Nobody Wants to Die

The writers created a great setting, had a good idea for the plot and prepared excellent dialogues, but at the end of the day Nobody Wants to Die resembles an impressive technology showcase more than a proper game. I had fun, but the gameplay’s limited formula and modest length of this adventure are significant drawbacks.

Nobody Wants to Die feels like a triumph of noir-inspired gaming. Its meticulous attention to detail, from the visual aesthetics to the great narrative, makes it a standout title for fans of the genre. The game successfully merges the best elements of classic noir with modern gaming sensibilities, while the game has a bad habit of giving too much help to the player; Nobody Wants to Die is a game that should not be missed by fans of the genre.

Nobody Wants to Die’s relatively brief story isn’t a completely original concept, but it has a cool mix of inspirations and unique worldbuilding touches that all work well together to create something new and engaging. There’s a bit too much hand-holding for a game about the art of investigation, but its conversation system picks up the slack with humor, unexpected outcomes, and a surprisingly deep story about how impactful your past can be on your present — even when you’re facing immortality.

Nobody Wants to Die is just a pot-pourri of themes and scenes already read in old books, seen at the cinema and played in many other modern games.

Nobody Wants to Die has a lot of smart political and philosophical thoughts that relate to what’s happening today. There’s a lot of intrigue and spotting all the Greek Mythology references is exciting, alluding to the story at hand. However, the crime scene gameplay can get repetitive and frustrating, as the story feels like it’s on rails. It’s nice to be able to play a game you can’t fail, but it feels odd that there’s a heightened sense of danger that just… never comes. Introducing elements like quick-time events late in the game and without accessibility options for them is disappointing. Even still, the game is gorgeous and watching a friendship bloom with the two main characters is great to see.

Given its low price, Nobody Wants to Die may be worth checking out for the visual style and unique atmosphere, but the basic gameplay and underwhelming story make for a forgettable adventure.

Art deco noir cyberpunk world has a lot of little details that really nail that “high tech, low life” feeling. But with the story so bland and by-the-numbers, it’s hard to recommend Nobody Wants to Die as anything but an interactive artbook. [Issue#265, p.54]