We Happy Few

TLDR; Amazing atmosphere and lore, but it has the most boring gameplay loop I have ever played. It's not worth your time, and it's definetly not worth the original 60€ price tag it has. Shame, because this has to be one of the most original titles, I, personally have played. So the funny thing is, I bought this game all the way back in 2020, when it was on sale and played for a couple of hours. I found it on my library recently and wondered "Oh gee, I wonder why I haven't played this game all that much." I remember now. This has to be THE most fumbled game I have ever played. The art-style, the music, the story and the atmosphere are hands-down the BEST part of this game. I have to really commend the absolute ATMOSPHERE the game has, it's unlike anything else I have ever played. But that's about all the good things I can think about it. I spent (almost) 30hrs. on this game, and not once did I enjoy actually playing the game. Combat is super bare-bones. Stealth and difficulty in general are laughably easy (yes, even on hard). The AI has to be one of the worst I have ever seen, not being able to do basic things such as pursue the player. In fact, the AI's pathing is so bad, they straight up don't chase you, so you can just sprint past everything and everyone. I really wanted to AT LEAST finish the game. But I just can't. I have been forcing myself to JUST do the main quest (ignoring all side content) so I can progress the story. I just can't. The pacing of this game is awful. There's a lot of back and forth, running from A to B and back, while nothing happens in the middle. It feels as if this was developed as a more linear and short experience (5-6 hrs. -ish) , but at some point in development, they decided to stretch out the game and add a lot of padded out content. (Procedurally generated map with very few things to do/loot, game systems that can be completely ignored,etc.) The worst part of it, isn't the bugs (which this game has a LOT of), or the unstable performance, or the monotonous gameplay. But rather, the fact that this AA game, that released 7 yrs. ago is STILL asking for 60€ !!! I'd much rather watch a youtube video that explains the story, because honestly I can't stomach another hour playing this :/

Such a cool concept for a game to ultimately be ruined by bloat. Feels like you're playing through a team-building exercise created in a weekend with a "throw it all in the pot" mentality. You could remove 90% of this game and it would be better for it. Do we need to have 13 different menus for things? Do we really need to have 9 different versions of rotted fruit? Meanwhile not even a "reload from previous save" button? I can't imagine anyone paying 75CAD and feeling good about their purchase. The core aspect of the game is stealth and its at best a 3/10 which is a big hit. Throw in a boring combat routine and it just drags. Its gorgeous, the story is so cool and the art team/writers need an award, but to actually play it hurts the bones. I will keep playing to get my money out of it but even on sale(19CAD) I still feel a little ripped off. 7 years after the last patch of this game and still having bugs is crazy for a game that retails for 85% of a AAA title that you can put thousands of hours into all while feeling like an indie game. Buyer beware, if you like the art just watch playthroughs on youtube, atleast its free.

为什么没有生存元素了，之前看逆风笑玩是因为吃喝搜刮资源有生存玩法，现在剧情模式的生存要素都那么低，更新的还不如之前好玩，有没有mod复原之前的生存感觉，如果剧情模式吃喝显示吃一次就满还不如不显示这个饥饿和口渴的数值显示【反正都是一口满显示】而且那么多食物类型【白白浪费】反向更新【原本最好玩的就是搜刮和生存】这两个是绑定在一起的，你现在剧情没了吃喝需求【饿/渴不死】就没有搜刮的欲望，剧情没有看点/任务也是没特色的跑图，劝【制作组】最好改成旧版的剧情生存模式，不然这游戏没有一点好玩的地方。

I really really wanted to love this game. I've had a soft spot for it since I was a teenager and the writing is excellent, but the execution was horrendous, and years later it hasn't been fixed. To this day it is impossible to have one full play through without obtrusive bugs. The map doesn't generate correctly, NPCs sit and float on air, teleport, say things that don't make sense given the context, etc. Even in the easiest difficulty NPCs are prone to all jumping on you as a mob for no apparent reason, and after 2 acts of finally figuring out your limits, the final character's whole gimmick is being hated. The game isn't clear about what items you'll need for later, so prepare to spend an excess amount of time looting in what should really just be a more linear storytelling game. The DLCs did it wonderfully with an engaging, linear map and exciting cut scenes. I'd play the DLC a thousand times before I ever tried to start a base game save again. You'll get just as much out of a youtube documentary on the game's story without the headache.

To the negative reviews that harshly judge the fact it's a walking simulator, here's what being a Pathologic fan taught me: some games don't have to be good on a technical level to be a valuable experience. Yes bugs are annoying, but they're manageable. Yes it's not the most optimised but I've played Pathologic 2 Marble Nest with a max of 9 fps before and I still enjoyed it. Some games aren't meant for people who value gameplay over story and that's alright, just refund it or don't buy it in the first place if you value gameplay more. It's not everyone's type of game, but it is mine. And it might end up being yours too. That being said, do wait for a sale. I personally wouldn't pay that base price for any game.

The best 6/10 you'll ever play. You might ask why — one word: Story. This game delivers one of the most intriguing narratives I’ve experienced. The voice acting is a perfect 10/10, and the writing is solid — 8/10 most of the time. The plot twists? They’re not unpredictable in the traditional sense — you know something’s off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it, and that’s what makes uncovering the truth so satisfying. Honestly, the story is the only thing that kept me pushing through. The gameplay loop, on the other hand, is a different story. You’ll be wandering around randomly generated maps for what feels like forever, scavenging mostly useless loot. The mechanics? Undercooked. They exist, but you’ll rarely feel the need to engage with them. Ironically, the DLCs removed many of those mechanics — and that’s where the game shines the most in terms of actual gameplay. Yes, the DLCs are worth it. If you're into mystery, dystopia, and social experiment scenarios, this game is gold. Just don’t go in expecting a polished or engaging gameplay experience. Play it for the story — and it just might stick with you longer than some 10/10s.

Feels like everyone nags about a few bugs like it is game breaking but the story and style is where this game shines, i never felt any big frustrations at any bug, and this has been one of the greatest games i've played in a long while, strongly recommend.

[h3] Portuguese [/h3] We Happy Few é um jogo que se destaca pela sua crítica social pesada e pelo cenário único inspirado na Inglaterra dos anos 60. Em uma sociedade que vive à base de uma droga chamada "Joy", onde a felicidade é obrigatória e a verdade é proibida, o jogo explora temas como alienação, controle governamental, conformismo e apagamento histórico, tudo isso envolto em uma estética psicodélica, colorida e perturbadora na mesma medida. A gameplay mistura exploração com elementos de stealth, já que se encaixar socialmente e agir “como todos” é essencial para sobreviver. O combate existe, mas o jogo brilha mesmo quando aposta na furtividade e no clima de paranoia constante, fazendo você sentir o peso de viver em um lugar onde qualquer passo em falso pode te tornar inimigo do povo. Apesar de seus altos e baixos, We Happy Few entrega uma experiência original e reflexiva, com atmosfera marcante e uma proposta difícil de esquecer, especialmente para quem curte histórias com crítica social, tensão e distopia com identidade própria. [h3] English [/h3] We Happy Few stands out for its heavy social critique and its unique setting inspired by 1960s England. In a society dependent on a drug called "Joy", where happiness is mandatory and truth is forbidden, the game explores themes such as alienation, government control, conformity, and historical erasure, all wrapped in a psychedelic aesthetic that is both colorful and deeply unsettling. The gameplay blends exploration with stealth elements, since fitting in and behaving “normally” is essential for survival. Combat is present, but the game truly shines when it leans into stealth and paranoia, making you feel the pressure of living in a place where any wrong move can turn the entire world against you. Despite its ups and downs, We Happy Few offers an original and thought-provoking experience, with a striking atmosphere and a premise that’s hard to forget, especially for players who enjoy dystopian stories with strong social commentary and tension throughout.

I'm not joking when I say this is my favorite game despite the glitches and bugs. The map is fairly big, but it feels empty most of the time. There are only a handful of explorable houses, and most of the size comes from the forest where absolutely nothing happens. Still, I love it all the same. The story is rich, has that cool and creepy dystopian vibe. Main characters are well-written as well. They are all charming and messed-up but in a good way. I’d recommend playing it on hard mode or setting up a custom game with fewer resources, because otherwise you'll be drowning in loot. Your bag will constantly be full, and you’ll end up stuffing everything into your stash. And the music? ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. I think all their budget went to the soundtrack and they cooked so hard. I'm a fan of the imaginary band now for years. The Make Believes band is awesome! DLC are also great and worth playing. Again, this game will have tons of bugs so I think you should wait on sale to buy, but I absolutely implore you to play this game!!

I tried to give the game multiple chances because I loved the premis of the game so much. But the gameplay is just not something I enjoy. The reach of the opponents is crazy. Even if you stagger back and can't reach them with a hit, they can still knock you out. The map is very unfortunate and not helpful. The quests are confusing and the description does not match what you have to do. All in all: Great idea but after three tries I just gave up on the game.