Nobody Wants to Die Is A Dystopian Thriller That Finds Something New In A Familiar Setting

Nobody Wants to Die is set in a dystopian world where death and even sickness has been beaten. Sorta. The story begins with a simple collection case that immediately spirals into a greater conspiracy. Its story is revealed in intriguing snippets though the full story isn’t surprising in itself. The retro-futuristic setting is stylish, but also highlights a society that’s forcibly stuck in the past. Though the game is light on combat it remains tense throughout.

There’s a branching narrative despite it playing out in a mostly linear way. Which dialogue options are chosen, take or leave something from a crime scene lead to the good ending. Or multiple bad endings. It’s clear that Nobody Wants to Die is designed with multiple playthroughs in mind. It’s a fairly short game, but replaying the more tedious sections may put players off of diving back in. The investigation sequences always have pointers (through tool tips or dialogue). So even the first time through it’s pretty simple to keep moving forward.

Fans of self-aware pulpy fiction might get a kick out of this game. James is a tragic protagonist and you can lean towards that darker feel. Or pick more funny and outright corny dialogue choices that inject brevity into a very grim world. That can make the tone feel inconsistent at times. Simultaneously, it fits the contrasting aesthetic of the world. 

Nobody Wants to Die has an interesting narrative and patient gamers will be able to see all it has to offer. A major downside is the lack of a beginning of chapter or manual save mechanic. This is to give decisions more weight though a skip option that unlocks after completion would’ve been appreciated. That aside, Nobody Wants to Die is an interesting take on immortality. If you don’t mind the game’s hand-holding, there’s a deep character-driven story awaiting you.