The Hello Neighbor franchise was among the first games that I can remember being a part of a strange subculture of games that toy companies were actively making blind boxes, plushes, and other toys for. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then maybe games like Bendy and the Ink Machine will jog your memory Poppy Playtime. For a while, you couldn’t walk into a GameStop, Target, Best Buy, or any other major department store without seeing a plush doll of a random character from one of these games. Of the three games I mentioned, Hello Neighbor seems to have been the one with the most ability to create more installments. So, I can’t say I was all too surprised when I played the second playtest for Hello Neighbor 3 and instantly wished there was more.
A New Definition for Eerie
The latest installment in the eponymously named Hello Neighbor franchise has been in development for a short while by developer tinyBuild and has since released two playtests for players to enjoy. The first playtest gave players a taste of what to expect, allowing them to explore a town known as Old Town. The empty roads of Old Town are lined with various deserted homes and overgrown yards, making it feel abandoned. Despite this desolation, the world feels alive, with a few NPCs wandering about aimlessly as the surroundings gradually undergo development.
The second playtest helps bring the world to life with a lot more color and meaning. Instead of the buildings standing vacant and empty, they are inhabited by other neighbors and are equipped with varying security systems to keep people like you out. Alongside these are also additional items that players can use to encourage different methods of reaching a specific location or completing a particular task. Overall, there is something a bit eerie about how Hello Neighbor 3 simulates loneliness and fear. When night falls, be cautious of the Forest Dwellers before they catch you in their clutches.
Prepare for Dynamic Problem Solving
The second Hello Neighbor 3 playtest offers players a significantly more substantial experience and a genuinely replayable game. At the start of the game, players see a bus stop with a sign saying that the bus needs to be called, but they do not have a cell phone, and there is no signal where they are anyway. With a few items in tow, you need to find a working phone, locate a means to find a good cell signal, and call the bus to come to pick you up from the town of Raven Brooks.
With the newly installed security systems in NPC homes, it’s important to avoid triggering any alarms or alerting anyone inside. Fortunately, you have the option to be a considerate burglar and build friendships with NPCs by giving them items and food. This way, they are less likely to secure their homes when they see you approaching. Inside homes, you can crawl through crawlspaces, turn off the home’s generator or security system, and find items that will help you move forward.
The second playtest not only features different gameplay but also looks much more refined. I would compare its visual style to that of other first-person survival games, such as The Forest. The variety of NPCs available in the playtest, along with the clothing worn by the protagonist, gives the game a cartoonish vibe; however, there will be a stronger emphasis on realism and creating a sense of fear. Overall, it’s exciting to anticipate the additional content that will be available by the time the third playtest or demo is released.
Hello Neighbor 3 has currently only been confirmed for PC via Steam.
