Not Going Back

Not Going Back positions itself as a substantial entry into the adult visual novel space, built on the premise of a man seeking to rebuild his life after a troubled past. Cicada's project opens with Chapter 1: Sunrise, a foundational segment that establishes the college setting and introduces potential love interests through over 1400 3D renders. The narrative prioritizes character work and relationship development over pure spectacle—a deliberate choice that becomes more apparent as the story expands across subsequent chapters.

The game's scope is noteworthy. Chapter 2 roughly doubles in size with 3300+ renders, then Chapter 3 maintains that scale while deepening character arcs and backstory. The Prelude bridge segment adds another 1600 renders, bringing the current total near 10,000. This isn't a brief experience; you're looking at substantial playtime with meaningful branching tied to your choices. The male protagonist framework allows for a traditional romance structure, with multiple paths and intimate scenes woven into the narrative rather than isolated from it.

The adult content here integrates with the story progression rather than functioning as a separate reward system. Expect explicit scenes that tie to character relationships and emotional beats, handled with thematic intent. Cicada's Ren'Py implementation maintains solid performance across Windows and macOS builds, with consistent visual presentation across the expanding cast.

Since the project targets Chapter 11 as its endpoint with Chapter 4 still in development, players should understand they're entering an ongoing narrative. Current content represents a complete arc, however, making this a viable stopping point if you prefer finished experiences. The scale of renders and chapter structure suggests a developer committed to production quality rather than rapid release cycles.