Nobody Wants to Die

Meet Detective James Karra, an investigator as hard as the strange world of 2329's New York he calls home. Immortality is no longer just a far-fetched idea in this so-called "utopia"—it's a luxury only the rich and powerful can afford. However, when someone's life gets cut short, that's where James Karra steps in.

You feel something very special has happened from the moment Nobody Wants to Die boots up. Of any variety, Critical Hit Games has probably been blessing gamers with something very unique. It is an adventure game, oddly familiar in a way, yet somehow comprising different elements together for a most remarkable interactive journey that will be remembered for years to come. It's a dark transhumanist detective story that will keep you on your toes until the last scene.

A Feast for the Eyes

First of all, Nobody Wants to Die is gorgeous. Running on Unreal Engine 5, it's a looker. Each dank, rain-soaked alleyway and each shining skyscraper is so detailed that one can almost feel the world breathing, lived in. But it's not all about the eye candy.

The atmospheric sound design and moody soundtrack hit a great note with the visuals to wrap you right into this dystopian future. One would call it the very same feel as when one was introduced to BioShock's Rapture — possibly a little more so — but this has its futuristic twist to make it wholly different. It may not be as vast as Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, but every part of this New York finds a place and a purpose in the narrative.

Time is Your Ally

But if anything, Nobody Wants to Die is a detective game, and in those moments when you're really fitting together the clues, it delivers. The absolute best thing about it is Detective Karra's manipulation of time, letting you reconstruct the scenes of each of the crimes and really see what happened before each murder took place.

This is where this really clever game mechanic comes in, adding depth to the investigative process and really making you feel like an actual detective in a world where technology has rewritten most of the rules of reality. Every time you finally crack that especially puzzling mystery, it's like an "aha!" moment that can stand right next to some of the best in games like System Shock.

More Than Looks

What really drives Nobody Wants to Die home, however, is its engrossing storyline. Not just some run-of-the-mill whodunit, it's an in-depth portrayal of the moral dilemmas that would surface in a world with self-chosen death.

In the process of unraveling this mystery, you will find yourself wrestling with such complex questions of mortality, inequality, and humanitarianism. The writing comes in razor-sharp nuance, none of it heavy-handed in getting the morals right in your face. It's some food for thought that will linger long after you've put the final touches on the game's play.

Pros

• Stunning visuals
• Innovative puzzles
• Gripping storytelling

Cons

• Very demanding for most PCs
• Linear storytelling diminishes replayability