Harold Halibut

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 431 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Harold Halibut Game Cover
A gorgeously hand-crafted adventure about escaping mundanity by taking chances.
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In Harold Halibut, you play as a lab assistant on a spaceship that has been submerged in an alien ocean for 250 years. While most of the ship's inhabitants have accepted their life aboard the ship, you help the lead scientist, Jeanne Mareaux, in her quest to find a way to leave the planet and find a new home for humanity. The game features unique stop-motion aesthetics and allows you to explore a diverse and vibrant retro-future world. Join Harold as he navigates the challenges of life on the FEDORA I and uncovers the true meaning of "home."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 431 reviews
story139 positive mentions
optimization4 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and unique stop-motion art style that creates an immersive experience.
  • Engaging and heartfelt story that explores themes of connection, purpose, and self-discovery.
  • Charming characters with distinct personalities that players can grow attached to throughout the game.
  • Gameplay primarily consists of slow-paced walking and repetitive fetch quests, which may bore some players.
  • Limited interactivity and lack of meaningful choices can make the experience feel more like a movie than a game.
  • Some technical issues, such as long loading times and occasional glitches, detract from the overall experience.
  • story366 mentions

    The story of *Harold Halibut* is widely praised for its unique, heartfelt narrative and stunning stop-motion visuals, creating an immersive experience that resonates emotionally with players. While some find the pacing slow and the gameplay minimal, many appreciate the depth of character development and the thoughtful exploration of themes such as connection and self-discovery. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven games, despite its more cinematic approach that may feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game.

    • “Considering it is entirely handmade and animated from clay, the visuals, the evocative nature of each character, and the storytelling is so immersive, genuine, human, and whole.”
    • “The story highlights the 'human experience' in a relevant, relatable, and non-pretentious way while still managing to add a few twists here and there.”
    • “Harold Halibut is a unique story-driven game; and if the premise interests you, the story will not be disappointing.”
    • “The story is very slow-paced with a lot of cut scenes, and that will kill the game for some people.”
    • “Harold Halibut manages to make me frustrated with the writing at every single turn, and the worst part is that a lot of the story arcs were really close to being good but they either face plant the landing, or it's executed so poorly that it turns into a half hour of going back and forth for a quest, with the reveal of the conclusion being not a big deal.”
    • “The dialogue is boring, the gameplay is boring, and the story is boring.”
  • graphics150 mentions

    The graphics of "Harold Halibut" are widely praised for their stunning claymation art style and meticulous attention to detail, creating an immersive and visually captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the unique stop-motion aesthetic, which enhances the storytelling and atmosphere, making it a feast for the eyes. However, some players feel that while the visuals are exceptional, they do not compensate for the game's slower pacing and lack of engaging gameplay elements.

    • “The visuals and character designs are meticulously crafted, creating an immersive world.”
    • “The claymation art style and graphical fidelity combine for a really unique and awesome looking game, the writing and voice acting are great, and the setting is interesting and different!”
    • “The stop motion art style is exceptionally unique and well made.”
    • “Completely unplayable unless you have a dedicated graphics card.”
    • “Even the visuals leave a lot to be desired.”
    • “The graphics and tech level was pretty clunky polygonal but really failed at the cartoony style everything was in.”
  • gameplay116 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has been widely criticized for its slow pace and lack of engaging mechanics, often described as a walking simulator with minimal interaction, primarily consisting of fetch quests and dialogue. While some players appreciate the artistic visuals and narrative depth, many feel that the gameplay is tedious and repetitive, lacking the complexity and excitement typically expected from a video game. Overall, it seems that the game prioritizes storytelling and atmosphere over traditional gameplay elements, which may not appeal to those seeking a more interactive experience.

    • “Amazing quality and gameplay!”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's a nice mix of exploring, solving puzzles, and chatting with folks.”
    • “I can see the team's effort and love throughout the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay feels slow and lacks the engaging elements I hoped for in a point-and-click adventure.”
    • “The gameplay is so unfortunate.”
    • “There is no engaging gameplay at all, and after a while, you just wonder why this was made into a video game in the first place.”
  • music75 mentions

    The music in "Harold Halibut" has been widely praised for its captivating and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the game's unique stop-motion art style and emotional storytelling. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with well-chosen tracks that complement the visuals and immerse players in the game's world. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in music, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional depth.

    • “Harold Halibut is a delightful game with its unique stop-motion art style and captivating soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing you deeper into the story.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the animation is jaw-dropping, and for the most part, it truly feels as though you are in the fedora alongside Harold.”
    • “There's a severe lack of music and sound effects that makes this very, very slow-paced game even more grueling.”
    • “I only recall one in-game music track, and it was a whistling tune that sounded like I was in a western about to go to a showdown; it was very confusing.”
    • “The music is fine with a bit of a nod to Philip Glass, though it still feels like a half-effort in comparison to the visuals for me.”
  • emotional46 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Harold Halibut" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, charming visuals, and engaging characters that foster a deep connection with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, particularly through its touching narrative and meaningful dialogues. While some note pacing issues, the overall consensus is that the game offers a unique, wholesome experience that resonates on a personal level, making it a standout in emotional gaming.

    • “Harold Halibut is a wholesome experience, a beautiful game, and a touching story.”
    • “The writing is top-notch, and the dialogues with your in-game friend are so heartfelt and therapeutic; they genuinely resonated with me on a personal level.”
    • “The back half of this game is so full of beautiful, emotionally impactful, and surreally affecting moments it has become an instant classic for me.”
    • “My game crashed after 2 1/2 hours of a boring story, boring dialogue, and boring gameplay.”
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in "Harold Halibut" is characterized by clever, situational comedy and expressive characters, often blending dry wit with emotional storytelling. While many players appreciate the charming and quirky dialogue, some find the humor can become repetitive or inconsistent, with a mix of intentional and unintentional funny moments. Overall, the game offers a unique blend of humor that appeals to those who enjoy a narrative-driven experience with a whimsical touch.

    • “Harold Halibut rewards players who take it extra slow with humorous, clever, and sweet details in every moment.”
    • “The storytelling is well done, and the characters have a specific sense of humor that makes every twist pretty funny to witness.”
    • “The interplay of the characters was consistently sweet and funny, all while having a cynical edge regarding bureaucracy's hold over people.”
    • “The humor is not funny; the subjects and themes attempted are far over a kid's head, yet the atmosphere and dialogue are cartoon-like.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, lacking the cleverness needed to engage players.”
    • “The attempts at humor seem out of place and fail to resonate, making the experience feel awkward rather than entertaining.”
  • atmosphere20 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique claymation visuals, immersive soundtrack, and tranquil, slow-paced storytelling that invites relaxation and exploration. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail in the art and sound design, creating a warm and heartfelt experience that enhances the overall narrative. While some find the gameplay less engaging, the rich atmosphere and character interactions are noted as the game's standout features, making it a compelling choice for those seeking an atmospheric adventure.

    • “Its unique claymation visuals, delightful mini-games, and tranquil atmosphere make it the perfect choice for those seeking something warm, heartfelt, and unhurried.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, enhancing the overall atmosphere and drawing you deeper into the story.”
    • “You can tell there was love and care put into this game because the artwork, soundtrack, and overall atmosphere were phenomenal.”
    • “Once I had my fill of atmosphere, which did not take long, I came back once more hoping against hope that the game would pick up.”
    • “The humor is not funny, the subjects and themes attempted are far over a kid's head, yet the atmosphere and dialogue are kids' cartoon-like.”
    • “So they found an intermediate solution that still achieved very high visual quality, accompanied by a soundtrack of original and other licensed songs of the highest quality, contributing distinctly to the atmosphere.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly for poor performance on various devices, especially Nvidia graphics cards, leading to janky transitions and stuttering issues even on high-end hardware. While some users noted that the visuals and voice acting were impressive, the overall gameplay experience is hampered by these performance problems, suggesting that future patches may be necessary to improve the situation.

    • “Needs some tweaking for Steam Deck performance, but overall it was a good game.”
    • “The game is not without its issues though, primarily in the realms of design and performance.”
    • “Performance is a more obvious issue: the things on screen may not move quickly, but they are detailed.”
    • “Performance is terrible on a lot of devices (especially NVIDIA).”
    • “The performance (especially if you don't have a controller or a very good PC) is not the best, and this game is pretty much a movie with some optional side storylines, meaning there is very little gameplay/reward for playing.”
    • “It currently suffers from bad stuttering issues, even on high-end hardware.”
  • grinding13 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely regarded as tedious, with many players noting the repetitive nature of tasks and slow pacing, particularly during fetch quests and exploration. While some appreciate the relaxing, quirky charm and find satisfaction in completing the to-do list, others feel that the gameplay can become excessively monotonous and lacking in substance, especially given the game's price point. Overall, the experience may appeal to fans of walking sims and unique art styles, but it risks alienating those who prefer more dynamic gameplay.

    • “As some others have said, the game is quite tedious with a lot of running back and forth to complete tasks or talk to people, which can be pretty lengthy if you add it all up.”
    • “The gameplay is dreadfully slow and tedious.”
    • “$35 for this is actually kind of insane considering how little there is to do, and what is here is extremely tedious and repetitive.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is praised for its meticulous design and integration with the immersive world, showcasing high-quality visuals, sound, and animation. While the character designs and side stories are well-crafted, some reviewers noted a lack of connections to past plot points, suggesting that the depth of character development may not resonate with all players. Overall, the game's artistic elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout experience.

    • “The animation is as beautiful as the character development.”
    • “The richness of the environment along with the beautiful soundscapes and character design that is reminiscent of 60's Eastern European animation art houses make this a delight to play.”
    • “None of it made any connections to past plot points or character development.”
    • “The visual style is, of course, its big standout, but it's remarkable in pretty much all other aspects as well - voice acting; writing; story; music; sound design; animation; character design; etc. it isn't an especially 'gamey' game, and (afaik) your experience won't be much different from the experience of others, so if any of this bothers you then you might want to avoid it, but that's the only warning I'd provide.”
    • “The devs and artists at Slow Bros truly hit the nail on the head with the world building and character development that instantly made me a fan of the studio.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent clipping, animation glitches, and dialogue interruptions, leading to a frustrating experience that often requires reloading. Overall, it remains quite buggy and in need of further polish.

    • “Plenty of clipping, weird leg positions, animation glitches, and dialogue getting stuck.”
    • “It's still quite buggy, and there were many instances where I had to reload the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Users appreciate the inclusion of small TV ads as a monetization strategy, suggesting that it is a non-intrusive way to generate revenue while maintaining player engagement.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

Buy Harold Halibut

Play time

15hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
7-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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