Helianthus

About

Helianthus is a silly little game about an astronaut vacationing on an abandoned planet. With an incoming asteroid strike, it's up to you to grow a massive sunflower by collecting water and sunlight in order to climb back to the safety of your ship. Oh, and don't forget to dodge those asteroids! Helianthus was created in eight days for the Farewell North community Game Jam. Come join the Discor…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews

story110 positive mentions

Farewell North offers a beautifully crafted emotional journey that explores themes of loss, grief, and companionship, making it a deeply personal experience for many players.
The game's visuals and soundtrack are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and evokes strong emotions.
Playing as a border collie adds a unique perspective to the gameplay, allowing players to engage with the world in a charming and heartwarming way.

Some players found the controls to be clunky and the puzzles overly simplistic, which detracted from the overall gameplay experience.
The game lacks a map or clear direction after the tutorial, leading to moments of confusion and disorientation while exploring.
A few sections of the game, particularly the canoeing and herding mechanics, can feel frustrating and may lead to minor technical issues.

story
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The story of "Farewell North" is widely praised for its emotional depth, exploring themes of loss, grief, and companionship through the perspective of a dog. Players appreciate the beautifully crafted narrative that intertwines with stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that often evokes strong emotional responses. While some found the gameplay mechanics simple, the overall storytelling and character development left a lasting impact, making it a memorable journey for many.
- “Farewell North is a beautiful, thematic journey that gives you a character-driven, intimate story exploring themes of loss, grief, and companionship.”
- “The story is emotional and sensitively told, offering a wonderful, gentle, and deeply moving exploration of loss and the companionship between a dog and its owner.”
- “The story, characters, and environment were so very well done and amazing, plus the soundtrack is spectacular, and I can’t praise it enough.”
- “My only disappointment with the game (and again, I only got to play for about 2 hours) was that the story seemed pretty basic and heavy-handed.”
- “Maybe there's more depth as you go, but the puzzles and story seemed pretty surface-level when I played.”
- “The story was very sad but not in a bad way; it handles topics around loss and closure, so be prepared.”
emotional
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Farewell North" is profoundly impactful, with players frequently expressing that the game evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sadness. The heartfelt storytelling, combined with beautiful visuals and a touching soundtrack, creates an immersive experience that resonates with themes of grief, companionship, and nostalgia, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to connect on a personal level, making it a memorable emotional journey that lingers long after completion.
- “This game makes no pretenses - it knows you're in for an emotional journey, and lets you make the decisions about where you go next and how fast you get there.”
- “A stunning and emotional journey through grief, letting go and accepting that things change.”
- “Everything from the story to the soundtrack to the visuals delivers an immersive experience unlike anything else, and it moved me on such a spiritual and emotional level that I was frequently in tears throughout the game.”
music
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its breathtaking beauty and emotional depth, featuring a blend of traditional Celtic influences that enhance the storytelling and atmosphere. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the visuals and gameplay, creating a poignant experience that resonates deeply, often evoking tears. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, significantly contributing to the game's immersive and heartfelt narrative.
- “The soundtrack pulls you in and refuses to let you go; uillean pipes, strings, and woodwinds spin beautiful Gaelic-inspired pieces that accentuate what you're doing.”
- “The music and art create a brilliant atmosphere that makes this an incredible experience that deals with grief and loss.”
- “The music perfectly complements all of the moments in the game, whether large or small.”
- “The music might not have a technically wide variety of songs, but the main motif is well performed and the climactic song is the first game song to make me emotional on repeated listens since the Outer Wilds soundtrack.”
- “While it's certainly not without a few problems, namely the lack of difficulty with the puzzles and the somewhat unpolished controls, its visuals, soundtrack, and story elevate it to a very memorable and enjoyable experience.”
- “I think the only thing I felt was missing is maybe having the theme song performed in Gaelic as a treat during the end game credits.”
gameplay
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The gameplay is a blend of puzzle-solving, platforming, and adventure elements, offering a mix of enjoyable mechanics and exploration in a visually stunning world. While some players found the controls and certain mechanics, like canoeing, a bit clunky, the overall experience is enhanced by a heartfelt narrative and artistic details that resonate emotionally. The game is generally straightforward and relaxing, with a focus on story and exploration, making it appealing for those who appreciate a more leisurely pace.
- “Very enjoyable gameplay and beautiful visuals.”
- “A rare gem where the visual effects are part of the gameplay and even the story; you can take it at your own pace and explore a lively, lush world.”
- “The gameplay is fun, interesting, and unique, and honestly, the gorgeous story and impressive amount of polish on the game allowed me to overlook a few moments of clunky platforming.”
- “Although from a gameplay standpoint, it sometimes was a slog to continue to the next point.”
- “Gameplay: 6.5/10 - I only put this as low since there's one big island you go to for one of the main/side quests, it's far too big to actually enjoy it gameplay wise, & it just left me feeling a little burnt out to the point where I was questioning if I should actually continue, so it would have been nice to have some form of fast travel checkpoints for key points, especially for this big island.”
- “Seriously, if this game was a movie or a novel, it would have been dang near perfect, but the jank movements and camera and restrictive mechanics made it really not fun to actually play.”
graphics
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
23%
5%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic detail, which significantly enhance the emotional storytelling experience. Players appreciate the beautiful art style, vibrant color palettes, and the seamless integration of visuals with the soundtrack, creating an immersive atmosphere that resonates deeply. While some minor graphical issues were noted, the overall aesthetic and emotional impact of the visuals have left a lasting impression on players.
- “The visuals are stunning and created in a way that really enhances the emotion of the story - which had me ugly crying by the end.”
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning and the vistas we're treated to make me want to get out and find these places in real life!”
- “The stunning visuals, beautiful music, playful character interactions, and satisfying mechanics all enhance the overall enjoyment of the story as a whole.”
- “The graphics can be hit and miss for some, I imagine, but the art style works well for the vibe and tone of the game.”
- “The game does, admittedly, have its weak points, mostly graphically it can struggle at times (clipping and getting stuck because of it) plus there are sections where collectibles are spaced pretty far out, but those didn't take away from the heartfelt experience.”
- “Overall, I rate it a 9/10, small minus points for sometimes hard to read environments in the black and white art style.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
16%
16%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively capturing themes of grief and loss through stunning visuals, evocative music, and engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the colorful graphics and atmospheric sound design, which enhance the overall experience and create a strong connection to the narrative. While some sections may feel drawn out, the overall ambiance is described as immersive and heartfelt, making it a memorable journey.
- “The music and art create a brilliant atmosphere that makes this an incredible experience that deals with grief and loss.”
- “The game has a beautiful atmosphere, with the dialogue, music, and events perfectly capturing the bittersweet beauty of grief.”
- “The visuals and music create an amazing atmosphere and the way they tell the story is really interesting and engaging!”
- “Not exactly visually stunning in terms of graphics, but definitely a visual delight in terms of artistic vision and atmosphere.”
- “I personally thoroughly enjoy this way of storytelling and how the environment and atmosphere of the world adds to that story.”
- “On top of the sheer fact that they're letting me play as a dog, I also love the atmosphere and mood of this journey and I don't think I'm going to want to put it down soon.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback; while some players report a smooth experience, particularly on the Steam Deck, others have encountered notable bugs and glitches that detract from the overall polish and feel of a finished product.
- “I am playing on a Steam Deck, and I will say the game runs great.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I've experienced no crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
- “A bit too buggy for my liking; it doesn't feel like a finished product.”
- “The only thing that prevented it from getting a perfect score were a few bugs and glitches I encountered.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging interactive gameplay and light puzzles, complemented by a variety of amusing stories that enhance the overall experience.
- “There is a lot to explore here and a lot of interactive gameplay, some light puzzles, and a few funny stories.”