Never has a game made me paranoid of every character I interacted with until I played “No, I’m not a Human.” It’s an original, challenging horror game that creates fear with decision-making instead of scares. Besides, when danger could be everywhere, you only have one choice: fear thy neighbor.
The plot centers around a solar cataclysm that has caused the sun to scorch anyone outside during daytime. Nighttime isn’t any better. People may travel and interact after sunset, but creatures called “visitors” are emerging from underground, lurking, and killing humans. Worst of all: they look exactly like us.
You play as a hermit in this unorthodox apocalypse. Every night, guests arrive on your porch asking for shelter. If they seem suspicious, turn them away, but if they sound human, allow them inside.
Be careful—if a visitor slips in, they will slowly kill every other human in the house. Luckily, the news channel offers discoveries on how to spot visitors. They display symptoms like dirty fingernails, red eyes, or pristine white teeth. Some guests sport these symptoms, too, making survival anything but easy.
At sunrise, you must analyze your guests. Because of the heat, you have limited energy that is consumed per symptom analysis. If someone tests positive, you can hear out their excuse or blast them with your shotgun, which creates some intense moments. Someone being exhausted from traveling sounds like a valid reason to have red eyes, but if a bug crawls out of their ear, you’d better take aim.
Additionally, you can electronically connect with the outside world. Intercepting radio frequencies, watching TV, or making phone calls offer information on your situation.
Nighttime is particularly delightful. Opening your windows visually reveals how the world is handling this fiasco. Sometimes, kids are playing outside, but other times, the nearby city might be set ablaze. It’s also charming how the visuals turn green a la night-vision, coupled with the dreary gramophone-esque orchestral score.
Then, there are the guests themselves. They have distorted, hand drawn appearances and distinctive quirks, making them fun to interact
with so you can learn their stories. One is a con artist who rants about sports betting schemes. Another is a jacketed man who keeps claiming it is hot but suspiciously refuses to remove his coat because he is hiding a dangerous black void in his stomach cavity.
What establishes replay value is how the game randomizes which guests are visitors. Who received hospitality on your first playthrough could be a wolf in sheep’s clothing during your second. It seems like there’s an easy solution to your dilemma: Why not turn away everyone that you meet?
Enter the Intruder: a pale, bony visitor with a sneering grin. Early on, you’re warned to say “no” if he asks if you’re alone. Unfortunately, he’ll know if you’re lying, so you need guests inside.
This becomes difficult when uncertainty is rampant, and FEMA frequently borrows guests for “testing.” Sometimes, gameplay feels uneven because of how little you can keep or react compared to how much is demanded.
Additionally, you must shoo away the Vigilante, who executes anyone with visitor-like symptoms, forcing you to maintain your appearance. For example, if your teeth are white, smoke cigarettes to turn them yellow.
Every aspect of the game meshes to create a macabre, gloomy, but attractive atmosphere. It’s the end of days, and it masterfully creates anxiety by confining you to your house where you can only watch the world burn.
RATING:
“No, I’m not a Human” is fiendishly captivating from top to bottom. From its eerie aesthetic to its emphasis on character interaction, it’s a grand case of paranoia that’s worth replaying. You’ll never know who will knock tomorrow, but you’ll always be eager to see.