A Player's Comprehensive Guide to Surviving the Twilight of Earth in No, I'm not a Human
Section 1: Introduction - The End of the World is Here
Welcome to the definitive guide for No, I'm not a Human. In a world scorched by an unforgiving sun, your only refuge is a small house on the edge of town. But as night falls, the true horror begins. This guide is designed to be your sole companion through the suffocating paranoia and moral quandaries that await. It covers every facet of the experience, from the game's core mechanics and development history to a complete breakdown of its many characters, endings, and the vibrant community discussions that surround it.
1.1 What is No, I'm not a Human?
No, I'm not a Human is a first-person psychological horror simulation with deep visual novel elements, developed by the Russian independent studio Trioskaz and published by CRITICAL REFLEX. The game plunges players into a grim, apocalyptic setting where catastrophic global warming, triggered by dramatically increased solar activity, has rendered the daytime world lethal. Peering outside is enough to scorch the eyes from their sockets, and the streets are lined with the blackened corpses of those caught in the sun's glare.
At its core, the game is a masterclass in tension, weaponizing themes of paranoia, trust, and isolation. It shares a thematic lineage with celebrated indie titles like Papers, Please and This War of Mine, where moral ambiguity and difficult choices under pressure form the heart of the experience. Players are not fighting monsters with overt displays of power but with scrutiny, intuition, and a shotgun that feels heavier with each use. Every decision is a gamble, and the line between prudent caution and murderous paranoia is perilously thin.
1.2 Development and Release: From Prototype to Paranoia-Inducing Hit
The journey of No, I'm not a Human from a niche concept to a celebrated indie hit is a testament to its compelling premise. The game first appeared as a prototype build within Violent Horror Stories: anthology, a collection of four short horror games from different developers, which was released on Steam on August 6, 2024. The positive reception to this short experience was immediate, prompting developer Trioskaz to announce on September 4, 2024, that they would be creating a full, "extended version" with additional characters, events, and mechanics.
A crucial turning point came with the release of a playable demo on June 9, 2025, as part of the Steam Next Fest. This demo gave players their first taste of the game's unique brand of anxiety-inducing horror and was a massive success, helping the game amass over 500,000 wishlists on Steam by June 16, 2025.
The full game officially launched for Windows PC on September 15, 2025.
| Game Overview | |
|---|---|
| Title | "No, I'm not a Human" |
| Developer | Trioskaz |
| Publisher | CRITICAL REFLEX |
| PC Release Date | September 15, 2025 |
| Platforms | PC (Windows), PS5 & Xbox Series X|S (In Development) |
| Genre | Psychological Horror, Simulation, Visual Novel |
| Price | $14.99 USD |
The game's narrative and mechanics resonate deeply with contemporary anxieties. Many players and critics have drawn parallels between the game's atmosphere and the societal experience of the COVID-19 pandemic. The core gameplay—scrutinizing strangers for hidden "symptoms," fearing the unseen threat they might carry, and navigating a world of government mistrust—mirrors the social paranoia of lockdowns and the fear of asymptomatic transmission. The game transforms this real-world anxiety into its central conflict, making the player's paranoia a primary tool for survival.
Section 2: Accessing the Game - Where and How to Play
This section provides all the necessary information for acquiring and running No, I'm not a Human.
2.1 Platform Availability: PC and Consoles
PC (Steam)
The primary and currently exclusive platform is PC, available for purchase and download via the Steam storefront.
PS5 and Xbox Series X|S
Console versions for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S have been officially announced and are in development. A firm release date has not been announced.
2.2 The Demo Experience: A Taste of Paranoia
A free demo of No, I'm not a Human was released on Steam on June 9, 2025. While the demo was removed from the Steam store upon the full game's release, its impact on building the game's community cannot be overstated.
2.3 System Requirements and Performance
No, I'm not a Human is not a graphically demanding game, making it accessible to a wide range of PC hardware configurations.
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GTX 960
The game is also playable on the Steam Deck, though community reports indicate it can cause significant battery drain.
Section 3: Core Gameplay - Surviving the Night
Success requires careful observation, resource management, and a strong stomach.
3.1 The Daily Cycle of Paranoia
The game is structured around a repeating day/night cycle. Nights are for triage; days are for investigation. A key constraint is the Energy system. Each day, you are given a finite number of energy points, which are consumed by investigative actions. As your house fills, you will lack the energy to thoroughly vet everyone, forcing you to make decisions based on incomplete information.
3.2 The Art of Interrogation: Identifying the Visitors
The central mechanic is distinguishing human from Visitor. Each day, a television broadcast reveals a new physical "symptom" that may indicate a Visitor. The information is deliberately unreliable. A Visitor may not exhibit every trait, and a human may exhibit one or more "symptoms" for innocent reasons.
After examining a guest, you are presented with a choice: listen to their explanation or execute them with your shotgun. There is no immediate "Game Over" for killing a human, but killing too many innocents will lock you into one of the game's "bad" endings.
| Visitor Identification Symptoms | How to Check | Known False Positives & Nuances |
|---|---|---|
| Perfectly White Teeth | Examine -> Teeth | The protagonist has perfectly white teeth by default. This can be changed by smoking. |
| Dirty Fingernails | Examine -> Hands | The Grave Digger character always has dirty fingernails due to his job but can be human. |
| Bloodshot Eyes | Examine -> Eyes | The Widow character always has red eyes from crying but is a guaranteed human. EnerJeka or Coffee can also give the player red eyes. |
| Hairless Armpits | Examine -> Armpits | Some human characters always have hairless armpits. The Stoner is a Visitor if his nails are dirty. |
| Fungal Growth in Armpit | Examine -> Armpits | The protagonist has this by default but can clean it. The Shirtless Guy is a Visitor if he has this. |
| Insects in Ears | Examine -> Ears | One of the clearer signs, though not all Visitors will have it. The armed vigilante will not accept this as proof. |
| Bleeding Gums | Examine -> Teeth | A strong indicator, but less common. |
| Skin Irritation / Rash | Examine -> Hands | The Woman with Glasses has this from burns. The Conspiracy Theorist has it if he's a Visitor. The Nun can be human despite having it. |
| Rapid Pupil Movement | Examine -> Eyes | A late-game sign that is a fairly reliable indicator. |
| Black Patches in Photos | Use Aura Camera | An early-game clue learned from the TV. Requires the camera item. |
Section 4: The Inhabitants - A Guide to All Characters and Visitors
The cast of No, I'm not a Human is a gallery of the grotesque and the pitiable. The potential guests fall into three distinct categories: Guaranteed Humans, Guaranteed Visitors, and Randomized characters.
4.1 Character & Visitor Dossiers
| Character Name | Status | Known Visitor "Tells" & Strategic Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Your Neighbor | Guaranteed Human | Appears only in the prologue/tutorial. |
| Neighbor's Daughter | Guaranteed Human | Always safe. Letting her in is tied to the "Fatal Child" ending path. |
| Tall Guy | Guaranteed Human | A key early-game ally. Essential to survive the Pale Man's visit on Night 3. |
| Burned Firefighter | Guaranteed Human | Always safe, despite having multiple "symptoms" due to his injuries. A prime example of a false positive. |
| The Widow | Guaranteed Human | Always safe. Her red eyes are from grief, not infection. |
| Cultists (x3) | Guaranteed Human | Arrive on Night 8 and are always human. Essential for the "Cultists" ending. |
| Pale Man / Intruder | Guaranteed Visitor | A major antagonist. Appears on specific nights (3, 5, 9, 11). If you are alone, he will kill you. You must always shelter at least one person. |
| Cashier Lady | Guaranteed Visitor | Always a Visitor, but is non-hostile and will not kill other guests. Presents a moral dilemma and can be strategically given to FEMA. |
| Cat Lady | Guaranteed Visitor | Always a hostile Visitor. Letting her in is the only way to get the cat, which unlocks the basement. High-risk, high-reward. |
| Amogus Guy | Randomized | If he is a Visitor, he will have dirty fingernails. |
| Fortune Teller | Randomized | Key to unlocking the "Cultists" ending. |
| Nun | Randomized | Often a Visitor. Her tell is fungus in her armpits. |
| Person in Wheelchair | Randomized | If a Visitor, they will be missing fingertips. |
| Shirtless Guy | Randomized | Stays in the bathtub. If a Visitor, he will have fungus in his armpits. |
| Grave Digger | Randomized | Usually human. His fingernails are always dirty from his job. Check his eyes; they will be red if he is a Visitor. |
| Surgeon | Randomized | Always has black spots on his skin, which is not a Visitor sign. Must be checked for other symptoms. |
| Woman with Glasses | Randomized | Always has red eyes and hairless armpits, even when human. A difficult character to verify. |
| Twin Sisters | Randomized | Always appear together. Twin #2 will have red eyes if she is a Visitor. |
Further complicating your choices is the existence of "non-hostile" Visitors. Characters like the Cashier Lady are inhuman but do not harm other guests. They become a strategic resource; they can be handed over to FEMA agents in place of a human guest, allowing you to sacrifice them to save a confirmed human.
Section 5: The Many Paths to Ruin or Salvation: All Endings Explained
No, I'm not a Human features at least 10 distinct endings. Your accuracy, isolation, violence, and faction alignments are the most critical factors.
5.2 A Guide to Every Conclusion
Hunched woman
Bring in those you can trust. Screenshot by Dot Esports
Her posture gives this Visitor away, but choosing to let her stay quickly reveals she’s an imposter due to her perfect teeth. Although she states she recently got them done, she fails to recall ever visiting the dentist. What’s terrifying about this first Visitor is that she vividly remembers her traumatic past, yet cannot recall how she stayed out in the Sun without burning, or if she visited the dentist to get her perfectly white teeth. She’s petrified she may be a Visitor.
Angry man
Is he like the suited man? Screenshot by Dot Esports
Angry man is much like the bearded plaid shirt guy in the Anthology demo, with pent-up aggression that he’s looking to release. While he claims he releases it on himself, his appearance says otherwise. With bruised and beaten hands, and a bite mark visible near his left thumb; it’s clear this Visitor is either harming himself or (more likely) his last victim fought back.
Amogus guy
Among Us!? Screenshot by Dot Esports
Not sure why Amogus guy’s is obsessed with swearing, but this Visitor is a tougher one to spot at the door due to his vocabulary choice. You can send him away based on the fact he’s literally walking around with an imposter label on him. But the obvious sign he’s an imposter is his eyes.
Fortune teller
My, that’s a lot of teeth. Screenshot by Dot Esports
One of the easier Visitors to find is the fortune teller. Her strange behavior makes her somewhat mysterious, but her Visitor identity is made clear when she opens her mouth, revealing an uncanny number of perfect teeth.
| Ending Name | Type | Primary Unlock Condition(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Survived to the End | Good | Survive for 14 days with only confirmed human guests remaining. Requires perfect identification. |
| Welcome to FEMA | Good / Special | Trust the FEMA soldier and agree to be recruited. |
| Survived with Impostors | Neutral | Reach Day 14 with a mix of human and Visitor guests still alive. |
| Super Impostor Gets You | Bad | Be completely alone in the house on Night 4 when the Pale Man (Intruder) arrives. |
| Murderer / The Killer | Bad | Kill too many innocent human guests (believed to be four or more). |
| Vigilante Rampage | Bad / Special | Side with the armed vigilante and fully embrace his violent methodology. |
| Cultists | Special / Secret | Follow the strange instructions given by the Fortune Teller and the three Cultist characters. |
| Fatal Child | Special / Secret | Triggered by making a specific, incorrect choice when the Neighbor's Daughter asks for help later in the game. |
| Entrance to Death | Special / Secret | A hidden ending that involves discovering a secret path that leads to a surreal escape. |
| The Mushroom One | Special / Secret | Unlocked by performing a series of obscure actions that uncover a hidden, fungal truth behind the apocalypse. |
Section 6: The Community Pulse - Reception, Discussion, and Player-Sourced Wisdom
6.1 Critical and Player Reception
The game was met with a strong positive reception. Critics and players alike have universally praised its masterful, suffocating atmosphere, unique concept, and unsettling art direction. Common criticisms centered on frustrating mechanics (like the original save system) and a debate over replay value.
6.3 Pro-Tips from the Community: Beyond the Basics
- Master Your Resources: On your first full day, watch the TV until you see the ad for the "ForRest" delivery service. Immediately call and order two cans of EnerJeka. Each can restores one energy point.
- Never Be Alone on Key Nights: The Pale Man/Intruder will visit on nights 3, 5, 9, and 11. If you are alone, it is an instant game over. You must have at least one guest.
- Use FEMA Notices as a Tool: Give a "FEMA Notice" to a specific guest to have them taken for "testing." This is invaluable for removing a character you are highly suspicious of but lack the energy to fully investigate.
- Manage Your Own Symptoms: You are not immune to suspicion. Check yourself in the bathroom mirror and clean your armpits. Smoking cigarettes will stain your teeth. This is critical for surviving encounters with the armed vigilante.
- Be a Thorough Investigator: Don't just watch the TV once per day. Clicking on it multiple times can reveal new information, such as new items available for delivery or new phone numbers to call.
