Game: I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
Genre: RPG, Simulation
System: Steam (Windows)
Developers | Publishers: Mandragora | tinybuild
Controller Support: Yes
Steam Deck: Verified
Price: US $ 12.99 | UK £10.88 | EU € 12,67
Release Date: November 13th, 2024
A review code was used, with many thanks to Stride PR.
Last year in February, during the Steam Next Fest, I played the demo of I Am Future and wrote an impressions article for the game. I was impressed with the demo at the time.
Since then, the game has been released on Early Access, and on November 13th, it moved to its 1.0 release on Steam and also had a slight name change. Now I’ve had a chance to play the full game, so it is time for a review of I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival.
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival: A Chill Survival Game
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival transforms the survival genre into a surprisingly laid-back and whimsical experience. Developed by Mandragora and published by tiny build, this game invites players to embrace the apocalypse as the last human on Earth. It is set amid a flooded, sunken megapolis, and the game emphasises creativity and exploration.
The Premise of I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival
Awaking from cryogenic sleep, you find yourself alone atop a rooftop surrounded by the remnants of a drowned city. Instead of focusing on bleak survival, I Am Future encourages you to build a thriving rooftop camp, cultivate a farm, and befriend quirky robot characters like Earl the Fridge and Bombshell Barbara. While the setting hints at humanity’s collapse, the tone remains pretty upbeat, making the end of the world oddly cozy.
Survival Meets Simplicity
The early game poses a bit of a challenge, as hunger is your constant nemesis. You will have to scramble for resources and food to survive the first few in-game days. However, once you establish a steady supply of crops and fish, the game pivots from survival to a sandbox-style sim. This transition might feel abrupt for survival purists but is a welcome reprieve for players who prefer a less stressful experience.
Base Building and Automation
Building your rooftop haven is very satisfying. From crafting furniture and setting up electrical grids to unlocking new structures, the customisation options let you design the cozy apocalypse of your dreams. The dismantling mechanic, which lets you repurpose artefacts like microwaves and kettles into crafting materials, adds an engaging, fun layer to resource management.
Automation is another great feature. You have cute robot helpers that can handle chores and farm tasks and even explore the underwater city via scouting drones. These drone systems add depth and charm while removing some of the monotony often associated with survival games.
Farming, Cooking, Exploration and Story
The game’s farming system is surprisingly robust, allowing you to grow fruits, vegetables, and even “cheese trees.” Paired with a cooking system where you can experiment with recipes, these mechanics encourage creativity and provide yet another activity to pass the time.
Exploring the underwater city is where I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival shines. Sending drones on expeditions reveals new areas, resources, and pieces of the story behind humanity’s downfall. The game’s light narrative is sprinkled with quirky robot interactions, adding personality and humour to your post-apocalyptic journey.
Additionally, the occasional mutant pest attack keeps you on your toes, adding a touch of challenge to your otherwise laid-back routine. Protecting your farm and electrical grid feels manageable and never wanders into overwhelming, frustrating territory.
Visuals and Soundtrack
The vibrant, cartoony art style of I Am Future perfectly captures the game’s whimsical tone. From lush rooftop gardens to flooded cityscapes, the visuals are colourful and inviting. The soundtrack is a mix of mellow tunes that complement the cozy atmosphere and make extended play sessions feel like a breeze.
Room for Improvement
While I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival excels in its cozy aesthetic and creative mechanics, its survival elements feel, at times, a little inconsistent. The intense early-game struggle to avoid starvation contrasts sharply with the mid-to-late game, where food and resources become abundant. To me, this shift can make the game feel unbalanced at times.
Additionally, some players may find the automation systems and relaxed pacing too hands-off after the initial survival challenge. A difficulty setting or more scalable challenges might help maintain engagement for those seeking a more dynamic experience.
I Am Future is Steam Deck verified, and I played the game most of the time on that system and tested it out on my laptop as well. Overall, the game ran reasonably well on both systems. However, there are noticeable frame rate stutters to the point the game will pause for a second when playing on the Steam Deck.
Conclusion
I Am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival delivers exactly what it promises: a relaxing, creative take on the survival genre, once you pass that daily starvation, struggle at the beginning of the game.
Its blend of base building, farming, automation, and quirky characters offers a refreshing change of pace from more stressful post-apocalyptic games. While its difficulty curve might not satisfy hardcore survival enthusiasts, it’s perfect for players who want to unwind and enjoy the process of building a life at the end of the world.
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot 
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