Press X to Not Die

About

In "Press X to Not Die," you play as a game developer thrust into a zombie apocalypse. With only your knowledge of game mechanics and the mysterious "X" button, you must survive encounters with the undead and other challenges. This fast-paced, joke-filled game offers a unique blend of humor and survival, where your choices and reactions determine whether you live or become zombie food.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,381 reviews

humor357 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

Hilarious and absurd humor that keeps players entertained.
Short playtime of around 30 minutes, making it a quick and fun experience.
Offers replay value with multiple choices and different outcomes.

Very short game length, which may leave players wanting more.
Acting quality is often poor, which can detract from the experience.
Gameplay primarily consists of quick time events, which may not appeal to all players.

humor
362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in this game is widely praised for its absurdity, self-awareness, and campy charm, often drawing comparisons to B-movie horror films and 90s FMV games. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue, ridiculous scenarios, and the comedic timing of the actors, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience, despite the game's short length. However, some reviews note that the humor can be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling outdated or cringy, but overall, it delivers a fun and laugh-inducing gameplay experience.
- “The story is simple but hilarious, and the actors give this kind of awkward 'office' tone that makes the delivery of some lines even funnier when they're said.”
- “This game is so random, and the quick time events are funny as hell, 10/10.”
- “Press X to not die is a hilarious FMV game where you play a guy who wakes up with chaos going on outside.”
- “I'm sorry to say it's just not funny.”
- “I didn't like the story because it wasn't interesting in my opinion, the acting was very bad, and the humor was just not funny, all while keeping in mind that I know what it's supposed to be.”
- “The jokes are unfunny and the gameplay is bad.”
story
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
61%
12%
The game's story is characterized as absurd, cheesy, and intentionally campy, often drawing comparisons to B-movies and old horror films. While some players appreciate its humor and the interactive nature of the narrative, others criticize it for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, with many noting that the short playtime limits the overall experience. Overall, the story serves as a comedic backdrop that enhances the gameplay, though opinions vary widely on its execution and entertainment value.
- “The story is simple but hilarious, and the actors give this kind of awkward 'office' tone that makes the delivery of some lines even funnier when they're said.”
- “The story is hilariously fun, the campy acting is perfect, and the gameplay mechanics will keep you on your toes, because you need quick thinking to survive.”
- “The story is well-written, darkly humorous, and paves the way for multiple playthroughs - which I will most certainly attempt.”
- “The story is terrible, and the whole thing is just ridiculous.”
- “The story doesn't really make sense, and the actors don't do a good job of selling it.”
- “Not only is the story bad, but it's lacking in everything.”
gameplay
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The gameplay primarily revolves around quick-time events (QTEs) and dialogue choices, offering a straightforward yet often frustrating experience due to its reliance on rapid button presses. While some players appreciate the campy humor and unique integration of mechanics with the plot, many criticize the limited depth and short duration of the gameplay, which can feel repetitive and simplistic. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic nod to classic full-motion video games, though it may not satisfy those seeking more complex gameplay.
- “The story is hilariously fun, the campy acting is perfect, and the gameplay mechanics will keep you on your toes, because you need quick thinking to survive, and it is so fun when you don't die, you'll be like yes!”
- “Press X to not die combines elements of endearing, pretty good amateur theatre (ala Trailer Park Boys); 4th wall breaking, tongue-in-cheek, pop culture bashing humour (ala Deadpool); and fun, well placed and enjoyably challenging button mashing prompt gameplay combined with regular story-affecting choices.”
- “Despite being short, I had a lot of fun playing it thanks to its very tongue-in-cheek way of handling the gameplay style.”
- “Gameplay simply revolves around quick time events, and take note that it's about 1 hour long, very short.”
- “The gameplay is mediocre at best, consisting mostly of reaction-time oriented games and button mashing.”
- “The gameplay is as simple as it can get: quick time events!”
graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their realism and high quality, often described as "incredible" and "ultra-realistic," with some users noting the impressive use of real-time ray tracing. While many appreciate the creative filming and editing techniques, a few critiques mention that certain visuals appear rushed or lack depth. Overall, the game is celebrated for its stunning visuals, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The graphics are amazing, so realistic even with real-time ray tracing!”
- “I can't believe how realistic gaming graphics are these days!”
- “The game's graphics are amazing; they're just like real life. Everything is beautifully shot and creatively done, showcasing the developers' effort.”
- “The visuals are boring and seem rushed.”
- “There is one graphics option for resolution.”
- “More graphics settings would be nice.”
replayability
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
81%
6%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it can be completed in about 30 minutes, there are various choices and alternate timelines that encourage multiple playthroughs. Some users appreciate the humor and different outcomes, making it entertaining enough to revisit, while others feel the limited content and single ending reduce its overall replay value. Overall, it offers decent replayability primarily for achievement hunters and those interested in exploring different scenes.
- “A playthrough lasts less than 30 minutes, but there’s a lot of replay value.”
- “Although that being said, the game certainly has replay value, as there are various combinations of 'alternate timelines' involving different scenes based on your choices and the consequences of passing or failing the button prompt challenges, and is absolutely entertaining enough to want to experience them.”
- “Each playthrough lasts half an hour and the replay value lies in making different choices, which can lead to unexpected consequences.”
- “Not much replay value.”
- “There is not much replay value though there are a few times that you can make a different choice to see a few seconds of different footage.”
- “However the replayability is poor, once you finished the story you don't want to repeat it because there is only 1 ending and only 1 story.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its serious tone and nostalgic homage to classic gaming, while others find it minimal and not particularly intrusive. Overall, it seems to enhance the experience without being a central focus, with some users rating it positively despite its limited presence.
- “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- “The music is also fantastic; it has a really serious tone to it, but that just adds to the satire.”
- “This game (in 1994 mode) is a beautiful homage to this era; everything about this game, the acting, shooting angles, and music is just absolutely brilliant and brings this *cough* golden age of gaming back to life.”
- “Story is meh, humor is meh, music is meh.”
- “There isn’t much music in the game but that’s fine, it’s mainly about the action.”
- “Nearly no music, though music is not very intrusive.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can quickly become tedious, with some players feeling that the short game length (15-20 minutes) and achievement farming detract from the overall experience. While there is some replay value due to Steam achievements and dialogue farming, many players suggest that the grinding may not be worth it for everyone, especially given the low-budget humor and difficulty spikes. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some enjoying the grind while others find it frustrating.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I do not recommend this project for a targeted purchase due to the short game session (about 15-20 minutes), pointless achievement farming, and low-budget humor.”
- “But for most, it's likely to grow tedious.”
- “The game grows tedious within minutes, and ends up feeling more akin to a psychology study where a requirement for participation is to occasionally react to a prompt on the screen.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its raw and touching narrative that highlights the transformative power of love, evoking strong emotional responses from players. While some found the camera movement initially uncomfortable, the overall experience is described as enlightening and impactful, leading to a deeper emotional engagement.
- “It is a raw and touching story about the power of love overcoming all.”
- “This game expanded my mental horizons and made me feel a range of emotions.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game appears to be misleading, as players expected a humorous and self-aware experience based on positive reviews and advertising, but found it lacking in homage to the genre.
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
- “The constant prompts to purchase in-game currency detract from the overall experience and make it feel more like a cash grab.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere in the game is largely criticized, with reviewers noting a lack of depth and emotional engagement, resulting in a feeling of emptiness and disconnection from the characters. Overall, the ambiance fails to enhance the experience, leaving players wanting more.
- “It's way too short, the acting is mediocre, and there's just no atmosphere.”
- “There is no atmosphere, and no empathy for the characters.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is noted for its solid optimization, allowing for enjoyable performance despite its B-movie quality. While the acting may not be top-tier, the overall experience is enhanced by effective optimization.
- “The game is well optimized.”
- “You can honestly see in the performances that they were having fun with this; sure their acting isn't A+, but that's not what this is about - this is total B-movie quality.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is widely criticized as lacking depth and attention, leading to a generally unsatisfying experience for players. Many feel that the developers neglected this aspect entirely, contributing to a sense of frustration and disappointment.
- “Seriously unsatisfying game experience. They did not care for character development, and they did not even care about the synchronization of video frames. Please just give me back my half hour (which is the maximum amount of time to finish).”