Not Going Back: Before

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About

Not Going Back is a choice-based, story-driven adult visual novel where every decision can shape what happens, in major and minor ways.

You play as a protagonist entering his first year in college with a desire to better his life, get a handle on the vices that plagued his adolescence, and move on from a tumultuous upbringing tainted with tragedy, both self-inflicted and otherwise.

Part 1, Before, contains the first 5 chapters of the game.

"Sunrise" serves as an introduction to a majority of the main characters, focusing on establishing the setting for the story.

"The Worst Guys" continues the story over a single week, following the protagonist's day-to-day life as he settles in to his new environment - and also pledges a college frat.

"Have Some Love" delves deeper into the characters and relationships, and considers the complexities that can arise from navigating new relationships.

"The Party" is preceded by "Playing Around Before the Party Starts", a prelude serving as the connective tissue between chapters 3 and 4, with "The Party" itself being a chapter spanning just one night: Halloween.

"Toxic" will be the final chapter so far. In the wake of a chaotic Halloween party, the protagonist continues through the end of the first half of his year at college, with the slow creeping unease of his past perhaps starting to re-emerge as winter approaches.

Part 1, Before, contains over 16000 images, totalling around 10 hours of gameplay on a first playthrough, with many options available for replaying!

Part 2 will begin development as soon as Part 1 is complete, and will continue and conclude the story.