How to Say Goodbye

It's a new type of puzzle I try, and it's very refershing to solve every each level. It's not too complicated if you're worried about it being too difficult. The story of each characters are very well made too (even though there are still some confusion of the relation between the antagonist and protagonist relationship, also the antagonist's intention doing all those influenting the ghosts stuff), but I love it.

Bel gioco e una storia molto interessante!

Jogo muito bonitinho, com uma mensagem da hora. Puzzles fáceis mas divertidos. Obs.: Passa um pouco a vibe de livro infantil tentando explicar alguma coisa de forma educativa para crianças ou aqueles jogos educativos que tinham antigamente. - Isso é para ser algo positivo.

Das Spiel macht keinen Spaß, die Steuerung ist umständlich und die Geschichte ist auch nicht besonders.

very good :3 this game is very beautiful !

5555

How to Say Goodbye is a gentle, emotionally resonant puzzle experience that treats its subject matter with uncommon care and restraint. Developed by Florian Veltman and Baptiste Portefaix and published by ARTE France, the game positions itself at the intersection of interactive storytelling and contemplative puzzle design. Rather than relying on dramatic spectacle or explicit exposition, it invites players into a quiet, symbolic space where mechanics, visuals, and narrative work together to explore themes of grief, attachment, and the difficult process of letting go. The premise unfolds in a liminal world inhabited by ghosts—souls caught between life and whatever lies beyond. The player’s role is not that of a savior or hero in the traditional sense, but more of a guide, helping these spirits navigate environments that represent unresolved emotions and unfinished business. Death is not portrayed as frightening or violent; instead, it is depicted as a state of confusion and stillness, where characters linger because they are unable to move on. This framing gives the entire experience a sense of calm melancholy, setting expectations for reflection rather than urgency. Gameplay centers on grid-based puzzles where the world itself becomes the primary object of interaction. Instead of directly controlling characters, players manipulate the environment by sliding tiles, shifting rows or columns, and rearranging spaces to create viable paths. Early puzzles are intentionally simple, allowing players to internalize the core rules without pressure. As the game progresses, additional mechanics—such as switches, locked paths, and interacting characters—are introduced gradually, building complexity in a way that feels organic rather than overwhelming. Each puzzle feels carefully authored, with solutions that reward observation and patience rather than trial-and-error brute force. What makes the puzzle design particularly effective is how closely it aligns with the game’s themes. Guiding ghosts through shifting environments mirrors the emotional work of helping someone confront memories, relationships, and unresolved feelings. When puzzles require multiple spirits to move together or rely on each other’s positioning, the mechanics subtly reinforce ideas of connection and shared experience. Progress is not about overcoming obstacles aggressively, but about arranging circumstances so that movement becomes possible—an elegant metaphor that runs consistently throughout the game. Visually, How to Say Goodbye adopts a hand-drawn, illustrated style reminiscent of children’s storybooks, with soft lines and carefully chosen color palettes. The environments feel dreamlike and symbolic rather than literal, shifting between familiar domestic spaces and more abstract locations that suggest memory rather than physical reality. This art direction supports the narrative beautifully, making each chapter feel like a page from an illustrated poem. The simplicity of the visuals ensures clarity during puzzle-solving while also giving emotional weight to the spaces the ghosts inhabit. Sound design is understated but deeply effective. The music leans toward minimal, ambient compositions that create a sense of quiet introspection without dictating how the player should feel. Environmental sounds are subtle and sparse, reinforcing the impression of an in-between world where everything is muted and slightly distant. This restraint allows moments of narrative revelation or puzzle completion to breathe, letting the emotional impact land naturally rather than being pushed forward by dramatic cues. Narrative delivery is deliberately sparse. Dialogue is minimal, often conveyed through short exchanges or visual storytelling rather than lengthy text. The game trusts players to infer meaning from context, imagery, and the structure of the puzzles themselves. This approach may feel understated to those expecting explicit storytelling, but it is precisely this subtlety that gives the experience its emotional strength. The story unfolds not as a sequence of plot points, but as a collection of moments and realizations that gradually coalesce into a coherent emotional arc. The game’s pacing reflects its themes, favoring brevity and focus over extended playtime. Most players will complete the experience in a few hours, but the compact length feels intentional rather than limiting. Each chapter introduces a new idea or emotional beat without lingering too long, ensuring that the experience remains cohesive and impactful. The absence of filler content reinforces the sense that every puzzle and scene has a purpose within the larger whole. How to Say Goodbye is not designed to challenge players mechanically in the traditional sense, nor does it aim for high replayability through branching outcomes or difficulty scaling. Its value lies instead in the quality of its ideas and the harmony between gameplay and narrative. Players seeking fast-paced action or complex systems may find it subdued, but those open to reflective, emotionally driven experiences will likely find it memorable. Ultimately, How to Say Goodbye stands as an example of how games can explore difficult human experiences with empathy and elegance. By uniting thoughtful puzzle mechanics with a poetic presentation and a restrained narrative voice, it creates an experience that feels both personal and universal. It is a game that encourages players to slow down, reflect, and engage emotionally, offering a quiet but lasting impression that lingers well after the final puzzle is solved. Rating: 8/10

I won't say this is the most affecting game I've ever played, but the narrative has a lot of heart at times and the excellent visuals and relatively engaging puzzles are just a bonus.