With new Steam games released every day, PC gamers are spoiled for choice regardless of genre preference. Looking for visual novels on Steam that offer gripping stories? There are plenty to choose from. Soullikes? Yep, they're a dime a dozen, from PS1-themed Soulslikes to co-op-centric deals. Friendslop, building game inspired by Satisfactorysurvival games, farming simulators — you name it, and Steam has several games that fit the description. However, there is one upcoming Steam game that is completely unique, as it offers nothing to its audience.
As someone who spent years chasing trophies on the PlayStation, I've played my fair share of “nothing” games to pad my stats and get some cheesy Platinums. Yet even these games offer something for players to do, be it a mini-game, clicking mechanics, and silly jokes (looking at you, My name is Mayo), or any kind of story. Nothing: The Gamehowever? That's exactly what it says on the box, as players will be greeted with a black screen throughout their time in this “game”. Despite its non-existent gameplay, however, the game does serve a purpose of some sort.
Why is there nothing: the game exists?
Normally, this is where I would describe all the features that the Steam game in question has to offer, but Nothing: The Game has no functions in its name. There is a motion pad in the lower left corner and an arrow in the lower right, with the rest of the screen covered in total darkness. The developer of the game who refer to themselves as Nobody The Developer is clearly doubling down on the gag, while a price point for Nothing remains a mystery. However, curious players can add it to their Steam wishlists to keep an eye on it before the March 13th launch date.
Balance the critics' averages
Start
Balance the critics' averages
Light (6) Medium (8) Hard (10)
Nothing might seem like a silly gag game to prank your friends with — imagine getting a Steam gift and opening it to realize it's nothing — but there's a proper agenda behind the game. As shown in the 25-second glimpse of “real gameplay footage” (you guessed it, nothing happens), none of the developers make the message clear: Nothing is a critique of AAA games that break their promises. Don't just do it Nothing delivers on what it says it is, but it's described as automatically being “a better deal than wasting $70-$80 on a AAA game that sucks”. In the developer's own words, Nothing is a protest as much as it is an actual video game.
What the goal of this experiment really is is still unclear. Maybe no one is looking to get hundreds of players on Nothing while using the all-time top stat as a number that “X player would rather play Nothing” than the AAA games that sparked its creation. Alternatively, maybe no one wants to collect dozens of Steam reviews that fit their argument about the state of AAA games, and use them in a push for change. Regardless, dropping a black screen on the Steam store is bold, and it'll be fun to see if there are any Easter eggs that snuck into the Steam game, or if they've showcased the Steam games.
Nothing: The goal of the game remains a mystery, but the point is clear Because at this point we'd rather play NOTHING than what most of these American AAA game studios put out.
The exact games Nothing: The Game strives to criticize is a mystery, as it is simply “most” AAA games that are apparently the problem. However, it is not difficult to theorize about the candidates. Cyberpunk 2077s disastrous launch broke promises, as well Overwatch 2 fails to deliver on PvE, though both games have since made incredible recoveries. The original Watch Dogs' graphical downgrade comes to mind, as do franchises like Battlefield and Call of Duty who are regularly called disappointments by their fans. However, “American” studios are specified in the above quote, so some of the latter candidates seem more likely than CD Projekt Red as major offenders. Although there are plenty of beloved AAA games, including new releases like the hugely successful Resident Evil Requiem, Nothing: The Game reflects a common sentiment surrounding major budget releases in recent times.
