Quick Verdict
I love story-driven games, even if they have few or no gameplay elements. I’m always interested to see how creative game developers get players engaged while telling a tale. I somehow missed 1000xRESIST when it was initially released, and had I played it in 2024, it would have easily found its way onto our favorite games of 2024 list. In short, 1000xRESIST is brilliant, but it’s ultimately a game that’s focused on telling a story. It does so in a somewhat innovative and clever way, one that kept me intrigued throughout the 10 or so hours it took to complete the game.
Like many games that primarily focus on telling a story, 1000xRESIST won’t be for everyone. It lives somewhere in between Life is Strange and Gone Home, with the majority of gameplay consisting of walking around, choosing dialogue options, and reading. It’s primarily a visual novel with very limited gameplay, but what it sets out to do, it does very well. If you value a proper and complex narrative with well-written characters, don’t skip out on 1000xRESIST.
A Thousand Questions
I celebrated New Year’s Day with a 12-hour flight to Tokyo, a Nintendo Switch, and 1000xRESIST. It was a game that had caught my attention during the 2024 award season, with several people including it on their best of 2024 lists. I knew very little about it outside of the few mentions I heard, so I wanted to go in as blind as possible. It didn’t take very long, but within the first chapter I started wondering how it is that I missed 1000xRESIST when it first released, since I very much enjoy these types of games.
I consider it a work of art when a game brilliantly balances subtle, mysterious storytelling with in-your-face statements. 1000xRESIST does this very well, introducing numerous elements early on that get you interested and curious, but not in a way that annoys you by making you feel lost. Like watching a good television show, you’ll begin to craft your own theories about where the story is going, which makes it difficult to put the game down since you’re constantly curious about which direction its creators are taking. I quickly found myself comparing 1000xRESIST to binging a series on Netflix, like Squid Game, where you’re eager to know what’s next but also dreading that it will eventually have to come to an end.
Hair to Hair
While playing on Switch, I found the game generally runs smoothly, although the resolution and textures look noticeably softer compared to what you might see on PC. Still, 1000xRESIST’s distinctive art style is one aspect that immediately stood out to me. The game’s campaign features a stark blend of futuristic elements with surreal imagery, resulting in a purposeful, otherworldly experience. The art style fits the dreamlike tone of the game with a focus on its introspective narrative, ultimately working hand in hand to highlight key plot points and reinforce emotional beats. Although much of the game takes place in just a handful of revisited environments, they are large enough to spend ample time exploring and even getting lost. Another artistic expression that is cleverly used throughout 1000xRESIST is the theme of color. Characters and their roles are differentiated by their color, while certain hues are purposely used in specific environments for a reason.
All of the game’s imagery plays a major role in making 1000xRESIST such a memorable experience. Since the game is mostly a visual novel with very limited gameplay features, its narrative does all the heavy lifting, supported by its presentation. Adding to that support is the voice acting of the game, which may not have any standout performances but fits the tone of the game perfectly. Every line of dialogue in the game is voiced, something you don’t typically find in an indie game. It’s pivotal, though, to the 1000xRESIST experience since each character is written with such care and detail that you cannot help but invest in each of their perspectives—mostly.
Hekki ALLMO
The story of 1000xRESIST takes place 1,000 years in the future, when humanity is nearly extinct thanks to an alien disease that has forced survivors underground. Players start in the role of the Watcher, whose purpose is to serve ALLMOTHER. The game’s story explores who ALLMOTHER is, and how the entire cast came to be. It’s all told through an interesting narrative lens that seamlessly blends Chinese culture, more notably, the Hong Kong protests of 2019 to 2020. As a first-generation Chinese-American whose parents migrated from Hong Kong, some of 1000xRESIST’s writing hit very close to home. Hearing certain lines of dialogue in Cantonese resonated even more, although not everyone will share in that experience.
The experience is one of self-discovery, filled with moral quandaries centered around the themes of identity, sacrifice, and the lengths people are willing to go in order to protect what they believe is right. While it’s clearly a sci-fi story set far into the future, the game manages to tie in real-world events so certain players are able to relate to the events more easily. 1000xRESIST is filled with lengthy story beats, broken up by walking segments that give the player an opportunity to soak in the atmosphere and learn more about the world’s characters while unraveling the world’s mysteries.
Six to One, Red to Blue
A key component of story-driven games is making the player feel as though they have an impact on the outcome. While there are dialogue choices in 1000xRESIST, they do not dramatically alter the narrative. However, the conclusion of the game is an important exercise in player choice. I won’t spoil it with any details, but I will say that I found the ending thoughtful and the payoff well worth it. The game encourages players to engage thoughtfully with the choices and relationships throughout the story, culminating in an ending that neatly ties a bow on this gift of a game.
Naturally, if you’re not a fan of 1000xRESIST’s style, the game will feel quite slow. Although 1000xRESIST doesn’t offer complex puzzles, there are light exploration elements. You’ll occasionally discover interactive spots that provide additional lore or character insights, and short sequences allow you to zip to different vantage points in the environment. It’s minimal, but these moments break up the narrative just enough to keep you engaged in the unfolding mystery. If I had any criticism, I found the game’s opening and final thirds more engaging than the middle. I appreciated the game’s meditative pace as it gradually built toward each narrative reveal. However, if you’re not a fan of story-driven games with very few gameplay elements, 1000xRESIST likely won’t change your mind about the genre.
A World Built on Lies
The game’s developer, Sunset Visitor, states that the team was heavily inspired by movies like Millennium Actress and In the Mood for Love, while gaming influences include NieR: Automata, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and Signalis. I have two out of three of those titles on my list of the best games I’ve ever played, so maybe it’s not a surprise that I really enjoyed 1000xRESIST. The game is a perfect example of narrative-driven design done right, presenting an immersive world with a compelling cast and a mystery that keeps you pushing forward.
If you’re a fan of games that focus on characters, atmosphere, and a strong storyline, you’ll find very few titles that do it as well as 1000xRESIST. While the game resonated more with me due to my ethnicity, it still offers a strong and relatable story even if you’re not Chinese-American. This game isn’t just about the events that unfold in its storyline; it’s about how the game invites you to reflect on the nature of humanity, duty, and even the power of belief. It’s a prime example of how gaming can immerse players in worlds that explore complex ideas, emotions, and existential questions, even with limited gameplay.
1000xRESIST official release date is May 9, 2024 on Switch and PC. This review is based on a purchased retail copy of the game on Switch. While FullCleared does have affiliate partnerships, they do not influence our editorial content. We may, however, earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links.
1000xRESIST Review Gallery (possible spoilers!)
