Not for Broadcast
IGDB
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About Not for Broadcast
NotGames dropped this indie simulator on January 25, 2022, and it feels like a grim parody of reality TV mixed with Cold War paranoia. You sit in a control booth during a fictional 1980s dystopia where the state controls every frame you broadcast. The game runs on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Series X|S as a single-player adventure. You act as a new editor for the Ministry of Truth, tasked with cutting out unwanted footage or inserting approved clips to keep the public distracted. It is a tense point-and-click experience where your choices shape the narrative without any combat mechanics. The premise asks if you will censor the news for safety or expose the truth and face the consequences.
Gameplay
Your day shifts into a fast-paced editing session where you monitor multiple feeds simultaneously while receiving script notes from an unseen director. You must cut commercials, switch camera angles, and scrub through footage to remove banned content before the broadcast hits airwaves. The interface mimics old VCR controls and CRT monitors, forcing you to memorize timing cues for commercial breaks or sudden censorship orders. A typical session involves juggling live news reports with pre-recorded segments while managing a stress meter that ticks up if you miss a cue. You also handle phone calls from producers demanding edits that contradict what is happening on screen. The controls rely entirely on mouse clicks and keyboard shortcuts to trigger cuts or zooms, creating a frantic rhythm that never lets up during the main broadcast hours.
What Players Think
Players have responded with strong approval despite the game's heavy themes. IGDB lists a score of 83.4 out of 100 based on 27 ratings. The community mood leans heavily toward anxious and dark, reflecting the stressful nature of the editing room. Critics and users alike note that the average playtime hovers around 6 to 8 hours for a standard run. Achievement data reveals how difficult the game can be; there are 95 total achievements with an average unlock rate of just 9.6%. The rarest trophy, "Employee Of The Month," sits at a paltry 0.50% unlock rate, proving that even dedicated players struggle to meet every specific criteria for perfect broadcasting. Many reviews highlight the pressure of making quick decisions under strict government supervision as the most memorable part of the experience.
PlayPile's Take
This title is worth your time if you enjoy high-pressure puzzle games with a strong political twist. The current price on Fanatical sits at $6.24, which matches the historical low and makes it an easy buy for the content provided. You will likely spend several hours trying to track down that elusive "Employee Of The Month" achievement since only half a percent of users have unlocked it. The game does not offer endless replayability beyond different endings, so expect a focused 6-hour experience rather than dozens of hours. Skip this if you want a relaxing simulator, but pick it up if you want a tense narrative that forces you to think about media manipulation in a way few other titles dare to try.
Game Modes
Single player
IGDB Rating
83.4
RAWG Rating
4.0
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