If you’ve read enough of my reviews, by now you know I am forever in my cozy gaming era. I have my favorite sub genres like farming sims, and building narrative games. But there’s one genre that’s hard to describe as being “cozy”. And that’s the exploration-based survival genre. Fortunately a new game fell into my lap, and it ticked all the boxes of cozy and creative, with a fresh take on post-apocalyptic survival.
In I Am Future you play as a lone survivor who awakens from years of cryostasis to find a fate where nature has overrun the remnants of human civilization. As your backstory is slowly revealed, your character journeys to adapt to their new surroundings to rebuild and survive. Your backstory doesn’t serve as the forefront to gameplay, rather I Am Future leans into the cozy tranquil tasks you need to survive.
Gameplay
Combining mechanics of resource gathering, crafting and farming, along with overall survival, I am Future creates a gameplay circuit within a relaxing atmosphere. No time limits, no hostile danger, no sense of urgency.
In the wake of the apocalypse, the world became filled with the dregs of what humans left behind. But one human’s trash is your survivors treasure. Overgrown vegetation and debris from abandoned structures provide raw materials for upgrading and building. Use these resources to create items to help you survive.
Hand in hand with resource gathering is crafting, which is essential if not the most essential part of gameplay. Creating new and upgraded tools, furniture to decorate your space, and machines that will help you live a better life on the other side of the apocalypse.
Much like other cozy games, the farming and cooking in I Am Future offers planting and growing crops and cooking meals. But unlike most survival games, the mechanics are less struggle and more a tranquil chore. Your needs such as hunger and health if not taken care of have less punishment. Simply fainting and losing time, rather than game over.
Storyline and NPCs
Cosmopolis had a decade-long war between UNICORP and other corporations pushing transhumanism ideas, until society collapsed. Learn to survive in this new world and uncover the final days before the fall and how you were spared.
When waking up from your cryostasis slumber you find you have no recollection of the person you were before the apocalypse, and no living human around to help you figure that out. Fortunately there are some lovely robots to help you uncover your past. Sentient beings in some interesting shells such as a refrigerator or a fortune teller game. As you continue to explore this deserted world, unearth new robotic friends who will help you on your journey.
Art & Atmosphere
More warm and inviting over desolate and despair, the art style in I Am Future paints a lighthearted environment with bright and eye-catching colors. Nature plays a huge role in overall aesthetics. It plays a reminder that even when pushed out, nature has a way of coming back.
Rather than the sound of looming dangers, I Am Future provides a calming soundtrack enhancing the overall tranquility of the game. Soft rain and sounds of tinkering make the game feel full of life despite being alone in the world. As someone who works to the sounds of lofi its vibe was up my alley.
Final Thoughts
Many survival games emphasize the challenge and struggle, I am Future on the other hand provides a tranquil and relaxed experience. A place for the mind to zone out of the stressors of daily life, and escape into the desolate solace of Cosmopolis, or what’s left of it. Designed specifically for players who yearn for slow pace rather than energy charged gameplay.
If you enjoy games like Coral Island, Raft & Stardew Valley, you’ll likely find I Am Future is for you. Equal parts exploration and relaxation, making it a great choice for those who crave tranquility, and the beauty of creating.
I Am Future 1.0 will be released on PC November 13th. Reviewer was given code by the developer.
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