Nobody Wants to Die
{{Short description|2024 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Nobody Wants to Die
| image =
| caption =
| developer = Critical Hit Games
| publisher = Plaion
| genre = Adventure
| platforms = Windows, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
| modes = Single-player
}}
Nobody Wants to Die is a 2024 adventure video game developed by Polish studio Critical Hit Games and published by Plaion for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Gameplay
Nobody Wants to Die is an adventure game in a first-person perspective, in which players interact with other characters and investigate crime scenes to gather evidence. Players can interact with and question characters with a choice of multiple dialogue options. Investigation involves the use of several tools to locate items of evidence at a crime scene, including a Reconstructor to visualise recorded footage of events at a scene. Clues are depicted on an evidence board, with the game questioning players to make the correct inferences from items of evidence.
Plot
The game is set in New York City in the year 2239, in a future where technology has developed a method to provide humans with eternal life by storing a person's consciousness in a memory bank and switching them between bodies. The player assumes the role of James Karra, a detective in the Mortality Department, who is investigating a series of murders perpetrated by a serial killer targeting the elite of the city. When Karra is instructed by his boss to report the latest murder as an accident, he decides to investigate further. The game features multiple endings based on player choices made throughout play.{{Cite web |url=https://dotesports.com/indies/news/all-nobody-wants-to-die-endings-and-how-to-get-them |title=All Nobody Wants to Die endings and how to get them |last=Vincent |first=Hadley |date=23 July 2024 |website=Dot Esports |access-date=3 January 2025}}
Development and release
Nobody Wants to Die was released by Polish Wrocław-based development studio Critical Hit Games,{{Cite web |url=https://www.gry-online.pl/newsroom/nobody-wants-to-die-chce-byc-polskim-blade-runnerem-ale-chyba-prz/z329798 |title=Nobody Wants to Die wants to be the Polish Blade Runner, but it seems to have missed its chance |last=Mysiak |first=Krzysztof |date=7 June 2024 |website=GRYOnline.pl |access-date=3 January 2025}} a twenty-person team that began development of the game in 2018.{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nobody-wants-to-die-seems-like-a-stylish-future-noir-detective-adventure |title=Nobody Wants to Die Seems Like a Stylish Future-Noir Detective Adventure |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=8 June 2024 |website=IGN |access-date=3 January 2025}} Co-founder Grzegorz Goleń created the game's concept with art director Andrzej Marszałek in attempt to create a "visually spectacular narrative game", with the development team inspired by cyberpunk film Blade Runner and narrative games including What Remains of Edith Finch, Firewatch, and Observer (video game). Development of the game was set in the Unreal Engine 5, with the development team experiencing "stability issues" in changing from Unreal Engine 4 midway through the development cycle. The game was announced in March 2024 with the release of a narrative trailer,{{Cite web |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/check-out-the-trailer-for-this-cyberpunk-noir-detective-game-with-a-hard-boiled-private-dick |title=Check out the trailer for this cyberpunk-noir detective game with a hard-boiled private dick |last=Bell |first=Alice |date=13 March 2024 |website=Rock Paper Shotgun |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nobody-wants-to-die-a-detective-noir-adventure-set-in-2329-new-york-city-announced-for-pc-ps5-and-xbox |title=Nobody Wants to Die, a Detective Noir Adventure Set in 2329 New York City, Announced for PC, PS5, and Xbox |last=McCaffrey |first=Ryan |date=13 March 2024 |website=IGN |access-date=3 January 2025}} and showcased at the Gamescom Future Games Show on 8 June.{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespress.com/Everything-Announced-at-the-Future-Games-Show-Summer-Showcase-2024 |title=Everything Announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024 |date=8 June 2024 |website=GamesPress |access-date=3 January 2025}} Nobody Wants to Die received a digital release for Windows, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series on 17 July 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/nobody-wants-to-die-launches-july-17-heres-what-you-should-know/ |title=Nobody Wants to Die Launches July 17: Here's What You Should Know |last=Gallaga |first=Omar |date=11 July 2024 |website=CNET |access-date=3 January 2025}}
Reception
{{video game reviews
| Edge = 6/10{{cite magazine|magazine=Edge|issue=401|date=October 2024|pages=110–11|title=Nobody Wants to Die}}
}}
According to review aggregator Metacritic, Nobody Wants to Die received "generally favorable" reviews, with German publication GamePro and a reader poll of Eurogamer citing the game as one of the best of 2024.{{Cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.de/eure-50-besten-spiele-im-jahr-2024-platz-50-bis-31 |title=Your 50 best games in 2024: places 50 to 31 |last=Jakobs |first=Benjamin |date=27 December 2024 |website=Eurogamer.de |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamepro.de/artikel/top-20-beste-spiele-2024-gp-redaktion,3424911.html |title=The best games of 2024 - These are our 20 top titles of the year |last=Zeitz |first=Sebastian |date=31 December 2024 |website=GamePro |access-date=3 January 2025}} Critics praised the game's narrative and worldbuilding, although critiqued its linearity and the simplicity of its puzzles.{{Cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/nobody-wants-to-die-review-bioshock-noir-mystery-game-1851601646 |title=This Fantastic Noir-Inspired Game Blends Blade Runner And BioShock |last=Rowe |first=Willa |date=22 July 2024 |website=Kotaku |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://press-start.com.au/reviews/xbox-series-x-reviews/2024/07/22/nobody-wants-to-die-review-a-moody-and-promising-debut/ |title=Nobody Wants To Die Review – A Moody And Promising Debut |last=Berich |first=James |date=22 July 2024 |website=Press Start |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/nobody-wants-to-die-review-the-meaning-of-life |title=Nobody Wants to Die Review – The Meaning of Life |last=Daniels |first=Joelle |date=22 July 2024 |website=GamingBolt |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gameshub.com/news/reviews/nobody-wants-to-die-review-2643393/ |title=Nobody Wants to Die Review – A noir cyberpunk thriller that nails the brief |last=Williams |first=Leah J. |date=22 July 2024 |website=GamesHub |access-date=3 January 2025 |archive-date=23 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123083822/https://www.gameshub.com/news/reviews/nobody-wants-to-die-review-2643393/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamereactor.eu/nobody-wants-to-die-1412013/ |title=Nobody Wants to Die |last=Lyons |first=Ben |date=19 July 2024 |website=GameReactor |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.purexbox.com/reviews/xbox-series-x/nobody-wants-to-die |title=Nobody Wants to Die Review (Xbox Series XS) |last=Kerry |first=Ben |date=22 July 2024 |website=Pure Xbox |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/adventure/cyberpunk-adventure-nobody-wants-to-die-feels-like-if-you-made-an-entire-game-out-of-the-boring-no-combat-intro-of-a-triple-a-fps/ |title=Cyberpunk adventure Nobody Wants to Die feels like if you made an entire game out of the boring no-combat intro of a triple-A FPS |last=Litchfield |first=Ted |date=26 July 2024 |website=PC Gamer |access-date=3 January 2025}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.gry-online.pl/recenzje/recenzja-gry-nobody-wants-to-die-koronny-dowod-na-to-ze-nie-warto/z7467f |title=Nobody Wants to Die Game Review: The Poles Prove Once Again That They Are Great at Storytelling |last=Mysiak |first=Krzysztof |date=19 July 2024 |website=GRYOnline.pl |access-date=3 January 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://criticalhit.games/#game}}
- {{mobygames|227776}}
Category:Cyberpunk video games
Category:Detective video games
Category:First-person adventure games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about police officers
Category:Video games developed in Poland
Category:Video games set in New York City