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They Don't Sleep

They Don't Sleep Game Cover
98%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding
98% User Score Based on 336 reviews

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They Don't Sleep Game Cover

About

They Don't Sleep is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Missing Middle Games and was released on September 14, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"They Don't Sleep" is a first-person shooter game that takes place in an alternate 1960s' America. Players uncover a conspiracy surrounding a mysterious government program while battling against an army of the undead. With a variety of weapons and abilities, players must navigate through different levels, fight off enemies and unravel the mystery to stop the spread of the outbreak.

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They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
They Don't Sleep screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 336 reviews
gameplay38 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and engaging gameplay loop that combines resource management with zombie survival, making it both fun and challenging.
  • It's a short but sweet experience, with many players appreciating its bite-sized nature and the emotional weight of playing as a single mother in a zombie apocalypse.
  • The game is well-priced for the amount of content it offers, and many players express a desire for more levels or content in the future.
  • The game is quite short, with many players completing it in under two hours, leading to concerns about replayability and depth.
  • Some players find the difficulty spikes to be frustrating, especially in the early stages, and feel that the game could benefit from more balanced mechanics.
  • There are complaints about the game's reliance on RNG, which can lead to inconsistent experiences and a feeling of repetitiveness in gameplay.
  • gameplay
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its engaging and addictive core loop, combining simple mechanics with challenging roguelite elements that keep players invested. The unique concept of managing resources while caring for a child in a zombie apocalypse adds depth, and the game’s length is seen as a positive, preventing repetition. Overall, players appreciate the fun, quick-paced gameplay, though some express a desire for additional content and features to enhance the experience further.

    • “The overall gameplay loop is pretty satisfying, and NG+ helps it from becoming stale by bringing in a new location, along with modifiers to bring in some replayability and challenges.”
    • “Roguelike elements make it feel like there is constant progression and the gameplay loop of looking after yourself and your child while killing zombies and repairing your escape vehicle is very satisfying.”
    • “The gameplay is very fun, and pretty challenging, while never becoming unenjoyable.”
    • “If maps were added, I feel like the core gameplay loop would get rather repetitive, so I'm glad at its length.”
    • “I think it needs a skill tree, life-specific upgrades, equippable gear with a loot system, and idle mechanics; then it would be a keeper.”
    • “Gathering supplies is abstracted like in FTL, but the actual gameplay revolves around juggling a bunch of different needs and wants in order to succeed.”
  • story
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as minimalist yet engaging, providing a solid backdrop that enhances the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the unique storytelling method, where the narrative unfolds gradually through repeated deaths, making failure feel rewarding rather than frustrating. While the story is not extensive, it is well-suited to the game's format, and many hope for additional content in future updates.

    • “The story is great and the game is a great balance of fun gameplay with difficult multitasking.”
    • “I like the story - minimalist but it paints enough of the picture for me.”
    • “Usually, in a game like this, you get frustrated for failing (you were so close!) but with the story explained more and more with each death, I looked forward to being overwhelmed and finally succumbing to my demise so I could delve more into the little backstory they'd created.”
    • “There is a little story thrown in, but honestly don't expect a cinematic 20-hour campaign.”
    • “I made it through the basic story mode in about 40 minutes, having cycled I think 4 times.”
    • “The only thing I wished was that the story bits came a little more regularly, instead of as journal pages during a loop.”
  • replayability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers limited replayability, with many players noting that while the gameplay loop is enjoyable and the new game+ mode introduces some fresh elements, it doesn't significantly enhance replay value. Some users expressed a desire for more modes and random elements to increase replayability, but many still found the experience worthwhile given the game's low price. In summary, while there are some replayable aspects, they are not substantial enough to encourage multiple playthroughs for most players.

    • “I finished it including NG+ in less than 80 minutes in the default roguelite mode where you keep your level-ups between runs, but there are modifiers to increase the difficulty and items that I never came across, so it should be replayable.”
    • “The overall gameplay loop is pretty satisfying, and NG+ helps it from becoming stale by bringing in a new location, along with modifiers to bring in some replayability and challenges.”
    • “A great game with good replayability.”
    • “Too bad this game doesn't have much replayability.”
    • “Replayability could be higher, and there's a small annoyance that after unlocking new game+ you can't go back to the old map to try modifiers without resetting your level, but I'm happy with what I got for the price.”
    • “There is replayability here, but not much.”
  • graphics
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are simple yet effective, featuring pixel art that, while lacking in detail, contributes to its timeless appeal. Reviewers appreciate the visuals as pleasant and fitting for the gameplay, emphasizing that advanced graphics are not necessary for an enjoyable experience. Overall, the graphics complement the game's fun and engaging nature without overshadowing its core mechanics.

    • “The price is right, the visuals are nice, the sound is nice, and the pace is great.”
    • “While simple in graphics and gameplay, they don't sleep is a great game.”
    • “The pixel art is mostly fine - part of me wants more detail in the models, but at the same time having this art style means the game really can't age at all.”
  • emotional
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its genuine and wholesome emotional tone, standing out from more typical edgy or depressing titles. Players find the experience intense and impactful, particularly in portraying the struggles of a single mother balancing survival and care for her child amidst a zombie apocalypse, while also appreciating the manageable learning curve.

    • “I really like games that have some emotional weight to them, and this feels intense, as a single mother trying to care for her needs, her child, and survive waves of zombies. It's hard, but the learning curve feels great and doesn't take long.”
    • “Nice little game, refreshing to see something more genuine and wholesome rather than edgy or depressing.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, suggesting that it detracts from the overall experience. Many believe that making each run self-contained and focusing on game knowledge and decision-making, rather than stat grinding, would enhance gameplay.

    • “Better, in my opinion, would be to make each run self-contained and less punitive, so that it comes down to game knowledge and decision-making only, and not grinding stats.”
    • “That may seem rather tedious, but if you have ADHD like me.”
  • music
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is praised for its quality, complementing the overall solid UI, art, and mechanics. Players express a strong desire to purchase the soundtrack, indicating its significant impact on their experience.

    • “The concept of a mother taking care of her baby during a zombie apocalypse is genius, and the UI, art, sound/music, and mechanics are all pretty solid!”
    • “I am not expecting this in any way or telling the developer to do something; that being said, I would 100% buy a paid content DLC and will be buying the soundtrack sometime soon!”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by the recurring gag of the baby pooping every three seconds when placed in bed, particularly noted in the final part of the game. This comedic element adds a lighthearted and absurd touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “It was funny how the baby pooped every 3 seconds as soon as the player put him in bed at the last part of the game.”
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1h Median play time
1h Average play time
1-1h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

They Don't Sleep is a simulation game.

They Don't Sleep is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 1 hours playing They Don't Sleep.

They Don't Sleep was released on September 14, 2022.

They Don't Sleep was developed by Missing Middle Games.

They Don't Sleep has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

They Don't Sleep is a single player game.

Similar games include Dome Keeper, Wall World, Atomicrops, Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days, Whisper Mountain Outbreak and others.