Not For Broadcast Reviews
Deeply silly and all the better for it, the missed political targets really don't matter.
I like Not for Broadcast, but it looks like a The Fly-style experiment grafted together from two different games. I would like very much to play either of them separately, but putting them together weakens the final product. There’s time for developer NotGames to right the ship, however, and the mechanics are intriguing enough to keep me interested in the next chapter.
Rarely do you find games these days that could be described as a combination of "ambitious," "thought-provoking," "hard-hitting," "hilarious" and "extremely fun," but somehow Not For Broadcast delivers on that front.
A strange, funny, and ambitious fully-acted propaganda simulator, Not For Broadcast puts you at the control desk of the mainstream media
Not for Broadcast was a good time, while the later levels will test the reflexes of most due to the sheer number of things that are needed to juggle I never hated my time playing the game. The wit and humor here always managed to get a chuckle from me and the ability after each broadcast to replay your creation to see it uncut as the public did is a nice touch. Not for Broadcast feels quite timely as I said before with the amount of news that we see on any given day now, the developers managed to walk a line that won’t offend anyone but will instead get some laughs from them.
Not For Broadcast provides players with a seamless simulator experience, steadily building tension while maintaining constant satirical humor. The propaganda simulator is worthy of several playthroughs to unlock various endings and experience different dialogue, but the game’s humor is enough to make any player come back for more.
NotGames has managed to create a propaganda simulator that touches on some incredibly dark and distressing content in a way that can still be enjoyable to interact with. The world can be cruel, and the road to hell is often paved in good intentions. There are still bright moments, however, and we can find distractions and humor in those bright spots that help make the bitter bits go down a little better. You can have high risk, intense narratives while still having a game that is fun to play.
Not For Broadcast isn't for everyone, but fans of 2013's Papers, Please will not find a better title on the market.
Not For Broadcast ambitiously challenges the player to reconsider their ethical framework, political values, and personal loyalties through its incredibly clever combination of stressful management sim gameplay and acid-tongued writing. It’s not for the faint of heart, but balances its dystopian terrors with biting satire. With exceptional performances from its cast, a unique and varied system of mechanics that changes with each broadcast, and tonnes of extra story content, any budding media mogul will be both delighted and horrified with all that Not For Broadcast has to offer.
Overall Not For Broadcast has a satirical story that is well written, dark and has some great acting in it. The core game of being the News Producer and editing everything on the fly is a really well-done sim that can at times be stressful as more things get introduced every level. I really enjoyed my time playing Not For Broadcast and was sad that is was over so soon, but I am excited to see how this all ends.
Entertaining, funny and thought-provoking in all the right places, Not For Broadcast is a hugely engrossing foray into the nightly news arena. You’ll laugh your face off at times, but like the best satire, it’s also disquieting enough to have you uncomfortably squirming in your seat.
Quite possibly the best FMV game ever, Not For Broadcast had me both laughing and scrambling in a panic when the channel's viewership dropped. Even if you've never had any interest in FMV games before, Not For Broadcast will surely change your mind.
Not for Broadcast: Prologue provides a fresh experience that pairs original gameplay with a great sense of humor. Though there is a bit of hand-holding, this taste of things to come has got us eager for the final release.
NotGames have commandeered the airwaves with Not For Broadcast. An immensely funny satirical romp through the lens of news broadcasting that really hasn’t been done before. Its specifically British tone might not click, but the surreal and poignant narrative is one to admire. The gameplay is overwhelming and it doesn’t develop, leaving me wanting more. However, if you like your FMVs and branching narratives, this one has it in spades.
Not For Broadcast does have its fun moments, you don’t get enough time to appreciate them, and the game ends up feeling more like a chore to play. However, the Not For Broadcast: Live & Spooky DLC throws away the dull and monotonous gameplay and replaces it with over-the-top spooky gags that actually make the game fun, even for a short while.
If like myself you’ve never played Not For Broadcast, and if you happen to own a VR device, then you are in for a treat. This might possibly be the ideal way to experience this sleeper hit from 2022. Not For Broadcast VR is a darkly humourous FMV game that puts you right in the middle of a propaganda wheel. It’s a textbook example of a VR conversion that makes excellent use of the technology in question to immerse you into its unique story.
Not For Broadcast is - in today's gaming industry - a fresh touch full of absurd humor, frustrating chaos, and surprisingly severe topics. If you are bothered by anything in the game, you can change everything in the settings, so you have no reason not to enjoy this title.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Don’t worry. The small issue of the narrative doesn’t even come close to undermining what’s good here. Not For Broadcast is easily one of the most unique games I’ve played. Not only that, but you literally see the work the team put in. The humour and the pacing of the videos pair seamlessly with the game’s mechanics. It’s chaotic, it’s stress-inducing, it’s beautiful. You’ll often feel like Homer Simpson sitting at the nuclear power plant blindly pressing buttons, but you’ll enjoy every second of it.