Not Going Back
Game Information
Developer
CicadaVersion
vChapter 4
Engine
Ren'Py
Release Date
Jan 16, 2026
Last Update
Jan 17, 2026
Censorship
Uncensored
Overview
Not Going Back is a choice-based visual novel for players who like grounded college-life drama with a slow-burn adult story. The tone stays personal and character-focused rather than played for laughs.
Story
The protagonist comes from an unstable background and starts his first year of college determined to leave his past troubles behind and build something better. His attempt to move forward puts him in a new environment full of people and choices that shape who he becomes.
Gameplay
Play unfolds through narrated scenes and dialogue choices as the protagonist settles into college life, meets people around campus, and navigates his classes and relationships. Decisions affect how situations with others develop over time, with the school setting providing the backdrop for most encounters.
Features
- 3D rendered art throughout, built scene by scene rather than reused stock assets
- Choice-driven dialogue that shapes how relationships and situations progress
- A single protagonist perspective focused on personal growth and change
Installation
1. Extract and run.
Changelog
vlatest
- Ch.4
- The Prelude serves as a stepping stone between chapters 3 and 4, and comes in at 1633 renders, slightly more than Chapter 1. This is the quickest I've been able to complete an update, and I'm fully intending on getting 2 more releases out this year, one in the summer and one by the end of the year.
- Ch.3.1
- Gallery Bugfix
- Ch.3
- Chapter 3
- Ch.2.2
- Bugfix
- Ch.2.1
- Bugfix
- Ch.2
- Chapter 2: The Worst Guys continues the story, with a focus on further exploring the characters established in Chapter 1. Over double the size of Chapter 1 at over 3300 renders, Chapter 2 is a big step forward in the project.
