Farewell North review

Movement is ubiquitous in solo developer Kyle Banks’ Farewell North. Through much of the five-to-six-hour game, you’ll be sprinting about as Chesley. Ches, as he’s habitually referred to, is a shaggy border collie who travels through a dreamy, mostly monochromatic, interpretation of Scotland’s Hebrides.

Along with you on Farewell’s poignant, puzzle-lined trek is your owner, a young woman named Cailey. Occasionally, Cailey will take the lead, canoeing between islands, as Farewell offers a rather realistic interpretation of rowing. Thankfully, those who find the control method too cumbersome can opt for a simplified system.

Searching for Closure

Movement also plays a principal role in Farewell North storytelling. Some years ago, Cailey moved from these pastoral highlands to the city, taking Ches along. Resettling produced a shift in perspectives, as Cailey parted from her family and Ches abandoned sheep herding and adjusted to domestic life. But following the loss of Cailey’s mother, the pair return, finding catharsis in the landscape and each other’s company.

And while Farewell’s storyline could have easily plumbed some melancholic spaces, tear ducts likely won’t get a workout until the game’s waning minutes. When they do occur, expect them to hit harder than the rainfall in the western highlands. But the game also captures the wistful feeling of reminiscing over a stash of old photos better than any other interactive effort.

Color Me Puzzled

But that’s not to say that Farewell North is free of flaw. While the game’s environments appear to be spacious, the pathways are mostly linear with progress gated by a succession of environmental-based puzzles. Interaction is often based around Ches’ canine abilities, so you’ll be retrieving flower branches or barking to get Cailey’s attention. But sporadically, these brainteasers can be a bit too abstract, leading to a bit of frustration. On the upside, solutions add color to North’s pallid world, bestowing an eye-pleasing reward for your efforts.

Banks reminds us that relaxed moments can be just as memorable as your accomplishments. Some of the game’s best sequences are completely optional and don’t have any kind of objective. But playing fetch with Ches, giving him a gentle pet, or just soaking up the scenery feels therapeutic. Games rarely capture this kind of tranquility this well, making Farewell North recommended for those who appreciate a bit of reflection.

Farewell North was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.