Sunset Hills is a 2D adventure puzzle game from Cotton Game, the Chinese studio behind hits like Isoland and Mr. Pumpkin. Unlike the surreal and somewhat eccentric style of their previous titles, Sunset Hills takes a different path: gentle, leisurely, and steeped in nostalgia. The game places players in the journey of Nico, a recently discharged veteran, traveling by train through unfamiliar cities to reconnect with old friends from years past, a journey to reflect on himself, to remember, to understand, and to forgive.
Introduce about Sunset Hills
From the very first moments, Sunset Hills captivates with its meticulously hand-drawn visuals in warm, muted pastel tones. Each scene feels like it was plucked from a quiet comic book. A small train station with faint yellow lamplight, a gently swaying train carriage, or simply the silhouette of a man sitting pensively by a window. The game’s aesthetic lies in its understated yet evocative nature. It’s safe to say Sunset Hills is one of those rare games where every frame carries distinct emotional weight, making it easy to pause for a few seconds just to take it in.
The story
Without relying on elaborate cutscenes or grandiose dialogue, Sunset Hills tells its story in its own way: through atmosphere, hints, and subtle details. Each time the train stops at a new station, Nico steps out to meet an old acquaintance. They might be a fellow soldier, an ex-lover, or someone who briefly crossed his path in a significant moment. Their conversations unfold calmly, but beneath the surface lie layers of memories gradually unveiled. The game’s writing doesn’t force you to feel moved; it lets you decide how deeply you want to understand or remember.
One memorable segment is when Nico visits the home of Lian, a comrade who died in battle. There, he meets Lian’s wife and young daughter. The modest house, with an old commemorative photo on a wooden shelf and a neatly folded soldier’s uniform in a drawer, says more than hundreds of lines of dialogue could. There’s no melodramatic sobbing, but the sense of loss seeps into every detail: the sound of wind outside the window, the soft patter of the child’s footsteps, and the way Nico quietly bows before the photo. This is the kind of storytelling Sunset Hills excels at: refined, restrained, and leaving space for players to fill in the gaps.
Gameplay
As a puzzle game, Sunset Hills doesn’t focus on difficulty or complex mechanics. The puzzles mainly revolve around finding objects, interacting with the environment, arranging memories in a logical order, or unlocking mementos tied to the past. What gives them depth, however, is how they’re woven into the narrative.
For example, in the third chapter, Nico needs to find an old letter he wrote but never sent. To do so, you must open an old chest by entering the correct date, the day his ex-lover left. The clue isn’t directly in the dialogue but in a painting on the wall, where a faint inscription notes “The last day at the South Station”. You have to keenly connect this detail with a snippet from an old diary to find the answer. In a brilliantly subtle way, CottonGame turns the puzzle itself into a tool for reliving a piece of Nico’s past alongside him.
Sunset Hills reconstructs memories through a map
One of the game’s unique and easily overlooked features is its memory reconstruction mechanic via the journey map. Each time Nico stops at a new station, the game updates the journey map, where each destination becomes a symbol of a memory. On the map, you’ll see abstract drawings or special icons representing the events, encounters, and emotions Nico experiences at each stop.
What’s intriguing is that these memories aren’t always clear and can fade if you don’t make the right choices or engage deeply enough with characters. For instance, if Nico skips a crucial conversation with an old friend, the symbol for that memory on the map will dim, as if acknowledging that the moment remains unresolved. This encourages you to revisit and uncover missing pieces of the past, both as a way to “complete” the journey and to craft your own story.
Game pace and respect for the individual
Sunset Hills imposes no time pressure, no countdowns, or performance metrics. The game lets you set your own pace. You can finish it in a few hours if you stick to the mandatory stops. But if you choose, you can linger at a location, chat more with a side character, or simply gaze out the train window, and the game never urges you to move on.
A unique aspect is that Sunset Hills lacks an official tutorial. Instead, it lets you figure out the world, how to use items, and how to solve small puzzles on your own. While not everyone may enjoy this initial “vagueness”, this choice makes exploration feel more authentic. You’re not led; you’re invited.
Graphics and sound
Sunset Hills uses a soothing color palette, primarily soft pastels and faded sepia. Every scene is entirely hand-drawn, from misty early-morning cityscapes to wooden train carriages with a vintage flair. There’s no flashiness or modern visual effects; Sunset Hills embraces a nostalgic, weathered feel, as if everything is viewed through frosted glass.
As for sound, Sunset Hills’ music never competes for attention. The soundtrack is woven from gentle piano melodies, prolonged string chords, and occasionally the faint whistle of wind through a window. This restraint amplifies the sense of purposeful stillness, as if every sound is listening to your story.
The message Sunset Hills conveys
Sunset Hills has no grandiose finale, no breathtaking climax, or a clear goal to conquer. Yet, this absence highlights what the game seeks to emphasize: a journey of emotions, acceptance, and letting go.
At the final station, Nico reunites with his estranged brother from their youth. There’s no tearful reunion or dramatic apologies. They simply sit together on a bench at the platform, share a can of beer, and talk about days gone by. It’s a deeply real, human moment. It reflects the game’s spirit that sometimes, what we need isn’t a solution but presence.
Sunset Hills encourages you to look back, not to reopen wounds, but to learn to understand and forgive others and yourself. Small choices in the game, like whether to visit each old friend, affect the ending, but not in a “true ending” or “bad ending” way. Every ending is valid, as long as it’s what the player chooses.
Download Sunset Hills APK free for Android
With its slow pace, minimalist gameplay, and deeply personal themes, the game may feel lacking in drama for some. But for those seeking a profound artistic experience and an honest emotional journey, Sunset Hills is a worthy choice.