Few games have ever gotten such divisive reviews as We Happy Few by Compulsion Games did. We're talking about the apparent disconnect between We Happy Few gameplay and story. Something that the vast majority of on-release reviews covered ad nauseam. Is this really the case, though? Is this game's gameplay so horrifically bad that its remarkably well-written story should be ignored?

Join us in this article as we delve into the mysteries of this odd little project. We'll cover virtually everything you need to know about We Happy Few. We'll also talk specifically about this division between its gameplay and its story. Perhaps, then, if you're on the fence about it, we'll help you make an informed purchasing decision!

What is We Happy Few, anyway?

We Happy Few is not an easy game to put into words. Its Early Access stint didn't help with this very much, and we got the sense that a fair number of people were mildly confused about it. It certainly goes by not so normal rules. Basically, there are two main aspects to the game: the gameplay and the story. These are, as you're about to find out, at odds to a point. Thankfully, the combo isn't nearly jarring enough to be able to put us off the game's impeccable narrative.

What started the confusion - as far as we can tell - was the game's comparison with Bioshock. It's a fair assessment, but only to a point. We Happy Few's visuals and dystopian subject matter run parallel with those of the popular immersive sim franchise, but the gameplay is rather far apart. We'll be honest with you: We Happy Few gameplay is only passable at its very best. The mechanics and features are solid on paper, but the execution isn't all that it's made out to be.

However! You may or may not have noticed that we're huge proponents of games that aren't necessarily triple-A blockbusters. This goes doubly so if the narrative is enticing. And boy, let us tell you, We Happy Few's narratives are nothing if not nerve-wracking. In a good way, too! But we'll get to that.

How does We Happy Few Gameplay work?

Depending on what game mode you decide to dabble in, there are varying levels of randomization present in We Happy Few. For example, playing one of the main storylines presents you with a more-or-less curated level layout to travel across. The Night Watch, on the other hand, is a fully-featured survival mode with complete randomization of just about everything. Here, as you may realize by now, we'll mostly focus on the game's story modes. They really are the main draw of this game, we feel.

Anyhow, players need to contend with light survival mechanics. This means minding your hunger and thirst levels, as well as health. The added complication comes in the shape of Joy: a mandatory psychotropic that basically bedazzles the world around you into something that won't turn your character suicidally depressive. Here's a scene to paint the picture: right at the start of Arthur's Story, his co-workers are wrecking a small piñata to get to the candy inside. Arthur's Joy wears off just after he himself delivers a blow, splattering the "piñata" all over everyone. Co-workers start eating the "candy" right away, and you're left with a sinking feeling of what type of game We Happy Few is.

That stuff sounds pretty damn neat, doesn't it? Thing is, while the narrative beats are downright phenomenal - whether scripted or organic - the gameplay hardly follows suit. It's all just good enough for players to go through the paces, but we wouldn't describe it as enjoyable. We Happy Few very clearly needed more polish in this regard, but the polish never came.

Is the Story of We Happy Few important?

We Happy Few tells the tale of a plucky bunch of moderately terrible people, three quietly rebellious citizens, trying to escape from a lifetime of cheerful denial. But there's so much more. And it is amazing. Not just the story, but the game's atmosphere is thick enough to cut with a knife. Discover the retrofuturistic city's dark history as you play through the intertwined narratives. You'll soon discover that the rot is close to the surface, and that the truth behind what really went down in We Happy Few is almost too horrific to comprehend.

We'll just tell you this, although the procedurally generated world will ensure that your experience with We Happy Few is different and unique, when you find out the reason why Joy was developed in the first place, chances are that you'll question whether the main character should stay off it or go back into its clutches. It's that bad, really.

There are multiple layers of horror in this Compulaion Games dystopic survival game, and the way they unravel one after another is nothing if not hypnotic. Certain portions of the game world were admittedly annoying, but the gameplay is more than serviceable in most cases. Sometimes, when you're not hard-pressed with combat and hardcore survival necessities, we'd even dare to describe it as enjoyable. Our recommendation for both new and experienced players, is to drop the difficulty to the lowest level and enjoy the ride.

Who can we recommend the We Happy Few video game to, then? We think those who enjoy good, gut-wrenching stories will find themselves at home here. The gameplay loop is meh-ish, but we'll never stop defending the game's worth as a narrative experience. We Happy Few really is something else in this regard, and few games are as close to the heft of Brave New World or even 1984 as this one is. A recommendation, then, even if it is a tentative one!