Mashing a myriad of ideas together isn't always best practice. It can sometimes create magic, and sometimes it can cause a mess. A narrative-driven, survival-based, RPG element-having, melee combat-heavy, exploratory mammoth, We Happy Few ends up on the untidy end of things on most counts.

One of 2016's most frustrating releases leaves early access a very different game than when it started – but has it changed enough

The premise and setting is great and the art design is fantastic; All three characters have interesting and distinctive stories

The game is absolutely no fun to play, with highly repetitive quests and a survival element that seems wholly unnecessary; Overcomplicated crafting, weak combat, and lots of bugs

What's all this, then I can hardly call England a "dystopia," but it sure feels different to the country I've spent my whole life in. Don't get me wrong, most politicians have been charlatans and people have always been ignorant.

We Happy Few is unapologetically inspired by many different works of entertainment across various mediums. The world and characters of Wellington Wells appear to be pulled directly out of an Ayn Rand novel or a George Orwell dystopia.

We Happy Few is a game with a curious development history. Compulsion Games initially looked to crowdfund the title with the aim of creating a roguelike survival game set within a dystopian alternative history England, where the Germans had successfully managed to invade the country during World War...

Great visuals and style; Some compelling story elements; Many memorable characters

PC performance is a tad worrying; Too many bugs and glitches; $60 price tag; Tags

I think It has good messages about fighting for your rights But iffy stuff is best left for teens

Despite being set in an alternate 1960s where World War II ended very differently, We Happy Few could be just as damning an examination of what a post-Brexit Britain might look like.

Dystopian futures are often drab affairs covered in shades of brown and beige, immensely depressing, and full of cliches and tropes that bleed from one version to another. In a world filled with existential dread and horrifying rules, does everything really need to look like a cheap pair of khakis

Interesting story and characters; Great use of colour and visuals

Frustrating systems; Experience breaking bugs; Let me hide in the red bushes too; yellow just isn't my colour

Although it has been in development for a number of years and available to play as an Early Access release as far back as two years ago, this year proved to be especially fruitful for We Happy Few getting back into the minds of interested players. Especially for those of us in Australia.

I'll play more polished, bigger and more bombastic blockbuster games this year, but We Happy Few will stay with me long after its quests are over.

A twisted and shocking world to lose yourself in; Crafting weird and wonderful chemicals and gadgets; A+ British swearing skills

Glitching like it's 2007