Happy Game
{{Short description|2021 video game}}
{{More plot|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Happy Game
| image = Happy Game Poster.jpg
| developer = Amanita Design
| publisher = Amanita Design
| designer = Jaromír Plachý
| composer = DVA
| engine = Unity
| platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|macOS|Nintendo Switch|iOS|Android}}
| release = {{collapsible list|title = {{nobold|October 28, 2021}}| Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
October 28, 2021
iOS, Android
February 2, 2023}}
| genre = Graphic adventure game
| modes = Single-player
}}
Happy Game is a point-and-click adventure video game developed and published by Amanita Design. The game was first released on October 28, 2021{{Cite web|title=Happy Game on Steam|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206060/Happy_Game/|access-date=2021-10-26|website=store.steampowered.com|language=en|archive-date=2021-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028204532/https://store.steampowered.com/app/1206060/Happy_Game/|url-status=live}} for Microsoft Windows and macOS via Steam and Nintendo Switch. It was then later released for iOS and Android on February 2, 2023.
Gameplay
Happy Game is a point and click adventure game reminiscent of previous titles by Amanita Design but much darker. The Player has to get through three worlds while solving various puzzles on their way.{{cite web |title= Amanita Design announces horror adventure game Happy Game for Switch, PC |url= https://www.gematsu.com/2020/12/amanita-design-announces-horror-adventure-game-happy-game-for-switch-pc |website= Gematsu |access-date= 15 December 2020 |date= 8 April 2024 |last= Romano |first= Sal |archive-date= 15 December 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201215233310/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/12/amanita-design-announces-horror-adventure-game-happy-game-for-switch-pc |url-status= live }} The Player also comes across various creatures that can kill them and often has to perform actions quickly to not be killed.{{cite web |title=Noční můra od Amanita Design. České studio chystá novou hru Happy Game, která vás vtáhne do světa hororu |url=https://www.czechcrunch.cz/2020/12/nocni-mura-od-amanity-ceske-herni-studio-vydava-novy-titul-happy-game-ktery-vas-vtahne-do-sveta-hororu/ |website=CzechCrunch |access-date=17 December 2020 |language=cs |date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=16 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216143842/https://www.czechcrunch.cz/2020/12/nocni-mura-od-amanity-ceske-herni-studio-vydava-novy-titul-happy-game-ktery-vas-vtahne-do-sveta-hororu/ |url-status=live }}
Plot
A young boy falls asleep to a horrible nightmare. He must go through three horrible nightmares to become happy once again. Throughout these nightmares, the player sees flashbacks from the boy's past.
Development
Happy Game was mentioned as an upcoming project of Amanita Design in an interview by Lukáš Kunce in March 2018.{{cite magazine |last1=Davenport |first1=James |title=Machinarium studio Amanita Design on its new horror game, PUBG, and cardboard |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/machinarium-studio-amanita-design-on-its-new-horror-game-pubg-and-cardboard/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=15 December 2020 |date=21 March 2018 |archive-date=22 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922104310/https://www.pcgamer.com/machinarium-studio-amanita-design-on-its-new-horror-game-pubg-and-cardboard/ |url-status=live }} Kunce stated it will be similar to Botanicula and Chuchel but darker. Happy Game was in development for 7 years. The game is designed by Jaromír Plachý, creator of Botanicula and Chuchel, while the soundtrack is composed by the band DVA.{{cite web |title=Machinarium creators Amanita Design are making a horror game |url=https://eu.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/1855327/boards/gaming-news/News/machinarium-creators-amanita-design-are-making-a-horror-game |website=North America |access-date=15 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=6 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211106035156/https://eu.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/1855327/boards/gaming-news/News/machinarium-creators-amanita-design-are-making-a-horror-game |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Amanita Design pracují po Chuchlu na dalších čtyřech hrách |url=https://games.tiscali.cz/novinky/amanita-design-pracuji-po-chuchlu-na-dalsich-ctyrech-hrach-310826 |website=games.tiscali.cz |access-date=15 December 2020 |language=cs |archive-date=27 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927102418/https://games.tiscali.cz/novinky/amanita-design-pracuji-po-chuchlu-na-dalsich-ctyrech-hrach-310826 |url-status=live }} The game was officially announced on December 15, 2020 during a Nintendo Indie World presentation{{cite web |title=Přežijete tři noční můry? Česká Amanita odhalila horor Happy Game |url=https://www.idnes.cz/hry/novinky/happy-game-amanita.A201216_084846_bw-novinky_oz |website=iDNES.cz |access-date=16 December 2020 |date=16 December 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120191700/https://www.idnes.cz/hry/novinky/happy-game-amanita.A201216_084846_bw-novinky_oz |url-status=live }} and it was scheduled to release in Fall 2021.{{cite web |title=Amanita Design announces horror adventure game Happy Game for Switch, PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/12/amanita-design-announces-horror-adventure-game-happy-game-for-switch-pc |website=Gematsu |access-date=15 December 2020 |date=15 December 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215233310/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/12/amanita-design-announces-horror-adventure-game-happy-game-for-switch-pc |url-status=live }} A demo version of the game was released on February 3, 2021 during the Steam Game Festival.{{cite magazine |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=Steam Game Festival goes live with more than 500 free demos, plus developer chats and livestreams |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-game-festival-february-2021/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=4 February 2021 |date=3 February 2021}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = (PC) 81/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/happy-game/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Happy Game for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |accessdate=March 18, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250516165539/https://www.metacritic.com/game/happy-game/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |url-status=live }}
| OC = 74/100{{cite web |title=Happy Game Reviews |url=https://opencritic.com/game/12236/happy-game |website=OpenCritic |access-date=2025-05-16 |archive-date=2025-05-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250516170001/https://opencritic.com/game/12236/happy-game |url-status=live }}
54% Critics Recommend
| AdvGamers = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web |last1=Aickman |first1=Will |title=Review for Happy Game |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/happy-game |website=Adventure Gamers |date=12 November 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022}}
| SN = 7/10{{cite web |last1=Mejia |first1=Ozzie |title=Happy Game review: Nightmare fuel |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/127357/happy-game-review-nightmare-fuel |website=Shacknews |date=27 October 2021 |access-date=2 January 2022}}
}}
Happy Game received generally favorable reviews for PC, according to review aggregator Metacritic.
Review outlets praised the title's art style, score, sound design, and themes, and criticized the unengaging puzzles and clumsy controls.
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References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://amanita-design.net/games/happy.html}}
{{Amanita Design}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
Category:2020s horror video games
Category:Android (operating system) games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:Point-and-click adventure games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about nightmares
Category:Video games developed in the Czech Republic
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