Seasons after Fall
Seasons after Fall
Game
Game2026
Deer & Boy
Developer Lifeline Games
A runaway boy meets a lost fawn, and together they cross a quiet, dangerous world. Solve puzzles, climb, and slip past threats as your companion grows from a fragile newborn into a powerful deer. What you cannot do alone, you learn to do together. From the Steam store page
257 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 3, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
96
LovedLoved
192 positive · 9 negative
95% range 92–98%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 192 | 9 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 19 | 1 | 30 |
| Lemmy * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
212 of 221 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
95% recommend · 187 yes, 9 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 196 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (465 of 494 positive).
Players praise the emotional story and bond between the boy and deer. [1][2][3] Many compare it favorably to similar games like Planet of Lana and Limbo. [4][5][6] Some find the puzzles simple and the story lacking depth. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [20]
Some reviewers brought a checklist to an emotional experience. Don't be like them. I've read the criticism. "The puzzles are too simple." - "There are no in-game hints." - "The deer is just a companion mechanic." I want to talk about each of those, not to fight anyone, but because they all point to the same mistake: treating this game like it owes you systems to evaluate. Deer & Boy has no dialogue. Silence is the …
- [1]
Seeing this way back in 2024, being shown off at the Game Awards, I wasn't expecting it to be as charming, and emotional as it is. It's a short game, but I couldn't recommend more highly. 10/10. (Also damn you dev's for making me cry like an actual baby at the end.)
- [4]
Another cute cinematic platformer with an animal companion, a runaway boy befriends a orphaned fawn. Plays a lot like Planet of Lana with puzzles and light platforming where your deer has special abilities that help you traverse the game and solve the puzzles. Similar to PoL you don't direct your friend directly, rather you point where they should go and tell them to press buttons and similar actions. It's good and …
- [2]
10/10 And yes I cried. beautiful, stunning graphics. Emotional and relatable story. Lovely soundtrack. And a deer. Adorable.
- [3]
Captures what it really means to have a pet or companion. Sometimes they find you at your lowest, where you would to anything and they would do anything for you. I expected adventure, but it exceeded my expectations in a good way.
Summarised from 34 of the 250 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
95% of the 196 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Deer & Boy. The complaint that keeps coming up: puzzles are too simple or unintuitive. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 257 · most liked firstDeer & Boy is, in concept, another puzzle sidescrolling game. In motion, it is a tender adventure that values every moment of your attention. It never feels aimless, and even in its darker moments, it does not lose sight of its goal: to make you care about its inseparable duo. Here is my review!
positive · AI labelView post →Some reviewers brought a checklist to an emotional experience. Don't be like them. I've read the criticism. "The puzzles are too simple." - "There are no in-game hints." - "The deer is just a companion mechanic." I want to talk about each of those, not to fight anyone, but because they all point to the same mistake: treating this game like it owes you systems to evaluate. Deer & Boy has no dialogue. Silence is the medium the game works in. Every shift in the environment, every moment of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New modem acquired!! I'll see you in half an hour for Deer & Boy!! Am I Deer? Am I Boy? Why not both? 😌 Twitch.tv/FaunAndGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Starting and ending the week in deers 🥰🦌 Let's see if we can finish Deer & Boy Today! Thank you to @guillotine.agency for the key! Twitch.tv/FaunAndGames
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm not finished with it yet at the time of this review, its just late and I am heading to bead or else I would probably play this all the way through in one sitting. Its been an amazing experience so far, I love "silent" stories, well not so much silent as stories with no dialogue, sometimes it feels like so much more is said when nothing at all is, and this hits it out of the park in that department. I highly recommend this to anyone thinking to pick it up. EDIT: So I've finished this now,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deer & Boy seems like a lovely, adorable and charming game, but overall it is sadly mediocre I would say. While the visuals are amazing, that's about it what is stunning. Don't get me wrong, I really wanted to love this game, but I just can't. There's just something about how some things are implemented, that doesn't feel right for the most part. Story: I get that the actually story reveals over time. Yet I can't say for sure if I understood fully what's going on. Therefore I don't feel…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Of all the childlike fantasies of running away from home and going on a breathtaking life-changing journey, this one is one of the best. The soundtrack is a must, don't miss out on the beautiful score, the art direction is cozy, and the deer... oh boy don't get me started; he is one of the cutest companions I've ever had in a game, and easily the one I feel the most attached to, and maybe that's because he isn't a mythical creature, and instead a wild animal that actually exists in the real…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game #49 of 2026: Deer & Boy Started: Jul. 19 Completed: Jul. 20 While this cinematic platformer doesn't bring in a lot of new ideas to the genre, I still had a great time. It's short (5 or 6 hours), but it's worth playing for the gameplay and the emotional story about a boy and a deer 🥹 1/2
positive · AI labelView post →✨This Week!✨ 🦌 Mon - Deer & Boy 🔍 Wed - Date Everything in the morning and Penelope Pendrick w/ @silver-streak.games in the evening! 🐕 Fri - Blanc w/ @allessier.bsky.social Twitch.tv/FaunAndGames
neutral · AI labelView post →✨🦌 Live Now with a first look at Deer & Boy!! 🦌✨ Can't wait to be FAWNd of this game 😏 Thank you to @guillotine.agency and @dearvillagers.com for the key! Twitch.tv/FaunAndGames
neutral · AI labelView post →It's a new week, which means new cozy game releases! 🐶Pawsome Resort - TODAY on PC in Early Access @pawsomeresort.bsky.social 🍵Wanderstop - 23 Jun - Switch 1&2 🦌Deer & Boy - 23 Jun - PC, PS5, Xbox X|S & Switch @deerandboy.com 🐈⬛Catto's Post Office - 25 Jun - Switch
neutral · AI labelView post →I'm enjoying Deer & Boy, and even though I'm about 2 hours in, I'm already halfway done the game. It's a more light-hearted story compared to other cinematic platformers (so far), and the puzzle/stealth sections are basic compared to this year's Planet of Lana II. The game is cute and relaxing! 🥹
positive · AI labelView post →Seeing this way back in 2024, being shown off at the Game Awards, I wasn't expecting it to be as charming, and emotional as it is. It's a short game, but I couldn't recommend more highly. 10/10. (Also damn you dev's for making me cry like an actual baby at the end.)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm not sure how to feel about Deer & Boy. To me it's evident that the developer poured a lot of love in this game, but it misses on so many levels. I love this genre, and have played a lot of them. Deer & Boy seems to borrow a lot from its predecessors. It has a lot of the same types of puzzles, and barely ever innovates. So you'll be hiding behind something until a guard moves his flashlight elsewhere, which is your cue to run to the next box. It borrows the sticky alien-like goo which…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deer & Boy: Looks Can Be Deer-ceiving. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Web review with screenshots and a full playthrough are available below. If this review helps you, feel free to follow my Steam Curator for more reviews. WEB REVIEW - https://solo-save.com/2026/06/23/deer-boy/ FULL GAME - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gy238a_yBU CURATOR - https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44944862/…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Another exceptional indie developer game! The game has an excellent atmospheric environment throughout that captures you and pulls you into the world. The silent narration to the storyline is well developed and shows emotional depth without the use of words. The mechanic are easy to grasp and some of the puzzles to advance make you think for a moment and actually look around. Highly recommended for those who enjoy platformers and puzzles.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tonight I'm finally getting to Deer & Boy. I loved the demo and picked the game up on release, but I've taken 3 months to get back to it😅 Stream is live, tea is brewing. Cya soon! ----> twitch.tv/stephenjoys
neutral · AI labelView post →Game number 17 of 2026 completed. Deer & Boy is one of my hidden gems from this year. It’s an emotional journey of friendship. There are no spoken words but the emotions are conveyed so well .It also has the best song of the year in a game. Do yourself a favor and play this one. An 8.5 from me
positive · AI labelView post →Dear_Villagers showed the full process of making both characters for their game "Deer & Boy" from scratch. 🦌 See more details: www.reddit.com/r/IndieDev/c... #indiegame #gamedev #indiedev
neutral · AI labelView post →Another cute cinematic platformer with an animal companion, a runaway boy befriends a orphaned fawn. Plays a lot like Planet of Lana with puzzles and light platforming where your deer has special abilities that help you traverse the game and solve the puzzles. Similar to PoL you don't direct your friend directly, rather you point where they should go and tell them to press buttons and similar actions. It's good and while I think Planet of Lana along with Tarsiers games are the standout titles…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →if you like Neva, you'll love Deer & Boy, a cinematic narrative game about a runaway boy and a young fawn who find strength through their companionship
neutral · AI labelView post →🦌Don't let this indie game pass you by: Deer & Boy combines heartfelt storytelling, clever puzzles, and beautiful visuals into an unforgettable journey. Dive In: sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2026/07/deer... #DeerAndBoy #IndieGames #Gaming #SdgtEntertainment #SummerOfGaming #BlackSkyGamers
neutral · AI labelView post →I'll just start off by saying if you're thinking of picking this up but dislike the idea of "The story is what you make of it," this might not be for you. There's mostly a lack of story, and a lot of questions arise that are never addressed in any sort of satisfying way. Personally I loathe this sort of storytelling in linear games. I'm playing a set character in a world that has a defined path, trying to make up a reason any of it matters doesn't seem like it should fall on me. "Everyone…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →10/10 And yes I cried. beautiful, stunning graphics. Emotional and relatable story. Lovely soundtrack. And a deer. Adorable.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →11/10 | Incredible | Emotional Heavy | Mindblowing. Deer & Boy was genuinely one of my most anticipated indie games of 2026 and I am SO happy that I got to play it on day one release with my community over on Twitch. ~ Not only did I enjoy every second but all of my viewers claimed to love this as well. Imagine a mix of 'Little Nightmares' with less horror with a slight charm from 'Herdling' mixed with Planet Of Lana. This game genuinely had a mix of everything. It was gorgeously designed,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →New video of a super cute game with @robinhearts.bsky.social today! Deer & Boy looks very good, excited to play the full thing. I feel like I'll absolutely cry lmao #gaming #letsplay #deerandboy Watch - youtu.be/BHQup6dfKrs
neutral · AI labelView post →Deer Boy Vs. Cthulhu is my favorite steam indie game
neutral · AI labelView post →Stream Schedule - 05 Oct to 11 Oct - Wednesday 9pm BST : Deer & Boy / Castlevania Belmont's Curse Demo Saturday 3pm BST : Silksong Sunday 3pm BST : Dragon Dragon Fire Fire / Tidy Up Together twitch.tv/stephenjoys
neutral · AI labelView post →A simple but beautiful game with a really emotional story. The length of the game felt just right to me, not too long and not too short. It reminded me a little of Planet of Lana, which is definitely a good thing! Some parts towards the end were a bit frustrating, but nothing deal breaking. Overall, I really enjoyed my time with Deer & Boy and would definitely recommend it. Also runs great on Steam Deck.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unfortunately, I came away disappointed with Deer & Boy. I had been really looking forward to it, especially since I enjoy games like Limbo, Inside, and even Planet of Lana. Those set a high bar for atmospheric puzzle-platformers, and I was hoping this would deliver a similar experience. To its credit, the art style is absolutely gorgeous, and the premise is intriguing. However, the execution falls short. The puzzles often feel unintuitive and, at times, more frustrating than engaging. There…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🦌Don't let this indie game pass you by: Deer & Boy combines heartfelt storytelling, clever puzzles, and beautiful visuals into an unforgettable journey. Dive In: sdgtent.sdgtstudio.com/2026/07/deer... #DeerAndBoy #IndieGames #Gaming #SdgtEntertainment #SummerOfGaming
neutral · AI labelView post →If you loved Limbo, Inside, or Planet of Lana, this new French indie gem is going to delight you. This side-scroller has you move forward by solving puzzles, while focusing heavily on the story. To achieve this, the gameplay constantly refreshes itself through stealth, intense chases, puzzles, and exploration. It never gets boring because certain chapters bring a real breath of fresh air, especially when the environment opens up to let us explore the 3D background, or when a level turns into a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deer & Boy on Steam. In this poetic cinematic platformer, a runaway boy meets a fawn. As their bond grows, so do their abilities and the emotional weight of their journey, where silence speaks louder than words.
neutral · AI labelView post →I finished Deer & Boy this weekend, and let me tell you that I had an ugly cry for like an hour after playing. Such a good game.
positive · AI labelView post →Went into this not knowing much about it outside of the fact that you play as a boy with a little deer friend and was pleasantly surprised when it took a turn into something more than just being cute and whimsical. I love games like these where you get to play with animal companions. I enjoyed the gameplay and the environmental storytelling, and the cinematics(I especially love the ones towards the middle and end). All in all I really enjoyed it! And it's not too long or short of a game either.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Few Thoughts on Deer & Boy Before Its Journey Officially Begins. Deer & Boy is about to launch on PC and consoles, bringing a wordless journey between a boy and a deer through a deeply emotional world.
neutral · AI labelView post →Deer & Boy [PC - 74] www.metacritic.com/game/deer-an... "With beautiful visuals, engaging gameplay that evolves throughout, and excellent sound design and music, Deer & Boy is a fantastic and polished cinematic platformer with a huge heart..." - Gamer Social Club
neutral · AI labelView post →Deer & Boy was a very cute game. A little clunky at times, but I loved the visuals and the narrative. Very beautiful, incredible music, and I would hug that deer in every single lifetime.
positive · AI labelView post →This game was incredible. From the graphics to the story and game design, it's truly on of the best full gaming experiences I've had. Although I think 20€ might be a high price for a 4-4.5 hour game, I would say it's worth it. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes cinematic atmospheric story games :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Quiet Masterpiece of Healing and Heart. 2026's True Hidden Gem. When I first heard about Deer & Boy, I knew it was going to be special, but I wasn't prepared for how deeply it would touch my soul. This game is an absolute triumph of indie storytelling, a fragile and beautiful interactive animation that turns a personal, heartbreaking journey into something transcendent. The game is a masterclass in visual storytelling. There are no words spoken, yet you feel every single emotion with…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super cute story, beautiful visuals. I love this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →live on twitch today for more cozy game demos! we're checking out out Deer & Boy, Moss: The Forgotten Relic, Moonlight Peaks, Otterly Lost, and maybe more! ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔ twitch.tv/marziplant ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔ
neutral · AI labelView post →great game! well done the story was amazing. recommended if your a fan of planet of lana or side scrolling puzzle game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is such a lovely heart warming game and I'm all for it. Couldn't stop playing 10/10 for me. If you want something to play, this is what to play very good story. Love the bond between the Deer and the boy.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Captures what it really means to have a pet or companion. Sometimes they find you at your lowest, where you would to anything and they would do anything for you. I expected adventure, but it exceeded my expectations in a good way.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was so full of emotion, beautiful level design, and wonderful puzzles. Brought me to tears at several points. 10/10 would Recommend. Don't forget to hug your parents.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Vanishing of Ethan Carter SOMA A Short Hike Order 13 Never Alone Monsters are Coming! Little Kitty, Big City Is This Game Trying to Kill Me? A Highland Song Dredge Deer & Boy Crime Scene Cleaner Creature Kitchen
neutral · AI labelView post →Deer & Boy is a delightful little Limbo-like that will probably draw a tear or two unless you're dead inside. took me 4.5 hours, puzzles are pretty simple, definitely borrows from other games like it. But it's got a lot of heart.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If they paid more money to their programmers and less money to the artists this game might handle well. I have played $5 rage games with better controls than this. I have been soft locked out of 2 different puzzles because the game thought I was falling when I was standing on a platform and it just looped falling animations nonstop until I reset.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game better win freaking awards honestly because it is AMAZING. It's certainly not the cozy game i was expecting but everything about it is well done. Beautiful visuals and animation, a heart warming story and fantastic journey. HIghly recommend to everyone
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed this game but at the end there was a few sections of the game where a bug/glitch with the movement absolutely ruined my experience. Starting with a certain section the game would refuse to move the character and instead spin him in the direction you him want to move. The movement would come back randomly but when he stopped for any reason then the character would be to just spinning and not walking until the bug allowed the character to walk again. I could've completed the game…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Pretty good game. Puzzles and platforming aren't too hard, even though I died many time because I thought the kid had the skills of Nathan Drake. Sometimes, it is a bit confusing on where you can and can't go; which didn't help with times I thought I couldn't go somewhere because the character didn't jump onto an object, even though he could. I disliked one section at the end of the game, since the camera angle made it a bit difficult to see the floor. Visuals were pretty great, one of my…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished this game in one go and my god how beautiful this game is! From the music to the art it's just stunning, even the story is not lacking! Cried so much at the end so you know that the story was getting to me <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After having it on my wishlist for two years, the demo for Deer & Boy didn't disappoint. #indiegames www.the-indie-game-cafe.com/virtual-brew...
positive · AI labelView post →Inktober day 14 ! Trunk ! Trunk-Man, the nemesis of 🦌 Deer Boy ! I'm creating characters for a fake fighting game! Trunk Man fight with... A Trunk ! #inktober #inktober2025 #inktober2025trunk
neutral · AI labelView post →A gentle, quietly affecting little game. The story is, to my mind, its greatest strength: not a single word is uttered from beginning to end, and the tale of Deer & Boy is told entirely through the interactions between its two protagonists. The environments are spare, but that restraint is precisely what makes them so effective. The one cloud in an otherwise clear sky is the platforming. Deer & Boy is an environmental puzzler, and its puzzles are elegant if undemanding; the real difficulty…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →simple but beautiful visuals and gameplay mechanics with a touching story, just what I expected.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just beautiful. It will make you cry, but it is beautiful.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Thanks for watching this week. Ended a little early because we finished Deer & Boy and it broke me emotionally. #deerandboy It's a great game though. Loved playing it. I'll see you all next week
positive · AI labelView post →Playing Deer & Boy and this song came on. I got very emotional 🥹 www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDDV...
neutral · AI labelView post →
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