Helpless

About

In the heat of deserted lands, a child and their mother weakened by sickness try to survive a harsh world. Through a kid’s perspective, take action and explore the remains of a lost past. Protect yourself from the sun’s immense intensity and help your family get back on the road.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 113 reviews

story27 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The game features an interesting story set in a post-apocalyptic world, focusing on the relationship between a mother and her son.
The graphics and atmosphere are visually appealing, creating a captivating environment for exploration.
It's a free game that offers a short but engaging experience, making it accessible for casual players.

The controls are clunky and difficult to manage, which can hinder the overall gameplay experience.
There are several bugs and glitches, including issues with the camera and movement that can disrupt gameplay.
The story is vague and lacks depth, leaving players wanting more context and character development.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging and heartfelt narrative set in a post-apocalyptic world, focusing on the relationship between a mother and her son. While some find the story to be simple or vague, others enjoy its emotional depth and environmental storytelling, expressing a desire for a more fleshed-out version. Overall, it is described as a short, atmospheric experience that resonates with players looking for a casual, narrative-driven game.
- “I really enjoy these short indie post-apocalyptic games with such strong environmental storytelling.”
- “Alight then, the story is really good. I love the coming-of-age tale in a post-apocalyptic world as you see this boy trying to prove to his mom that he’s not helpless. There's also some good visual storytelling as you wander through this destroyed city, seeing the remnants of abandoned survivor camps, especially in chapter 3 with graffiti depicting some sort of attack by a monster.”
- “A fun short game with an interesting world and a heartfelt story.”
- “The story of the game is incredibly vague, so much so, that it becomes bland and boring.”
- “I'm also just not a fan of the storyline in general, it's kind of like a coming of age story where a mother learns to lean on her son for support, instead of only protecting him, but it's all just delivered so badly.”
- “I wish there was more to the story, and I would love to play a fully fleshed out, several hours-long version.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with a unique mechanic of avoiding the sun by moving between shadows, which adds a layer of challenge. While some players appreciate the cute aesthetics and peaceful experience, others criticize the fixed camera, vague story, and clunky controls, suggesting that the game feels dated and could benefit from more depth and challenge. Overall, it offers a brief but enjoyable experience, though many players desire a longer narrative and improved mechanics.
- “The gameplay is good; it's pretty simple, basically a walking simulator, but the only difference is that the sun is extremely dangerous and you have to hide in the shadows. It's an interesting concept.”
- “The main challenge, unless you're in easy mode, is the sun; it's hot enough to fry you dead in seconds if you fail to stick to the shadows, which is where the majority of gameplay challenge comes from.”
- “Really smooth and peaceful gameplay!”
- “Less than 1.5 hours of gameplay; things are not explained. I would like to know what happened to the dad, mom, where they are going, etc.”
- “The first time I played this game, I couldn't finish it: the fixed camera is weird and makes it hard to see where you can move next, the cutscenes drag on forever, the story is too vague, the gameplay can feel clunky, and having to play through this game twice for two achievements sucks.”
- “The clunky gameplay, graphics, and feel are like something straight out of the late 90s' crappiest third-person games.”
graphics
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
23%
18%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the vibrant colors, unique art style, and atmospheric detail, while others criticize the performance issues and simplistic designs reminiscent of older games. Some players find the visuals engaging and beautiful, contributing positively to the overall experience, while others note that the graphics can be demanding on hardware despite not being particularly complex. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a strong point for its atmosphere, though performance concerns may detract from the experience for some users.
- “The graphics are very nice with plenty of bright colors and nice detail despite taking place in a deserty environment; sometimes you just want to stop and stare at some of it.”
- “The art style is really beautiful.”
- “Clean, beautiful graphics.”
- “The clunky gameplay, graphics, and feel are like something straight out of the late 90s, reminiscent of the crappiest third-person games.”
- “I found the game consuming so much of my GPU that I had to turn the graphics down, and even then, it still used a minimum of 70%, which makes no sense for a game of this size.”
- “It's an okay game, not really much to it - not sure why it stressed my GPU so much though; the graphics are nothing that special.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
26%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the somber and atmospheric experience, with many users highlighting the gentle soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Reviewers appreciate the laid-back vibe and the seamless integration of sound effects, noting that the music is both enjoyable and fitting for the game's emotional tone. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersion.
- “The music was quite good; it has some nice tracks and helps to sell the somber moody atmosphere of the game.”
- “A pretty laid-back chill game, and the composers did well in matching the vibe of the music to that of the gameplay.”
- “The game art style is really nice and the soundtrack is pretty good as well, and fits like a glove on the game's melancholic atmosphere.”
- “The melancholic music accompanying drives that feeling forward.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its somber and spooky qualities, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and appealing art style. Players appreciate the post-apocalyptic setting and the emotional depth of the story, which together create an immersive experience. Overall, the combination of simple graphics, evocative music, and engaging writing contributes to a captivating and atmospheric gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere is very good, nice and somber and a little bit spooky when you’re first playing it, like in the store level with the mannequins.”
- “The music was quite good; it has some nice tracks and helps to sell the somber, moody atmosphere of the game.”
- “The game art style is really nice and the soundtrack is pretty good as well, and fits like a glove on the game's melancholic atmosphere.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartfelt and touching narrative, often evoking strong feelings such as sadness and warmth. Players appreciate the short yet impactful story, complemented by atmospheric gameplay and music, making it a wholesome experience that can uplift one's mood. Overall, it is described as a cozy and engaging journey that resonates deeply with players.
- “If you like atmospheric walking simulators with great music, achievements, and a short-but-heartwarming storyline, you'll enjoy playing this game.”
- “Very touching story and chill gameplay recommended (you can get all achievements in 1-2 hours max).”
- “The story line made me cry!”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers express a desire for deeper character development and a more expansive storyline, noting that while the minimalist character design is appealing, the overall narrative feels too brief. Additionally, there is a call for increased interaction options, particularly with the dog character, to enhance the experience.
- “I enjoyed the minimalist style for the character design, and the storyline was cute, albeit a little short for my liking.”
- “I would love to see a full version of this game, especially with the storyline and character development expanded upon, as well as more interaction options with the dog.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have reported a significant stability issue early in the game, specifically a glitch that occurs when approaching a ladder, which can render the character immobile and disrupt gameplay.
- “There's a bug very early on in the game where if I get close to a ladder by the side of a building, the game glitches and I can't move the character anymore.”