No, I’m Not a Human [PC] | REVIEW

Man, I’ve played plenty of horror games and I’ve played plenty of bizarre games, but none have left me feeling quite as uneasy as No, I’m Not a Human. This uniquely riveting horror adventure wraps dread, deduction, and moral ambiguity into one hell of a tense package, and believe me, I’ve never played anything quite like it.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The setup of No, I’m Not a Human is pretty straightforward, with a massive solar flare scorching the planet, in turn making the daytime inhospitable and deadly for those that have survived. Night is the only time people can move, and for you, that means strangers appearing at your doorstep, begging for shelter. Some are ordinary survivors, you know, everyday folk who you’d love to give a helping hand to. But others? They’re Visitors, human-like creatures whose subtle physical quirks and often anarchic behaviour give them away. Your job is to decide who to trust, who to test, and when to pull the trigger… literally. Everything unfolds inside of a cramped house, which might sound limiting on paper, but believe me, the sense of confinement absolutely fuels the tension of the experience. It’s bizarre, it’s unnerving, and it’s unhinged, but it also makes for a tantalising tale where YOUR decisions ultimately determine the outcome.

Play alternates between night and day, with each bringing with them different gameplay mechanics to deal with. Night time feels like it offers the crux of gameplay: short conversations through a peephole where you must judge those who are at your door and determine whether or not to let them in. Their words may seem normal or just off enough to make you hesitate, and occasionally, they’ll offer bribes or make unsettling remarks that can sway your decision. But believe me, no matter what they say or do, you’ll never have enough certainty to feel comfortable. It’s exhilarating, and with the player deciding who stays and who goes, the stakes feel high.

Day time is for investigation, and with limited energy restricting your detective work, you must carefully test guests for traits that are rumoured to expose Visitors, whether that’s with their pearly white teeth, bloodshot eyes, strange nails, or something… more unsettling. New ways to test your guests are revealed as the story progresses, but energy constraints force careful planning – especially when your household starts to fill with guests. You might admit three people overnight but only have enough energy to examine only one or two, keeping the tension roaring as you pick and choose who you decide to put to the test. When done alongside your night time guest admissions, it makes for a tantalising gameplay loop where no two playthroughs will every feel the same.

“If you like games that are unsettling, weird, and very unique, believe me, you NEED to play No, I’m Not a Human… you won’t regret it.”

It’s worth noting that characters and their roles shuffle across playthroughs, so a familiar (and previously trustworthy) face might be an ally one night and a hidden monster the next… there are ten endings to discover in total, and with branching paths sending the narrative in different directions, smart decision-making is vital to your progress.

And believe me, your decision-making drives everything in No, I’m Not a Human. Letting in the wrong person can lead to overnight deaths or betrayals, and sometimes, tragedy can strike no matter what you choose. It’s one of those games where your moral compass is never black and white and you’re constantly put in terrible situations. A guest might fail a test yet seem genuinely human… do you execute them to protect others or give them the benefit of the doubt? These moments make each knock at the door a genuine dilemma, and when the game encourages you to question your own humanity… well… then the lines REALLY start to blur. It’s what makes the whole experience so damn unnerving, but it’s also what makes it feel so damn special.

Outside of the gameplay, No, I’m Not a Human also truly excels in its atmosphere, with the game blending photorealistic elements with warped, dreamlike character art, creating people who look almost normal… but not. I mean, just look at the screenshots… you see what I mean, right? It makes every little detail of the game feel wrong, like you should be suspicious of EVERYTHING, with the overall visual presentation fitting the unnerving tone of the game perfectly. I was a big, big fan, and whilst No, I’m Not a Human feels incredibly unique to play, it looks equally as distinctive. Add to that some equally atmospheric sound design and it’ll be easy to see that the visual and audio presentation is top-notch across the board.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It is worth noting that for all of its strengths, No, I’m Not a Human does shows some cracks. The only way to save progress is by consuming a special kombucha item, which feels more like a chore than a clever mechanic, whilst occasional bugs can briefly break immersion at times. There’s also the fact that after several runs, the core loop begins to grow a little predictable, with repeat playthroughs sometimes undermining the ingenuity of the gameplay. None of these are game-breaking problems, but little things that show No, I’m Not a Human has its flaws.

Developer: Trioskaz
Publisher: Critical Reflex
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3180070/No_Im_not_a_Human/