Nobody Wants to Die: Everything We Know

There's something undeniably thrilling about immersing oneself in a dystopian universe. It's a genre that offers entertainment and provokes deep thought and contemplation. From advanced technology to societal collapse and authoritarian regimes, dystopian settings have long captured our imaginations, serving as the backdrop for gripping adventures

Well, this is the foundation for Critical Hill Games' upcoming dystopian game, Nobody Wants to Die. It certainly draws parallels to the iconic ‘Matrix' movie. You have slow-motion visuals, cryptic scenes and a tenacious detective hungry to get to the bottom of things. If this floats your boat so far, stick around as we unravel what will come in Nobody Wants to Die: Everything We Know.

What is Nobody Wants to Die?

Nobody Wants to Die is an upcoming 3D narrative dystopian thriller unfolding in futuristic New York. The title draws inspiration from neo-noir cinema such as ‘Blade Runner', ‘Altered Carbon' and ‘The medium.' You step into the shoes of Detective James Karra, who has to solve a bunch of vile murders. But with a unique twist. Here, time is not just a linear constraint but your greatest strength. With advanced technology, players can manipulate time to unravel clues, unearth secrets, and ultimately track down the elusive killer.

Story

The year is 2329. Technology is at its peak, and humans are now immortal. Beyond this, humanity has unlocked the ability to transfer consciousness or temporarily store it in memory banks. But it comes at a significant cost. Besides the technology costing an arm and a leg, it draws a thin line between right and wrong. With death out of the way, certainly being on their best behavior is not the first item for humans to cross on their list. 

A series of murders targeting elite citizens caught the keen eye of the Mortality Department, more specifically Detective James Karra. Thankfully, advanced technology is central to uncovering the murder mystery. Brace yourself for another whodunit scenario. Think Max Payne meets Cyberpunk, where cool gadgets and gritty noir collide in a thrilling tale of mystery and intrigue.

Here is the official description from the dev's table:

Lose yourself in the world of New York, 2329, where immortality is possible—for a price. Following a near-death experience, Detective James Karra takes an off-the-books case from his chief. With only the help of a young police liaison, Sara Kai, to assist him. Time reveals all as they risk everything in pursuit of a killer, uncovering the dark secrets of the City's elite.

Gameplay

Nobody Wants to Die wears its neo-noir film inspirations on its sleeves, forming the core part of the gameplay. You play as an investigator, ditching the notepad and pen for advanced technology. Time manipulation is your greatest asset when solving crimes. This lets you rewind time to discover clues and have a glimpse of what happened. As easy as it may sound, the game hints at abstract themes where it'll take a skilled investigator to unravel the mystery behind the deaths. Thankfully, you don't dive into this timeless masterpiece alone. Accompanying the tenacious detective is the young police liaison, Sara Kai.

Here is a rundown of the key features:

• Welcome to New York, 2329: Experience a noir adventure in an alternate future of New York City in 2329; technology has advanced to offer humans eternal life, allowing consciousness to be stored in memory banks or transferred from one body to another. That is, if you can afford the subscription.
• Lead the Investigation: See through the eyes of Mortality Department Detective James Karra on his hunt for a serial killer who targets the city's elite citizens. Investigate crime scenes using his time manipulation augmentation and advanced technology to reconstruct events leading up to each murder and uncover clues that lead to the horrifying truth behind the murders.
• Noir Immersion: Lose yourself in a dystopian future through this meaningful and original interactive detective story that explores the dangers of transhumanism and immortality. In a world of eternal life and vanishing morality, you, a hardened detective, must navigate the lines of right and wrong in a society where death is a distant memory.
• A Stunning Narrative Adventure: Utilizing the power of Unreal Engine 5, Nobody Wants to Die pushes the boundaries of storytelling, combining photorealistic graphics and a distinctly unique narrative experience.

Development

Breathing life into this upcoming title are Critical Hits Games as the developer and PLAION as the publisher. The Poland-founded studio comprises a team of world-class developers with a portfolio of AAA franchises to their name. Nobody Wants to Die is the studio's first rodeo and, possibly, one that will propel them to fame if they nail the game's execution.

On the other hand, PLAION is a household name in the gaming industry. The German-Austrian company operates various game publishing labels, including Deep Silver, renowned for their AAA titles, including Dead Island 2, Saints Row, and Gods Will Fall. 

The game is leveraging the power of Unreal Engine 5 to deliver photorealistic graphics and one hell of an immersive experience. 

Trailer

If you're curious to see how the game looks, fortunately, we have a trailer. Although it is a cinematic trailer, the 2-minute, 18-second video subtly hints at the gameplay. Seemingly, Detective Karra uses a hand contraption to manipulate time and unravel clues behind the chain of murders. The trailer also reveals scenes captured in slow motions, which resonates with Rockstar Games' third-person shooter, Max Payne. 

Release Date, Platforms, and Editions

Nobody Wants to Die will launch sometime in 2024. The developers have yet to release a concrete date. We can, however, confirm that the game will exclusively launch on PC (through Steam), Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Additionally, we don't have information on the editions to expect. So many details remain scarce at the moment. However, you can always follow the official social media handle here to keep track of new updates. Meanwhile, we'll watch out for new information and let you know as soon as they come up.

So, what's your take? Will you pick up a copy of Nobody Wants to Die when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.