Hello Neighbor
WORST GAMES OF Q4 2017
The development cycle of Hello Neighbor is a fascinating tale of tragedy, redemption, and notoriety. Initially failing to be funded via its Kickstarter, the developers reached out to the best marketing tool available: internet celebrities. Hooked in by its fascinating premise, charming sense of style and intriguing lore, the title suddenly became an online darling, fast becoming one of the most hotly anticipated indie titles of the year.
Unfortunately, the best intentions cannot mask the faults of a game that simply is not very good. Much like No Man’s Sky last year, Hello Neighbor is in over its head, playing more like a tech demo than a proper release. The AI is sporadic, the design is bewildering, at times bordering on broken, and the payoff doesn’t equate to the amount of effort and frustration you’ll have to invest. To its credit, the game is an admirable triumph of perseverance on the part of Dynamic Pixels, the little Russian studio that could. It’s just not what we were hoping for.
