Fare Thee Well

About

Fare Thee Well is a single player action game. It was developed by Watercress and was released on April 6, 2018. It received very positive reviews from players.

In the winter of 1967, a young man enters out of the snowy night into a bar in the sleepy town of Cedar, Maine. He is a wanderer cursed with eternal youth, sent out by fate forever to roam the world, never to find a home. An encounter with a girl in a green dress is about to change everything...

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 210 reviews

story76 positive mentions

atmosphere1 negative mentions

The story is beautifully written and emotionally impactful, often leaving players in tears.
The visuals and music complement the narrative well, creating a poignant atmosphere.
It's a free game that offers a meaningful experience in a short amount of time, making it highly recommended.

The game is quite short, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
Some players found the writing style to be overly formal or inconsistent, detracting from the immersion.
There are no choices or branching paths, which may disappoint those looking for interactive gameplay.

story
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
67%
1%
The story is widely praised for its emotional depth and poignant exploration of themes such as immortality and the passage of time, often described as beautiful and impactful despite its brevity. While some reviewers noted its simplicity and lack of branching paths, many found the writing to be well-crafted and evocative, with a bittersweet tone that resonates deeply. Overall, it is considered a memorable and worthwhile experience, especially given its free availability.
- “This is in my mind nothing less than a masterpiece of which I have never before seen. I cannot say this is my favorite game, but it is my favorite story. This was something I want to remember even if all of my other memories fade due to the cruel battering of time. Thank you so much for all your hard work, thank you to the story writers.”
- “The story really delves into the implications of time and how the passage of time can change things so much yet so little at the same time.”
- “A beautiful and profound story about what it means to love someone when you can't give them what they want or need.”
- “Trite boring story that opens with the usual romance novel cliche coincidences and setups that we all should be very familiar with by now.”
- “The story is quite short, taking approximately 1-2 hours to complete, and, as a kinetic visual novel, there are no choices for the player to make.”
- “During my playthrough, I did feel this a bit, thinking they could've expanded on some of the story.”
music
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the narrative, with many reviewers noting its fitting and exquisite quality, particularly in relation to the story's themes. However, some criticism arises regarding abrupt transitions between tracks and a lack of emotional attachment to certain pieces. Overall, while the soundtrack is considered good and well-integrated, there are moments where it could be improved for a more immersive experience.
- “The music is amazing, fitting the atmosphere perfectly, and truly enhancing the game experience.”
- “The soundtrack puts you in the moment and captures the elegance of the story.”
- “With the music setting a calm, slow pace, with a hint of sorrow as well, plus all the metaphors and medieval-esque English, it makes this a story that makes me appreciate the life I have, and changed my view on the world.”
- “The music is nothing too noteworthy.”
- “As a fan of music that would fit the moment, this game took me quite some time for me to simply get used to its soundtracks; they are not terrible but simply lacking in attachment.”
- “I just simply hoped for more as soundtracks can express a scene better for the reader if they can’t fully absorb the feel of a moment in a visual novel.”
graphics
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
53%
8%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the beautiful, hand-painted backgrounds that enhance the story's ambiance, while others criticize the character art for its typical anime style, which feels jarring in contrast. Overall, the visuals are described as above average, with a unique quality that stands out among typical Japanese visual novels, though some players feel the artwork lacks impact. Despite the varying opinions on the character designs, the backgrounds are consistently highlighted as a strong point.
- “The artwork is intermixed with photo-realistic backgrounds that set a winter scene that effectively adds warmth to the story during the holiday season.”
- “The graphics are above average with the quality of the backgrounds really standing out in comparison to backgrounds from palinurus.”
- “The visuals are beautiful; all images look hand-painted and are all background worthy.”
- “The artwork ranges from lazy to barely mediocre, so you surely won't play it for that either.”
- “All I can honestly say about it all is that none of the visuals hold much 'image' for me as a reader.”
- “The character art is charming for the green-dressed woman despite the silly anime art style with its staple big eyes; though I am a bit ambivalent about Emmeline, the rest are forgettable, though serviceable.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The emotional aspect of the visual novel is highly praised, with many players expressing that it deeply resonated with them, often leading to tears. The story, centered around a nomadic traveler and his poignant encounters, is described as heartwarming and bittersweet, enhanced by beautiful visuals and music. Despite some initial clichés, the narrative's unique emotional depth and impactful moments, particularly towards the end, leave a lasting impression on players.
- “I would challenge any reader not to be touched by this entrancing folk tale and, in a sense, it really gives an important perspective on time and how brief moments can last from a simple yet heartwarming encounter.”
- “Towards the end, the main character reads three letters which are nicely written and very emotional; the ending that follows is accordingly bittersweet.”
- “A wonderful and touching story; I was in tears the first time I finished it.”
- “Trite, boring story that opens with the usual romance novel cliches and setups that we are all too familiar with.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The gameplay received mixed reviews, with scores averaging around 7 to 8 out of 10. While some players found it satisfactory, others criticized it for being boring and lacking excitement, indicating a need for more engaging content.
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as lacking, with reviewers noting that while it is not a love story, it also fails to deliver comedic elements, resulting in a narrative that feels neither romantic nor amusing.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is effectively established, though it lacks uniqueness compared to other instrumental pieces. Overall, it successfully enhances the game's ambiance.
- “Not unique in comparison to other instrumentals outside of it, but it sets the atmosphere well.”