How We Got Here

About

How We Got Here is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Euphoric Brothers and was released on May 18, 2021. It received very positive reviews from players.

You wake up on a floating island with no idea how you got there. Find ways to reach new and strange islands and meet other survivors all while uncovering the story of how you all got there.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 191 reviews

story23 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and surreal atmosphere with charming characters and engaging storytelling.
It's free to play, making it an accessible option for those looking for a short and enjoyable gaming experience.
The puzzles are generally fun and satisfying to solve, with a good balance of challenge.

The game suffers from clunky controls and slow movement, which can detract from the overall experience.
There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, especially during replaythroughs.
The story can feel vague and incomplete, leaving players with more questions than answers.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The game's story is described as a surreal and emotionally resonant experience, with players piecing together a personal narrative through environmental cues and dialogue. While many appreciate the intriguing atmosphere and unique storytelling style, some find the plot vague or incomplete, expressing a desire for a more comprehensive narrative. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging storytelling and puzzling elements, though opinions vary on its depth and clarity.
- “Instead, you piece together a deeply personal story through subtle changes in environment, whispered dialogue, and the growing weight of repetition.”
- “A true meaningful masterpiece of a story mixed with beautiful yet simplistic art and good sound design.”
- “Everything in this game feels quite unique; the visuals are really eye-catching and the puzzles are quite fun to solve, with the integration they have with the story development making the game feel very cohesive.”
- “I kind of found the story nebulous and vague enough that it didn't feel fulfilling to me.”
- “You get tidbits throughout, mostly in the form of notes, but there is much to be desired as far as a comprehensive story goes.”
- “I have no idea what the story was, even with the multiple notes lying around.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
46%
11%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist and colorful pixel art style that evokes a surreal atmosphere, though opinions vary on its execution. While some players appreciate the distinct and visually pleasing aesthetics, others criticize certain areas for appearing simplistic or "cheap." Overall, the visuals contribute positively to the game's theme and puzzles, appealing to those who enjoy retro-inspired designs.
- “Visually euphoric, this game has a very distinct art style that is more colorful and features interesting environments compared to other muted games.”
- “This game is truly beautiful; everything from the art style to the music and direction is impressive.”
- “Everything in this game feels quite unique; the visuals are really eye-catching, and the integration with the story development is solid, making the game feel very cohesive.”
- “The graphics are also pretty bad.”
- “In some places the graphics were pretty cheap (especially in the cave).”
- “It's still this very simplistic art style, yet it's a lot more visually distinct, like there's moments where you enter areas like caves that look very visually boring.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by its short, puzzle-based structure that emphasizes emotional engagement through minimal mechanics. While the puzzles are generally enjoyable and logical, the overall pace is slow, with a completion time of 2-4 hours. Players appreciate the combination of a compelling narrative, interesting mechanics, and smooth gameplay, contributing to a sense of replayability.
- “Gameplay is mostly puzzle-based, and the logic within is sensible enough that the game can be 100% completed without a guide.”
- “The story is mysterious enough and the gameplay smooth enough to make a perfect combination of replayability and fondness.”
- “It’s a short, experimental narrative experience that uses minimal mechanics to maximum emotional effect.”
- “The gameplay is simple but effective.”
- “A gameplay that takes 2-4 hours to complete 100%. The majority of the puzzles are good, the story is good, the characters are good, the graphics, the designs, and the vibe that this game conveys are all good.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
9%
27%
The music in the game is generally well-received, providing a fitting and pleasant background that complements the chill atmosphere and enhances the overall experience. However, some players noted issues with volume levels, wishing for a mixer to balance the music and dialogue. While the soundtrack is described as lovely and fitting, it lacks standout tracks that leave a lasting impression.
- “The soundtrack was lovely, and the puzzles were endearingly simple yet clever.”
- “This game is truly beautiful; everything from the art style to the music and direction.”
- “Story and soundtrack are great.”
- “Just wish they had a volume mixer as the music is low volume and the speaking is loud.”
- “The music itself is fine, nothing too impressive, but it does fit the chill tone of the game and definitely provides some nice background noise as you're exploring and solving puzzles.”
- “There's no music.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique art style, calming and bizarre qualities, and engaging audio design, creating a mysterious and immersive experience. However, some players find the story vague and unfulfilling, which detracts from the overall impact despite the enjoyable atmosphere and character moments. Overall, it offers a compelling yet confusing adventure that many find worth exploring for its atmospheric qualities.
- “While being decently short (typically an hour and a half in a blind playthrough), how we got here is short and sweet, with a very slow-paced and calming/bizarre atmosphere.”
- “It's bizarre nature, mellow and chill atmosphere make the story this sort of somber tale that is very fun to play through.”
- “The mysterious atmosphere is brought well with this type of art style and its voices and audio settings.”
- “Although the atmosphere and narrative of the game appear to be interesting and hint at a depth that would make the clunky controls and obtuse puzzles worth the rub, the game ultimately fails to deliver anything substantial beyond a couple of well-written jokes and some compelling character moments.”
- “While being decently short (typically an hour and a half in a blind playthrough), how we got here is short and sweet, with a very slow-paced and calming yet bizarre atmosphere.”
- “The mysterious atmosphere is enhanced by this type of art style and its voices and audio settings.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a powerful emotional experience through its concise narrative, lasting only 30-45 minutes, yet leaving a lasting impact on players. Many reviewers express deep attachment to the characters and a strong emotional response, with some even moved to tears by the storytelling and voice acting. The game's minimal mechanics enhance its emotional depth, showcasing the developers' care and dedication.
- “It’s a short, experimental narrative experience that uses minimal mechanics to maximum emotional effect.”
- “Emotionally resonant storytelling in under an hour.”
- “Very short (~30–45 minutes), but lingers emotionally.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its funny and wacky characters, clever jokes, and a charming art style, contributing to an engaging and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with a deep plot and an emotional ending, making for a memorable storytelling experience. Overall, the game's comedic elements are well-received and enhance its narrative.
- “Deep plot, funny and wacky characters, cute capybara, and a cryable ending.”
- “I found the jokes funny! :p”
- “Nice art style, funny, great story - fabulous!”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find the mysterious story and smooth gameplay create a compelling reason to revisit, others feel it lacks the depth and enjoyment seen in the developers' previous titles.
- “The replayability was also nice.”
- “The story is mysterious enough and the gameplay smooth enough to make a perfect combination of replayability and fondness.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users report that the game experiences occasional bugs, particularly with puzzles, leading to frustrating glitches that may require restarting the game.
- “Puzzles were sometimes buggy, and one time I had to exit out of the game because I glitched out.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it frustrating to progress.”
- “I encountered several stability issues that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users highlight that Clarence exhibits notable character development throughout the game, suggesting a positive evolution in his personality and growth over time.
- “Clarence's character development is truly impressive!”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Players appreciate completely free-to-play games for their lack of in-app purchases, emphasizing that these titles offer a risk-free opportunity to try them without any financial commitment.
- “With most of the completely free-to-play games I've played, I believe it's free, so get it and give it a try... it doesn't cost you anything.”
- “The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content, making it accessible for everyone without mandatory purchases.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money just to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating that essential content is locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
- “The game constantly bombards you with ads and offers, which detracts from the overall experience.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players indicate that grinding in the game can be quite demanding, often requiring additional lives to effectively progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it felt like I made no progress.”