Bye Sweet Carole

Lore & Background

Bye Sweet Carole was developed by Little Sewing Machine, with lead developer Chris Darril, who previously created Remothered. The game is set in early 1900s England and follows Lana Benton, an orphan searching for her missing friend, Carole. The gameplay is side-scrolling with quick time events, and the protagonist Lana can shapeshift into a rabbit form, which aids in solving puzzles. The game is traditionally animated, a notable stylistic choice for the period.

Reader's Guide

Bye Sweet Carole received mixed to average reviews according to Metacritic, while OpenCritic reported that 47% of critics recommended it. Nintendo Life praised the art style and storytelling but criticized the gameplay as frustrating and the character animations as stiff. Slant Magazine called the game 'insipid and obvious' and suggested children would find it boring. In contrast, Adventure Game Hotspot described it as a 'stunningly beautiful adventure that hops between intense encounters and a deeply emotional narrative,' calling it 'an incredibly special game that will stick with me for a long time.' Despite the mixed critical reception, the game achieved notable recognition: it won a Webby Award, became the first Italian video game nominated for an Annie Award, and received six nominations at the NAVGTR Awards. Commercially, it sold over 100,000 units across all platforms in less than two months after release.

Did You Know?

• The game is traditionally animated.
• Lead developer Chris Darril previously made Remothered.