There’s nothing quite like immortality to remind us that humans still haven’t figured out how to live peacefully. Nobody Wants to Die, the latest narrative-driven adventure from Polish studio Critical Hit Games and published by Plaion, places you smack in the middle of a stylishly grim future, where eternal life is possible, but the messy business of murder stubbornly refuses to retire.
With a first-person viewpoint that immerses players deep into its gritty, cyberpunk aesthetic, Nobody Wants to Die offers more than just a chance to play detective—it’s an opportunity to ponder the consequences of cheating death. In the neon-soaked alleyways and shadowy high-rises of a futuristic New York, the stakes are not just about catching a killer, but about questioning what it truly means to be human when mortality is negotiable.
Critical Hit Games has carved out a reputation for blending engaging narratives with thoughtful gameplay, and Nobody Wants to Die continues this tradition impressively. The title borrows elements from classics like Blade Runner and modern narrative giants such as Detroit: Become Human, but it crafts an identity wholly its own, delivering twists that make even the most cynical detective raise an eyebrow.
If you’ve ever dreamt of solving murders with high-tech gadgets while existential dread lurks at every corner, congratulations—you’ve found your next obsession. This is a game that dares to ask: When death itself is no longer certain, what other certainties might fall away?
Setting and Story
In Nobody Wants to Die, Critical Hit Games invites players into an atmospheric vision of New York City circa 2239, a setting where technological marvels and moral ambiguities intertwine seamlessly. Humanity has conquered the final frontier—not space, but death itself—achieved through technology that stores human consciousness digitally, allowing it to be transferred seamlessly between bodies. This setting isn’t just window dressing; it shapes every interaction, investigation, and moral decision throughout the game, consistently prompting players to reflect on the meaning of mortality and identity.
You play as James Karra, a detective working for the city’s uniquely sinister-sounding “Mortality Department.” Rather than simply solving crimes, your job is to handle deaths in a world where dying has become suspiciously rare—and increasingly political. Karra is quickly thrust into a case involving a serial killer specifically targeting the city’s wealthy elite, who once believed themselves beyond the reach of death. This premise effectively uses murder as a vehicle to examine class divisions and moral complexities in a future where immortality is a privilege reserved for the select few.
As Karra dives deeper into this series of suspicious deaths, he finds himself at odds with his own department. The game’s narrative escalates quickly when his superiors instruct him to dismiss a high-profile murder as an accident. Unwilling to compromise, Karra embarks on an unsanctioned investigation, exploring dark corners of a futuristic metropolis. This clash between duty and justice provides an engaging ethical underpinning, as players navigate alliances, deception, and moral ambiguity.
The branching narrative structure is the cherry on top of an already compelling story, with multiple endings determined by your decisions. Choices feel meaningful—not simply cosmetic—and genuinely alter the path the story takes, reinforcing the theme that in a world where physical death is optional, ethical and moral choices gain even more weight. Each narrative fork deepens your connection to the characters and challenges your assumptions about power, privilege, and humanity itself, offering replayability and layers of subtlety often missing from similar titles.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Nobody Wants to Die embraces a distinctive blend of classic detective investigation mechanics paired with compelling futuristic tools, offering players a thoroughly engaging experience. Gameplay unfolds primarily from a first-person perspective, effectively placing you into the detective shoes of James Karra. This viewpoint emphasizes immersion and ensures that each clue and subtle detail you uncover feels genuinely personal.
Critical Hit Games employs a robust dialogue system, reminiscent of titles like Detroit: Become Human or Disco Elysium, allowing extensive interactions with richly developed NPCs. These conversations aren’t mere window dressing; choosing the right dialogue options becomes an essential part of gathering clues, building trust, and unraveling secrets. Conversations feel organic, and the branching dialogue system leads to various outcomes, influencing character relationships and ultimately shaping the storyline.
Investigation sequences represent the game’s standout feature, particularly with the introduction of the “Reconstructor” tool. This device allows players to reconstruct crime scenes, visually replaying events and interactions. This innovative mechanic feels fresh and dynamic, as it shifts investigation from mere pixel hunting into an almost cinematic experience. Complementing this, the evidence board, reminiscent of classic noir detective stories, forces players to critically evaluate and link various pieces of evidence. The game challenges you to make precise inferences and deductions rather than holding your hand through the investigative process.
However, it’s worth noting that while the game handles these mechanics adeptly, some investigative moments can feel slightly restrictive, particularly when you’re required to reach very specific conclusions from limited clues. This occasional rigidity may frustrate players who crave total investigative freedom. Still, the overall puzzle-solving and deduction feel satisfying and cerebral, rewarding careful thought and keen observation. Fans of methodical detective games will find plenty to appreciate here, though those looking for action-packed sequences might feel slightly underserved.
Multiplayer and Replayability
Nobody Wants to Die is a strictly single-player affair, so players seeking multiplayer thrills or cooperative detective work will have to look elsewhere. Critical Hit Games clearly prioritized a finely crafted narrative-driven experience, channeling resources into deep character interactions and intricate investigations. While the absence of multiplayer might initially feel like a missed opportunity, it allows the developers to fully commit to storytelling, producing a tightly focused and immersive adventure.
However, the game smartly compensates for the lack of multiplayer by doubling down on replayability through its branching storyline and multiple endings. Each playthrough can yield distinctly different narrative outcomes based on your dialogue choices, investigative success, and the trust you’ve earned or lost with various characters. It’s reminiscent of titles such as Heavy Rain or The Wolf Among Us, where the narrative adjusts dynamically to your decisions, ensuring that no two players will experience the exact same story.
Beyond simply multiple endings, the game incorporates decision-driven nuances that encourage revisits. Subtle shifts in dialogue, character interactions, and scenario resolutions depend on player choices made early on, ensuring each decision feels consequential and meaningful. A single choice can ripple across your entire playthrough, providing significant incentive for narrative enthusiasts and completionists to dive back in and explore alternate paths.
While the replay value derived from branching narratives is impressive, it’s also worth noting that the gameplay mechanics themselves don’t significantly vary between playthroughs. Investigative procedures, puzzles, and the use of the Reconstructor remain largely unchanged, potentially reducing excitement on subsequent playthroughs. Still, the strength of its story variations and character-driven depth largely offset this limitation, making Nobody Wants to Die a title that’s well worth revisiting at least a few times.
Graphics and Sound
Nobody Wants to Die presents players with an evocative vision of New York City circa 2239, leveraging the power of modern hardware to deliver striking visuals brimming with both futuristic spectacle and gritty realism. From the gleaming skyscrapers bathed in neon reflections to shadow-drenched alleys filled with mystery, the graphical fidelity is consistently impressive. Critical Hit Games has clearly poured effort into meticulously detailed environments that feel both lived-in and intriguingly distant—a convincing glimpse of a society at once advanced and troubled.
Character models are equally commendable, with expressive facial animations and realistic body language significantly enhancing the dialogue-heavy sequences. Conversations feel organic, and the subtle shifts in expression that accompany critical choices add depth to each interaction. However, certain secondary characters occasionally suffer from a touch of visual repetitiveness, a common ailment in narrative-driven titles with extensive NPC casts. Fortunately, these minor graphical shortcomings rarely distract from the overall immersive experience.
The game’s audio design is another standout aspect, weaving an ambient tapestry that underscores the cyber-noir setting beautifully. Background noises like distant sirens, bustling street chatter, and the hum of advanced machinery combine seamlessly, creating an auditory landscape that envelops the player. Voice acting is notably excellent—rich, nuanced performances by the main cast bring gravitas to the narrative, making the detective drama feel genuinely cinematic. Special praise must go to the lead actor, whose portrayal of detective James Karra adds layers of empathy and believability to the protagonist’s morally complex journey.
Musically, Nobody Wants to Die opts for subtlety rather than bombast. The game’s score, composed of moody electronic textures interwoven with occasional orchestral flourishes, heightens tension during investigative sequences and delivers emotional resonance during key plot revelations. It may not produce any memorable standalone tracks destined for playlists, but within the context of the game, the music elevates the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the storytelling without overpowering the narrative.
Final Thoughts
Nobody Wants to Die is a compelling example of narrative-driven adventure done right. It deftly blends an intriguing detective mystery with thoughtful explorations of mortality, technology, and morality. Throughout its meticulously crafted environments and cleverly designed investigative sequences, players are rewarded for their curiosity and critical thinking, with choices that significantly impact the outcome. While not without minor graphical repetition in NPCs, these slight imperfections are easy to overlook given the overall polish and presentation.
Critical Hit Games has delivered an ambitious experience, anchored by genuinely excellent voice acting, immersive audio design, and atmospheric musical scoring. It’s a title that wears its inspirations proudly—reminiscent of classics like Blade Runner and contemporary narrative masterpieces such as Detroit: Become Human—yet manages to carve its own distinct identity through innovative gameplay mechanics and compelling storytelling.
However, players seeking high-octane action or quick thrills might find themselves somewhat out of their depth, as Nobody Wants to Die demands patience, careful observation, and thoughtful decision-making. This is a game for those who savor slow-burn mysteries and are eager to engage deeply with rich narrative worlds.
Overall, Nobody Wants to Die stands out as a noteworthy addition to the adventure genre, offering multiple pathways and endings that encourage replayability. For fans of thoughtful, atmospheric games that ask intriguing philosophical questions without skimping on entertainment, this futuristic detective tale is an easy recommendation.
We prepared this review with a digital copy of the Nobody Wants to Die for the PlayStation 5 version provided by Plaion.
