Helianthus

About

Helianthus is a single player open world action adventure game with a kids theme. It was developed by Kyle Banks and was released on August 16, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Restore color to the desolate islands of Farewell North, an atmospheric journey where you play as a border collie on an adventure with your human. Explore land and sea, uncover hidden paths and free wildlife to bring color back to her world, while revealing an emotional story about saying farewell.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+18

Skip User Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 542 reviews

story220 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

Farewell North offers a beautifully crafted, emotional journey that explores themes of loss, grief, and companionship, resonating deeply with players.
The game's visuals and soundtrack are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling experience.
Players appreciate the unique perspective of playing as a dog, which adds charm and relatability to the narrative.

Some players found the controls to be clunky and the puzzles overly simplistic, which detracted from the overall gameplay experience.
The lack of direction after the tutorial can lead to confusion and disorientation, making navigation challenging for some players.
A few technical issues, such as bugs and glitches, were reported, which affected the smoothness of gameplay.

story
472 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The story of "Farewell North" is a deeply emotional and intimate journey that explores themes of loss, grief, and companionship, primarily through the perspective of a dog. Players are taken on a beautifully crafted adventure across various islands, where the narrative is enhanced by stunning visuals and a poignant soundtrack, often evoking strong emotional responses. While some found the gameplay straightforward, the storytelling and character development were widely praised, making it a memorable experience that resonates with many players.
- “Farewell North is a beautifully designed game with a beautiful, touching story that is guaranteed to touch the heart.”
- “The story is gut-punching in the best possible way, and seeing everything through the eyes of the dog just makes those hard-hitting moments more potent.”
- “I love story games that can make me cry, and Farewell North had me in tears basically from beginning to end - it's really clear that the developers cared a lot about this project and absolutely poured everything they had into it, with stellar results.”
- “After playing for only half an hour, I really couldn't get into the story. I followed this game's journey of being made on TikTok and was really looking forward to being able to play this, but I would always get lost without a map. I wasn't a fan of the black and white look; not sure if the black and white is because I'm a dog, but honestly, dogs don't see in black and white, it's a myth.”
- “My only disappointment with the game (and again, I only got to play like 2 hours) was that the story seemed pretty basic/heavy-handed.”
- “Maybe there's more depth as you go, but the puzzles and story seemed pretty surface-level when I played.”
emotional
236 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, often leading to tears. The narrative, centered around themes of grief, companionship, and nostalgia, resonates strongly with players, particularly those who have experienced loss, making it a heartfelt journey that many describe as both healing and beautifully crafted. The combination of touching storytelling, evocative music, and stunning visuals creates an immersive experience that leaves a lasting emotional impression.
- “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
220 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful composition, featuring traditional Gaelic influences that enhance the storytelling and atmosphere. Players find the soundtrack both soothing and evocative, often describing it as a key element that elevates the overall experience, making it memorable and impactful. The combination of stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful score creates a deeply immersive environment that resonates with themes of grief and connection.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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
138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
55%
6%
The gameplay is a blend of puzzle-solving, platforming, and adventure elements, offering a relaxing experience with a focus on exploration and emotional storytelling. While some mechanics, like canoeing, can feel clunky and certain areas may feel overly expansive, the overall design is engaging and visually stunning, enhancing the narrative. Players can expect around 8-12 hours of gameplay, with a mix of light puzzles and interactive elements that keep the experience enjoyable, though some may find it lacks challenge.
- “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.”
- “The gameplay is simple and relaxing, the story is beautiful and impactful while the visuals and music just set the scene perfectly.”
- “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 nearly perfect, but the janky movements, camera issues, and restrictive mechanics made it really not fun to actually play.”
graphics
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
26%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and artistic detail, which significantly enhance the emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the beautiful art style, vibrant color palettes, and the seamless integration of visuals with the soundtrack, creating an immersive experience. While some minor graphical issues were noted, the overall aesthetic and atmosphere were described as breathtaking and evocative, contributing to a deeply moving gameplay experience.
- “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!”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
24%
8%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, effectively capturing themes of grief and loss through stunning visuals, engaging music, and heartfelt storytelling. Players appreciate the colorful graphics and the way the environment enhances the narrative, creating a rich and immersive experience. While some sections may feel drawn out, the overall ambiance is described as thick, lazy, and endearing, making it a memorable journey that resonates deeply with players.
- “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.”
- “The art style is simpler but perfect so it doesn't take you away from focusing on the story; you can feel the time and effort put into sound, character movement, and overall atmosphere.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback; while some players report a smooth experience on platforms like the Steam Deck, others have encountered numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall polish, leading to a perception that it feels unfinished.
- “I am playing on a Steam Deck, and I will say the game runs great.”
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of light-hearted storytelling and amusing scenarios, complemented by interactive gameplay and light puzzles 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.”