We Happy Few

About We Happy Few

We Happy Few is a stealth-driven adventure shooter set in a retrofuturistic 1960s England where citizens are forced to take a happiness drug called Soma. Developed by Compulsion Games and published by Gearbox in 2018, it casts you as a character trying to escape a city that punishes any sign of sadness or rebellion. The game blends third-person combat with environmental interaction, disguises, and a unique dialogue system. You navigate a world of manic, drug-fueled citizens while hiding your true emotions. It’s a story about denial, identity, and the cost of forced positivity, delivered through a tense, surreal lens.

Gameplay

The core loop revolves around sneaking, disguising, and managing the Soma drug to avoid detection. You play as a character with no memory, using three playable avatars, each with distinct traits and tools, to manipulate NPCs and progress. Combat is infrequent but chaotic, favoring stealth over guns. The Soma mechanic forces you to inject yourself to stay cheerful, but it also risks addiction and hallucinations. Interactions are key: use dialogue choices to steer conversations, or exploit NPC routines to slip past patrols. A single misstep, like showing fear or aggression, triggers a chase. Sessions feel tense and methodical, with most time spent observing, planning, and adapting. The world reacts dynamically to your actions, making every decision feel high-stakes.

What Players Think

We Happy Few holds a 62.2/100 average on IGDB from 98 ratings, reflecting a polarized reception. Critics praised its worldbuilding and ambition but criticized pacing and bugs. Community moods are split: some call it "a bold, flawed experiment," while others find it "excruciatingly slow." Average playtime is around 20 hours, with a 30% completion rate reported. Early Access reviews highlight technical hiccups and a steep learning curve, though post-launch patches improved stability. The game’s tone, equal parts darkly humorous and unsettling, divides players. Those who embrace its quirks praise the narrative depth and moral complexity, while others struggle with its abstract mechanics and lack of hand-holding.

PlayPile's Take

We Happy Few is a niche pick for fans of experimental narratives and stealth challenges. While its creative ambition is evident, the mid-60s score and polarizing design mean it won’t appeal to everyone. The Soma system adds a unique twist, but its side effects can feel punishing. If you’re okay with a slow-burn story and enjoy solving environmental puzzles through disguise and dialogue, it’s worth a try. However, the lack of clear guidance and occasional clunky mechanics make it a riskier buy. For $30, it’s a gamble on a game that’s more memorable for its tone than its polish.

Storyline

I’m Afraid We’ve Come to the End of Our Time We Happy Few is the tale of a plucky bunch of moderately terrible people trying to escape from a lifetime of cheerful denial. Set in a drug-fuelled, retrofuturistic city in an alternative 1960s England, you’ll have to blend in with its other inhabitants, who have their own set of not-so-normal rules. Currently announced for Xbox One, Windows, Mac and Linux, We Happy Few is currently on Microsoft Game Preview / Steam Early Access. The Mac and Linux version will arrive shortly after the final release of the game.