Video Game Review: Happy’s Humble Burger Farm (Switch Port)

Developer: Scythe Dev Team

Publisher: tinyBuild

Genre: Horror

Reviewed On: Nintendo Switch

Also Available On: PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox

Last year a strange little horror game came out that can easily be summarized as a combination of Five Nights At Freddy’s and Overcooked. Happy’s Humble Burger Farm was a surprisingly refreshing horror game that leaned in on classic horror while embracing a few novel ideas. Now the game is available on the Nintendo Switch, making the game even more accessible thanks to the portable nature of the console. 

The game opens with the player’s character waking up and heading to work at a fast food restaurant. Things seem just a little off, but nothing too alarming. The player is tasked with serving customers. It doesn’t take too many shifts for the player to start to see some real strange stuff though. In fact, really it all starts right after the first shift. This is where the horror really shows its face, with creepy animals and other creatures roaming the facilities and threatening to harm the player.

The simulation aspect of the gameplay is enjoyable but doesn’t take up as much of the player’s time as some might hope for. The cooking and working gets difficult with strange creatures providing jump scares and just being ominous around the restaurant. Before long, Happy’s Humble Burger Farm is hell. Cooking helps with handling the enemies that stalk the players. It’s frantic serving the enemies, and while the core gameplay doesn’t feel like a cooking simulator, it still feels unique.

Outside of cooking under duress, players are free to explore the city. Everything has a creepy atmosphere. The city is empty, populated by only a few strange fellows. The environment is eerie and gives players the vibe that nothing is okay. The story is pushed forward through exploring the city and getting small bites of what’s going on. The restaurant acts as a way to force players to face the antagonistic forces plaguing the character and city. There are plenty of opportunities to explore the city, and as players work and face the creatures that stalk them, they will unlock more of the city. Some of the exploration is mandatory, but there are plenty of secrets for players to find. Anyone who enjoys exploration in their games will find plenty to scratch their itch.

In a nice addition, there are also tons of talk radio and television programs for the player to watch while in their character’s home. Between this, the jukebox, and the audio logs that can be found throughout the world, there are plenty of opportunities for players to learn about their job and the city that surrounds it.

Players can upgrade their restaurant to make getting through the night easier, which is welcome when things get chaotic later in the game. For those who really want to just focus on their restaurant, there is an endless cooking mode that focuses only on the work and not the horror. The cooking by itself isn’t too exhilarating, but it’s nice to have the option for those who want it.

The aesthetics of Happy’s Humble Burger Farm only add to the creepy atmosphere. Everything looks like it came from the 90’s. The graphics aren’t anything crazy, but they fit the tone of the story. The blurry and pixelated visuals do a fantastic job of making the game creepier. I encountered a few graphical stutters throughout my time playing, but the game’s presentation actually does a good job of covering this up. Considering that this was made by a small team, a lot is accomplished with the technological limitations. Happy’s Humble Burger Farm also comes with fantastic sound design to round out the solid presentation.

Happy’s Humble Burger Farm isn’t the best horror game available, but it’s almost a must-play if someone is a fan of the genre. It’s such a strange but memorable experience that isn’t available in any other game. The Switch doesn’t have the strongest horror library, so this is a welcome addition.