Nobody Wants to Die

Nobody Wants to Die ticks off the right boxes for fans of Cyberpunk-like dystopias and Film Noir-style mysteries. Taking place in New York City in 2329, players take on the role of Mortality Department Detective James Karra as he takes an off-the-books case. As the name Nobody Wants to Die would suggest, technology has made death more optional, effectively offering humans eternal life by transferring their minds to memory banks or from one body to another (at a steep cost, of course). However, that doesn't stop a serial killer who is ensuring their victims stay dead.

As Karra, players will be able to use advanced X-ray scanners, UV scanners, time manipulation, and technical reconstructions to gather evidence, deduce what happened, and uncover the truth. Like any good detective game, players will have to piece everything together to "unmask" this serial killer who is targeting NYC's elite and what their ultimate motive is. Karra is putting his life and career on the line, assisted only by the voice in his ear: Sara Kai.

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By Rhenn Taguiam

The various characters of Nobody Wants to Die find this dystopian future this home and get dragged into this original interactive detective story. Key to any good mystery is the characters who propel it forward, with developer Critical Hit Games and publisher PLAION providing The Best War Games with some exclusive main character profiles.

The Characters of Nobody Wants to Die

Detective James Karra

James is a tough and cynical cop. A lone wolf who is on the trail of a mysterious killer responsible for a series of suspicious deaths of people who rule the city. An old-school detective who is utterly bored with life. Struggling to accept his wife’s death, he uses work to keep himself from going insane. You can safely call him a workaholic. His “win at all costs” attitude towards work often clashes with the law, the rules, and the regulations. James has been a cop for a while, he knows how the city operates and what gets swept under the rug. These new murders and the hunt for the killer are giving him purpose. However, as he gets deeper into the case, will he find the elusive killer?

Police Liaison Sara Kai

Sara Kai is a police liaison who remotely supports several designated units of the Mortality Department within the New York Police, including the game’s hero, Detective James Karra. She’s a young, ambitious Police officer who is willing to put in the work to climb the career ladder. Strong and determined, she has achieved everything on her own. A stark contrast to James, Sara is strictly by the book and believes in the law. Does this perfect cop have secrets of her own?

Green

A Politician who was part of the team that created the concept and the technology behind transhumanism hundreds of years ago. Now, he is part of the wealthy elite, one of the top 0.01% that controls the world, a real-life master of the universe. Green lives in a penthouse at the top of the tower that bears his name, looking down on the world below. He holds humanity in the palm of his hand and holds it tight. He is one of the first victims of the mysterious killer. It all begins with him in more ways than meets the eye.

The Serial Killer

New York 2329 is not the futuristic utopia humanity has dreamt up. 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. With prices for eternal life going up and up, the people at the bottom of the social pyramid are becoming disgruntled. A series of high-profile murders have occurred, with victims all part of the city’s elite. Who is the person behind the killings, and what is their motivation? Will James be able to catch the elusive stranger in time?

The Chief

An old hand who’s seen it all. He knows how rotten and bitter the city is, but still tries to do the job right. He has known James from the very beginning; they've worked together for the last 50 years. Although he may not always agree with James’ methods, he knows that sometimes you have to go beyond the book to get the job done. He also knows that if something comes from the very top, the law may not apply as it does for everyone else.

The Memory of Rachel

James’s wife, a spectre that returns. She is his respite, a moment of solitude. He knows that she is dead, but when you’re depressed, pleasant memories pair up well with a bottle in your hand.

While it ultimately remains to be seen, it seems Nobody Wants to Die has everything needed to produce a compelling mystery game. There are a lot of questions around transhumanism and immortal life, a tortured, strong-willed main character, characters who appear trustworthy on the surface, and memories that color everything. As to how these characters develop and deal with this series of murders, well, players will have to wait for Nobody Wants to Die to release.