The story is pretty decent - I never played the first one, but this felt like a watered-down version of 'Papers, Please' - traveling around felt sort of unnecessary, and the traveling in the third road trip just got annoying when you had to look at the map and attempt to see all of the lines when people were in the way of them.”
- gameplay106 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Not Tonight 2" retains the core mechanics of its predecessor, focusing on document checking with added variety through unique location-based challenges and mini-games. While some players appreciate the innovative twists and improved pacing, others find certain mechanics frustrating or overly simplistic compared to the original. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging and tedious elements, appealing to fans of the genre while leaving room for improvement in complexity and depth.
“Fun game, great game mechanics, captivating story.”
“Gameplay-wise, it's a superb upgrade from the original with innovative and creative levels with unique mechanics that are fun to learn.”
“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 'challenges' that don't match the style of the game whatsoever.”
“The gameplay is just a much less complex and engaging version of the first game's gameplay.”
“It's impressive how well the developers managed to shoehorn the 'Papers, Please' formula of gameplay into a wide suite of different locales, but it feels like a simple deviation that emphasizes speed over multi-factor testing.”
- music56 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its variety and the way it complements different areas, while others found some tracks annoying or less memorable compared to the original game's soundtrack. Although the soundtrack features a range of genres, including electronic and hip-hop, some players felt it lacked the charm and standout quality of the first installment. Overall, while the music is generally considered enjoyable, it does not consistently meet the high expectations set by its predecessor.
“The music is fun and the game is entertaining.”
“The soundtrack slaps, again.”
“Fantastic music, great pixel art, fun characters and interactions, and a fairly addictive play loop that manages to change just enough every few nights so as not to outstay its welcome.”
“The music ones are the absolute worst, especially without being able to use the keyboard.”
“Most of them are decent but some of them are absolutely dreadful like the cult names or musical tickets.”
“However, two of my favorite things about the original was the shop & the music, and I was disappointed by those things in nt2.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by charming pixel art that retains the vibrant and detailed aesthetic of its predecessor, enhancing the overall experience. While some players find the cutscene portraits jarring compared to the original, the colorful visuals and engaging design elements contribute positively to the gameplay. Overall, the graphics are well-received, with many praising their quality and the effective use of art style to complement the game's themes.
“Charming pixel art graphics and various mini games make playthrough enjoyable with different challenges.”
“The pixel art style is nice with its vivid colors and high levels of detail.”
“It uses the same pixel art style of 'Papers, Please,' while adding a fun, colorful, and vibrant twist to it, even if the locations the characters are placed in are dour.”
“The 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 it's enough for this game as it was for the first one.”
“There is somewhat more elaborate story, but the visuals and gameplay remain pretty much the same.”
- humor14 mentions
- 93 % positive mentions
- -14 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of political satire and absurdity, with many players appreciating its cleverness and engagement with current societal issues. However, some critiques highlight that the humor can be over-the-top and occasionally misses the mark, leading to a loss of the charm found in the original game. Overall, while the game features moments of genuine wit, opinions vary on its effectiveness and depth in addressing political themes.
“Good political humor and satire, good game.”
“I understand the political satire of the Not Tonight universe (which is hilarious) which led me to buy this game.”
“The very blatant jabs at American culture are really funny, and I do not care what anyone else thinks.”
“It was over-the-top, to the point where it was not funny and felt more like straight bashing.”
“The humor fell flat and often felt forced, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
“I found the jokes to be cringeworthy and lacking any real wit or charm.”
- grinding8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that it lacks meaningful progression and enjoyable replayability. While some appreciate the improved balance over the original game, others find the reliance on repetitive tasks and the absence of free play modes detracts from the overall experience, making it feel unfair and overly laborious.
“Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
“The grind is real, but the sense of progression makes every hour spent feel worthwhile.”
“I love how grinding not only improves my character but also enhances my skills as a player.”
“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.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability due to its linear progression and lack of significant changes based on player choices. However, some players find value in replaying the game on higher difficulties, completing achievements, and collecting outfits, which can extend playtime for dedicated fans.
“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.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game is generally well-received, it suffers from optimization issues that affect gameplay, particularly in luck-based mini-games and side quests that can detract from overall performance. These design choices may frustrate players aiming for 100% completion, but they do not significantly impact the overall experience for most.
“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.”
- stability2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
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.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a complex mix of discomfort and sadness, effectively balancing serious themes with absurdity. This creates a satirical yet poignant depiction of potential futures, leaving players with a lasting impact.
“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 and yet heart-wrenching portrayal of one of many possible futures.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively establishes a compelling anti-utopian atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, complemented by engaging gameplay mechanics.
“The anti-utopian atmosphere created by the game itself is very compelling, and the game mechanics are also quite interesting.”
