I am Future: Cozy Apocalypse Survival

Rooftop Party invite lost in the mail.

As I spun around a Microwave, removing screws, cables, and various electrical components, I am Future, a low-stakes and cozy apocalypse survival game, started to click. Now, that is not to say the game isn't without its flaws, but it ended up being a great palette cleanser between the various games I was catching up with. It may lack purpose in your plight, but it does just enough to be worth your time. 

As you awake from a mysterious slumber, you find yourself on a rooftop, apparently after the world has ended. Buildings are overflowing with vegetation and poisonous flowers, all needing to be avoided or consumed once you acquire the needed ingredients. And, as you dismantle various objects around you, send your drone on missions of retrieval, as well as fashion a workable garden and the items to stay alive, you find that while it is the end of the world as we know it, you'll feel pretty fine, as the song goes.

Your sudden location, a rooftop in the middle of a destroyed metropolis, is lush with color, as well as an intricate system of locked doors, a fishing spot, and numerous other pods, all blocking your way until you acquire the tools needed to dismantle them. Your arm is missing, and you'll be able to attach various saws, drills, and hammers to it, making you something of a Swiss Army knife. A multi-tool operator with a penchant for crafting. 

Given the subtitle of I am Future, this is indeed a cozy apocalypse. While you'll have minor threats that appear, mutated bugs and the like, a UV lantern pretty much solves that issue, or a handy spray can if you like to get your hands dirty. Either way, you'll encounter these creatures in minimal fashion as this low-stakes survival game is indeed meant to be cozy.

The loop is as such: find, scrap, and build. Some advanced tools are required to dismantle harder and more durable materials, so finding blueprints is key to progressing through this apocalypse. As for the survival aspects, you need to ensure your rest and hunger are managed. Food is surprisingly plentiful here, with plenty of munchable snacks nearby. While an empty hunger bar will cause you to feint, a full hunger meter allows you to carry more, making it crucial to always keep some blueberries or a cooked steak on hand, or rather, in your pockets. Sure, we'll go with that. 

While it is easy enough to dismantle, some objects simply have you hold down the button, some have a series of directional buttons to hit, and others have you actually move around kettles and microwaves to dismantle them piece by piece. This is well handled and a nice change of pace from just holding down a button. 

Where I am Future does fall apart, at least when compared to other games in the genre, is that you are not really working towards something, or have large projects that you chip away at. The game is built around a ton of micro-challenges, such as building a bridge to another nearby roof and working towards upgrading your tools and workbenches. However, it rarely is more than that, and that is something that some players will either revel in or find the lack of purpose to be underwhelming.

The story itself is one of waking up, unaware of who you are, and meeting a series of robots who deem you an important figure. Each robot was, at one point, a person whose personality was put into their present device. The story has a few twists and turns, but ultimately doesn't really pay itself off well. While the non-story elements that make up I am Future are sound, it feels like an incomplete package at times, ensuring you are busy, but not too busy.

When you are not dismantling steel barricades, collecting plants, or dealing with the hostile vegetation, you'll send out drones via an exploration. This is something that started off strong with rescuing a very talkative robot, but ultimately, these ventures proved to be nothing more than a series of menus and shops. 

The menus and UI are intuitive and aid in making this game very easy to get into, master its controls, and figure out what your next objective is. From an engagement standpoint, I am Future is well constructed and makes dealing with anything the game throws at you easy to handle. 

I am Future is a visually pleasing survival game and forgoes the typical apocalypse setting with lush greenery and so much color that you'll always have a smile on your face. You do have some light customization on your character, with shops to add more to it, but you'll likely find a look and forgo the options once you’ve settled into something that works for you. Still, there are few survival games out there that feel this cheery. 

Survival games can often be hectic and demanding if you're babysitting meters while you construct the home of your dreams, all while fending off the threats that lurk nearby. I am Future has elements of the genre, but does lack the urgency to ensure your survival is one of creative freedom. There is a lot to take in here and enjoy, but those looking for more purpose and drive in their survival adventures may not find what they are looking for here.

Still, I am Future is exactly what it says on the tin, it is a cozy apocalypse survival game, and is a nice alternative to what we usually see. It isn't always engaging, but the bright visuals, comfy music, and charm do a lot of heavy lifting here, making this one rooftop party worth attending.

Developer - Mandragora. Publisher - tinyBuild. Released - January 8th, 2026. Available On - Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, PC. Rated - (E 10+) Fantasy Violence and Mild Language. Platform Reviewed - Xbox Series X. Review Access - A review code for the game was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.