Helpless

Casual· Free to Play· Exploration· Walking Simulator

Released Mar 2023

In the heat of deserted lands, a child and their mother weakened by sickness try to survive a harsh world. Through a kid’s perspective, take action and explore the remains of a lost past. Protect yourself from the sun’s deadly intensity and help your family get back on the road.

88% positive · 268 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

Helpless launched on March 10, 2023 as a free-to-play adventure game from Bonne Journée Studio. The store description presents a self-contained narrative experience — a story-driven game about a mother and child surviving a post-apocalyptic world — with no mention of future content, DLC, updates, or ongoing development plans. There are no DLC listings of any kind. The developer's only communication after release was a pre-launch press kit post on March 8, 2023, and there have been no further posts since launch. With no post-launch update activity, no announced future content, and a store description that reads as a complete product, the game appears to have launched as a finished narrative experience.

Evidence

Store description presents a complete, self-contained narrative adventure with defined story beats, characters, and 26 achievements. No mention of DLC, future updates, or ongoing content.

description source development ending

medium

Developer shared a press kit two days before launch, expressing excitement for release. This is the only developer communication on record, with no post-launch updates of any kind.

news post · Mar 8, 2023 source ambiguous

low

Media

Details

Developer

Bonne Journée Studio

Publisher

UQAT - Création et nouveaux médias

Achievements

Platform

Windows

Controller

full support

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player

Free to Play Casual Exploration Walking Simulator Interactive Fiction Choose Your Own Adventure Dialogue Heavy Third Person Family Friendly Dogs Adventure Post-apocalyptic 3D Stylized 1990's

About this game

A mother and her child are trying desperately to find shelter in order to survive harsh conditions. A tragic event makes them come together more than ever. On top of everything, their only way to travel breaks down.

In HELPLESS, take the role of a kid and explore a decaying land where the sun ruined civilization as we know it. Find abandoned places and scavenge them for items in order to make sense of the world you’re in. All the help you need during this perilous trip might come to you in unexpected forms.

UNCOVER A LOST PAST
Find items and different locations to understand your surroundings.

HIDE FROM THE SUN
Cover yourself from the dangers of the sun and carefully manage your moves.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS
Share your findings with your mom by interacting with her and get better knowledge about your family with the support of a new friend.

CONTEMPLATE COMPELLING VISUALS
Look at the world around you with dynamic cameras and a semi-realistic art style.