One of the great things about games in the indie space, is that they’ve opened the doors to new ways for titles to find success. By generally having lower price points, games don’t have to be so strictly tied to traditional expectations and can do things like truly lead with story elements, with everything else working to be the vehicle for the narrative being a success, even if those mechanics that help out aren’t quite up to the same standard.

For me, that’s the category Farewell North falls into, delivering an earnest and quite touching story that’s delivered pretty well completely through visuals. You’ll control a dog who is on a journey with its owner, generally working to help clear paths and aid them on their way. Symbolically, as you work out solutions and make discoveries, the bleak grays of the landscape will be infused in color, often making for satisfying reveals as the landscapes around you come to life.

The problems I had, unfortunately, tied to some of the frustrations and obstacles to fully realizing the game’s story. Whether due to pretty wonky controls, like when you try to move from island to island on the water (I would absolutely recommend going into the settings and changing to the simple boat controls), or puzzles where you understand the solution, but the finicky nature of the game recognizing you being in precisely the right spot, not everything is as polished as it could or should be. Whether or not those issues stand in the way of your ultimate enjoyment, and whether you follow it to its heartfelt conclusion, I would imagine will be up to you and what you’re looking for. While its implementation may not always be ideal, it’s still a very different and enriching experience to take in.