Happy Game

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 805 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • gameplay
Happy Game Game Cover
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"Happy Game" is a psychedelic horror adventure game by Amanita Design. You must navigate through three disturbing nightmares, solving puzzles in eerie environments while facing unsettling characters such as creepy smiley faces and pink bunnies. The game features music from the Czech freakfolk band DVA, adding to the overall unsettling atmosphere. The goal is to help a little boy escape his nightmares and find happiness again.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Android
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 805 reviews
graphics69 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that captivates players.
  • The sound design and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The puzzles are engaging and provide a fun challenge, making the gameplay enjoyable.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 1-3 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • Some players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking in depth, with many puzzles being straightforward.
  • The game contains frequent flashing lights and disturbing imagery, which may not be suitable for all players.
  • graphics134 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, blending cute and creepy elements that create an unsettling atmosphere. While many reviewers appreciate the stunning visuals and immersive sound design, some feel that the gameplay lacks depth and cohesion, often reducing the experience to simply enjoying the aesthetics. Overall, the visuals are a standout feature, drawing players in with their creativity and emotional impact, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics.

    • “Amanita design has an incredibly unique and wonderful art style.”
    • “The visuals are why you buy this game; this art style is very unique and makes every puzzle horribly demented.”
    • “The art style is amazing, the game works really well and I haven't encountered a single bug within my hours of playtime and multiple playthroughs.”
    • “The visuals in this game can only be described as nightmarish, luckily for this game's plot and theming.”
    • “What drew me to play this game were the visuals, which looked very unique and interesting, but after playing until the end, I have to say that's all the game has to offer.”
    • “While the game is definitely weird and uncomfortable like many of their other titles, this one feels a bit amateurish in terms of puzzles and artwork.”
  • story97 mentions

    The game's story is often described as minimal and abstract, lacking substantial dialogue or clear narrative structure, which leaves players feeling confused or unsatisfied. While some appreciate the cryptic and symbolic elements that invite interpretation, others criticize the lack of a coherent plot, making the experience feel more like a series of unsettling visuals than a meaningful story. Overall, the storytelling is seen as a mixed bag, with beautiful art and atmosphere overshadowed by a sense of aimlessness and a lack of resolution.

    • “Plus, it's just interesting to see Amanita's vibrant animism turned on its head so everything is buzzing with malevolent energy like in a Thomas Ligotti story!”
    • “The storytelling and puzzle design is top notch; I really love when a game can communicate so much without saying a word.”
    • “A whacky story, told in a gorgeous art style with a great and atmospheric sound design.”
    • “There's not too much of a story to this as there is zero dialogue and no instructions or tips on what to do.”
    • “After a few levels, I started to feel like the game was going nowhere, mainly because there was no story told, and there was not any reason for the things that were shown.”
    • “The lack of any sort of substantial storyline also meant that the frequent long, unplayable scenes I was forced to watch were incredibly boring and uninteresting.”
  • gameplay79 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and lacking depth, primarily revolving around point-and-click mechanics that often feel unresponsive and frustrating. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised for their unique and artistic qualities, the gameplay itself is described as simplistic and sometimes boring, with puzzles that lack challenge and engagement. Overall, players recommend approaching the game with tempered expectations regarding gameplay, suggesting it may appeal more to those interested in its aesthetic rather than its interactive elements.

    • “The gameplay revolves more around finding the right triggers and interacting with toys and objects.”
    • “Gameplay is entertaining and very physical; it's nice to interact with objects and solve the puzzles.”
    • “The main mechanic of using your cursor to pull on objects was done quite well, so there's never a boring moment.”
    • “Game isn't fun, mechanics are simply dull and non-responsive, waiting between 10-20 seconds every time you click or hit a key to have a 'guess what you should be doing next' in non-logical puzzles is frustrating and stressful.”
    • “The gameplay elements are so underwhelming that it could easily have been a cool short animation movie, not a video game.”
    • “The puzzles are basic & the drag mechanic is so broken & clanky that I was stuck multiple times at the beginning just because it wouldn't grab something when I tried the first time.”
  • music69 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising its blend of cute and unsettling elements. The collaboration with the artist dva is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to a haunting and immersive experience that complements the game's visuals and puzzles. While some found the soundtrack memorable and captivating, a few noted that it could become repetitive over time, yet overall, the audio design is considered a significant strength of the game.

    • “The music definitely matches the mood of the game, very good stuff.”
    • “Dva’s soundtrack is perhaps the most impressive part because the duo proves it can craft creepy, atmospheric music.”
    • “The art and music is just amazing, which is clearly what stands out about this game.”
    • “The soundtrack can be cute and then unnerving.”
    • “I didn't hate it (unlike in the previous games which dva provided the OST to, where it got on my nerves extremely quickly), but it was one of the most unmemorable experiences of game soundtracks for me.”
    • “There isn't much music itself in this game, but there's one melody which repeats throughout the game a few times (it's also in the trailer for this game).”
  • atmosphere32 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of creepy and whimsical elements, enhanced by a striking art style and an impressive soundtrack that contributes to a dark, oppressive mood. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design and visuals to create an unsettling yet engaging experience, although some note that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall immersion. Overall, the game successfully captures a distinctive atmosphere that resonates with players, making it a standout in the horror genre.

    • “What really makes this game stand out is the atmosphere of its visuals and music, and the dark ways in which the game asks you to go about solving its puzzles.”
    • “Starting with the good, the atmosphere is on point; you have these creepy vibes mixed with a warm/calm feeling, the aesthetic is creepy as you would expect, and the sound design is great.”
    • “A lot of people talking about how good the art style is, but all I see is the same good old Amanita visuals wasted on a creepy horror atmosphere.”
    • “The game is permeated with a dark oppressive atmosphere.”
    • “It has gore, flashy lights, and an eerie atmosphere, but it lacks that little something that usually makes me uneasy about what comes next.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a delightful blend of absurdity and dark comedy, often juxtaposing lighthearted moments with creepy visuals and themes. While some players felt that the humor could have been more pronounced, many appreciated the clever and unexpected comedic elements, such as the absurdity of certain scenarios and the unintentionally hilarious commentary. Overall, the game successfully balances its eerie atmosphere with moments of laughter, making for a unique and entertaining experience.

    • “What a delightful little game, great aesthetic and funny!”
    • “Plus, the football commentary part is unintentionally hilarious and one of the funniest parts of a game I've played in years.”
    • “You constantly go from an apparently idyllic, calm world - a happy game - to the terrifying, impetuous and psychedelic reality of the nightmare, with touches of humor that are sometimes cruel and absurd.”
  • emotional12 mentions

    The emotional aspect of Amanita games is characterized by a blend of wholesomeness and unexpected depth, evoking a wide range of feelings from happiness to overwhelming distress. Players appreciate the unique art styles and music, which enhance the emotional experience, while some express surprise at the darker themes that contrast with the typically cute and whimsical nature of the games. Overall, these games elicit strong emotional responses, making them memorable and impactful.

    • “This game made me feel a surprising amount of feelings.”
    • “It's creepy, emotional, overwhelming at times, and the puzzles are fantastic.”
    • “The overall experience is more akin to being an inattentive parent flipping through their emotionally distressed child's sketchbook.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered quite low, with many players noting that once the puzzles and interactions are completed, there is little incentive to play again. While some mention the potential for achievement hunting, the short playtime and simplicity of the gameplay contribute to a lack of substantial replay value. Players generally agree that the experience is enjoyable but does not warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “In my opinion, this game is for sure worth full price because you can definitely play this game through a couple of times; it has a little bit of replayability.”
    • “The game started strong, but the last section was kind of 'meh'. No real replayability other than to collect a few achievements (it's easy to 100% this game if that's what you're after).”
    • “Replay value - you'll know how to get through all of the puzzles and interactions, so yes and no.”
    • “However, there isn't much replay value.”
    • “It's a good length for what it is and doesn't outstay its welcome, but don't expect it to be heavily replayable.”
    • “The game is all done in just 2 hours, most of which you spend just dragging your character to move forward, with obviously no replayability, so that's also a shame.”
  • grinding9 mentions

    Reviews consistently highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and frustrating, with many players feeling that the slow and unresponsive controls exacerbate the monotony. The repetitive mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of boredom and a desire for a more engaging gameplay loop.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “There's good ambience/atmosphere which is unfortunately marred by a lot of tedious mechanics.”
    • “When you add in controls that feel very slow and unresponsive, the gameplay gets tedious pretty fast.”
    • “From the point of view as a point-and-click adventure, it got rather boring and tedious extremely quickly, and the true horror was dragging the little whiny nitwit around while thinking 'are we there yet?'”
  • stability1 mentions

    While the game features impressive graphics and a strong aesthetic appeal, players have reported occasional glitches that affect overall stability.

    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a superb aesthetic, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
    • “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay, making it hard to enjoy the game.”
    • “The frame rate drops significantly during intense moments, which really affects the overall experience.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development received mixed feedback, with some users finding the design and color unappealing, and feeling that the puzzles and story did not compensate for this dissatisfaction.

    • “The character design and color were not for me, and the puzzles and story didn't really save it for me.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has been criticized for its poor execution, with players reporting distracting visual inconsistencies such as black bars and missing elements, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “It's like watching a theater performance with the backstage visible past the curtains, but worse, because you see rendered game, then black bars, then more rendered game with occasional missing elements and artifacts.”
    • “The optimization is so poor that it feels like the game is constantly struggling to keep up, leading to frustrating stutters and frame drops.”
    • “I can't believe how many graphical glitches and performance issues there are; it completely ruins the immersion and enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
2hMain story
3hCompletionist
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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