Hello Sunshine Reveals New Trailer, More Info From Developers

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Red Thread Games, known for titles like Dustborn and Dreamfall Chapters, first showed off Hello Sunshine in a trailer back in April. But of all the games this small, fifteen-person team in Oslo, Norway has created, Hello Sunshine really caught my attention.

Last month, I had the chance to speak with Ragnar Tørnquist, the founder and CEO of Red Thread, and Jonathan Nielssen, the director at Hello Sunshine. During our conversation, they showed me about 10 minutes of gameplay footage for Hello Sunshine – content that hasn’t been released to the public yet.

After watching the gameplay, our team had a chance to ask some follow-up questions about Hello Sunshine. Here’s everything I found out about this exciting and visually appealing first-person, story-focused survival RPG.

You can play this game either by yourself or with a friend in co-op mode. To fully understand the story, you’ll need to experience both ways of playing, so teaming up with someone is highly recommended!

Survival In A Hostile World

From the start of Hello Sunshine, it’s clear survival will be a challenge. The game takes place in a desert wasteland created by the unchecked power of corporations. There’s also a mystery surrounding how these corporations fell, which you’ll uncover as you play through the game’s different modes.

The sun in this area is scorching, and staying in direct sunlight for too long will quickly drain your energy, forcing you to start over. Because of this, water and anything that helps you stay hydrated are incredibly valuable, and you’ll be constantly searching for them to survive.

The game isn’t just about surviving the harsh desert environment. You’ll also encounter dangerous robotic enemies, like massive robotic crabs. The developers specifically advise avoiding combat with these at first – defeating one for the first time is a key moment, signaling that your character is becoming more powerful.

As you explore the game, you’ll collect items you can use to craft helpful things, including powerful new weapons like bows that shoot explosive arrows. I was impressed by how quickly and smoothly the process of finding items, crafting, and then using them in combat flowed together, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this system works when the game is fully released.

From the start, Hello Sunshine makes it clear that surviving in its post-apocalyptic world will require significant effort and preparation.

Hello Sunshine largely lets you avoid fighting if you want. The developers say you can often sneak or find peaceful solutions to get through areas. While being aggressive will bring more enemies – and more loot – you’ll constantly need to decide if the extra risk is worth the reward.

While the game seemed promising on the surface, Hello Sunshine really stands out from other post-apocalyptic survival RPGs thanks to one major feature.

A Little Help From Your Giant Robot Friend

The trailers for Hello Sunshine have shown a lot of the game’s giant robot, which you’ll be following throughout most of the experience. However, the developers at Red Thread want players to know that the robot won’t initially be friendly. At first, it won’t care about you at all – you’re just an insignificant obstacle in its way, and it doesn’t matter if you survive or not as long as you don’t get in its path.

What will really make Hello Sunshine special is the developing relationship with the robot throughout the game. As we spend time with it, we’ll likely form a strong emotional connection. The developers were inspired by films like The Iron Giant, so players can expect to feel genuinely moved by the story as it unfolds.

Okay, putting aside how cool it looks, this giant robot buddy is actually really useful in Hello Sunshine! You know how you can’t stay in the sun too long? Well, it totally makes sense that a huge, walking robot could provide some much-needed shade, and thankfully, it does! It’s constantly moving, so you’ve always got a safe spot to hang out – it’s a game changer, honestly.

You’ll need to stay near the robot as you play each level, making sure to stay in its shadow to avoid overheating and losing hydration. While better items are usually found further away, you’ll have to decide if venturing out for them is worth the risk of being exposed to the sun and losing that vital shade.

The fast pace of the game creates a sense of urgency and keeps you engaged. You’re forced to react quickly and make instant decisions, as there’s no time to carefully plan each move. To stay alive, you need to be agile and keep up with the constantly moving robot.

The team mentioned that films like The Iron Giant inspired the game, suggesting it will likely become emotionally impactful for players.

Eventually, you’ll reach a Hello Sunshine station where you can spend the night and recycle old equipment into materials for 3D printing new, helpful items. You’ll also have opportunities to connect with your robot companion. The game aims to tell a rich story through its environment, and through quieter moments with your robot and other characters you meet, expanding the world and its narrative.

The game has a larger story to tell, but initially, you’ll spend the first few hours figuring out how to survive the challenging environment with the help of a massive robot. The deeper mystery of the game will unfold gradually as you play.

Hello, Anticipation

If you’re excited about Hello Sunshine like I am, we’ll have to be patient for news on when it will come out – it definitely won’t be released before the end of 2025. Currently, the game is confirmed for PC, and there’s no word yet on whether it will be available on other consoles.

Want to stay updated on the game’s progress? You can add Hello Sunshine to your Steam wishlist now! You’ll also find a link there to join Red Thread’s Discord server and sign up for a chance to playtest the game when it’s ready.

Red Thread recently revealed a new trailer for Hello Sunshine during The PC Gaming Show, and you can see it here.

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2025-12-05 01:10