Hello Sunshine Is a Fallout Meets Horizon Survival RPG

PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted has returned, bringing with it a fresh look at Hello Sunshine, an upcoming survival RPG from Norwegian studio Red Thread Games. Originally revealed in a vague teaser trailer earlier this year, Hello Sunshine has now officially dropped a glimpse at its gameplay, but I can one-up that. I recently had the opportunity to attend a virtual preview of the title, watching an extended gameplay playthrough alongside developers Ragnar Tørnquist and Jonathan Nielssen.

If you’re not familiar, Hello Sunshine is a survival mystery RPG set in the ruins of a corporate empire that can be played solo or via co-op. Essentially, players will walk in the shadow of a robot, using it to shield themselves from the sun whilst relying on its warmth at night. You’ll need to scavenge, craft, and fend off enemies as you attempt to keep up with the robot in this ever-progressing experience, uncovering the truth behind your circumstances as you do so.

It’s a really intriguing premise; in fact, it’s one that I’m positively hooked by after witnessing 10 minutes or so of gameplay. As you’ve likely picked up by now, the player character is susceptible to sun damage during the day and cold damage during the night. While walking in the robot’s shadow may protect you from the sun, you will have to wander out in order to scavenge. Wander too far, though, and you might not be able to catch up with the robot which’ll keep on walking its way across the game’s world.

It’s all about risk and reward. Naturally, players will begin the game pretty vulnerable, but you’ll still need to venture out from the robot’s shadow to find water and other crafting materials. As you progress, you’ll be able to kit yourself out with new items, assumedly clothing, that’ll allow you to spend more time in the sunshine. The further you venture out, the better loot you’ll find; just don’t let the robot leave you behind. It won’t wait for you.

Hello Sunshine, Credit / Red Thread Games

This may all sound rather relentless for some, but worry not. Hello Sunshine recognises that you’ll need a rest from time to time. At night, the robot will rest at a service stop where it’ll recharge until the next morning. This is handy for the player as at night, cold damage poses a real threat. The charging robot will provide warmth if you stick nearby, plus the player character will be able to access supplies at said service stops. Of course, there’s nothing stopping you from wandering off but just as is the case during the day, there’s a risk that comes with that. You can’t let the cold see you off.

Red Thread Games was very vague about the circumstances of this world, but I think that’s for the best. Hello Sunshine was described as being set in a “post AI world” with the player character somehow linked to the corporation behind both the robot and the service stops. This may be a survival RPG, but devs also described it as a mystery game with a strong narrative that’ll unfold via cutscenes, found items revealing lore, and interactions with NPCs.

Ragnar and Jonathan were loath to reveal too much but did tease that the player character and robot’s relationship will develop throughout the title as the duo come to rely on one another. The player character can upgrade the robot’s offensive and defensive abilities and in turn, the robot will assist the player. The apocalyptic setting of the title very much is reminiscent of Fallout, although the robot has a feel of Studio Ghibli’s Laputa: Castle in the Sky about it. What’s clear is that this is a true adventure.

If you do venture away from the robot, whether it be at night or during the day, the weather isn’t the only threat you’ll have to contend with. Hello Sunshine has its own combat system, as rogue robots will want to take you down. During the gameplay I witnessed, I saw encounters with both low-scale robot dogs that’ll pursue you even if you try to run away, and large-scale robot crabs that looked akin to something Aloy might fend off in Horizon Forbidden West. Players will be able to craft and upgrade weapons, such as a bow, to fend off such creatures, or you can lure them back to your own robot who may accidentally stomp on them as it carries on its journey forward; it can do the same to you if you’re not careful where you stand.

Hello Sunshine, Credit / Red Thread Games

There are other aspects to this experience that may prove challenging. The day and night cycle won’t just determine whether it’s the sun or cold you’ll need to fear, so too will this affect where shadows are situated around the robot. The sun does move, after all. On occasion, you’ll be walking in front of the big fella, whilst at other times, you may be situated behind him.

There are also passing weather events to contend with. The early stages of the game are set in a desert and while this locale has been the main focus of all marketing materials so far, devs did stress that there are multiple biomes you’ll travel through. The desert is an interesting one though as you’ll, perhaps unsurprisingly, have to deal with sandstorms that totally reduce visibility. If you’re off scavenging during a sandstorm, it may protect you from the sun’s rays but the temptation to wander may leave you unable to find your way back to the robot.

Little was said about the NPCs you’ll meet on your travels outside of the fact that you’ll somehow be able to do something to lure them to service stops. These characters are known as ‘Visiting Strangers’. Developers also teased that the game rewards those who replay it, adding that the story adapts based on whether you’re playing solo or co-op. Those who undertake both experiences will benefit the most.

I can already tell that Red Thread Games has poured everything into this release, and it’s very quickly become one of my most anticipated games. Hello Sunshine seemingly has it all. Here is an intriguing concept backed up by a thrilling gameplay system that’s quite unlike anything else out there. I often find the survival genre to be a little repetitive and stale but Hello Sunshine is shaping up to be the complete opposite. With its progressing nature, varied obstacles, and careful consideration of both the single-player and co-op experience, Hello Sunshine has the potential to be very special.

Hello Sunshine is set to launch on PC via Steam. A release date has not yet been announced.