Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence
Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence
Game
Game2024
SANYA
Developer helpnode
A playful narrative adventure about the warmth of fleeting childhood memories: about a little boy named Sanya, rescuing a stray puppy, making true friends, and engaging in many exciting adventures in a small town set in the achingly strange and nostalgic period of the 90s. From the Steam store page
50 reactions from 2 sources (Bluesky, Steam reviews) · newest Jul 28, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
91
LovedLoved
21 positive · 2 negative
95% range 73–98%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| Steam reviews | 21 | 2 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Positive
26 of 29 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
90% recommend · 26 yes, 3 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 29 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (168 of 224 positive).
Players praise the game's nostalgic and cozy atmosphere, evoking childhood memories. [1][2] Many note the game is very short, often completed in one sitting. [1][3][4] Reviewers appreciate the beautiful art style and sound design. [1][5][6]
Liked
Representative posts
- [13]
My review contains minor spoilers. Here's my opinion without the spoilers: I don't think it is worth the price because of how short it is, I'm disappointed, but the art style was lovely and I enjoyed the nice parts of the game, and will come back to play those. Now the long read: Pretty game, beautiful art style, and it brought me joy and nostalgia. HOWEVER, I expected more, a bit more. I knew it was going to be …
- [1]
SANYA is a narrative adventure centred around childhood memories and nostalgia. Whilst it is much shorter than I expected, this cozy title’s simple gameplay and beautiful artstyle creates a homely and relaxing aura with an abundance of secrets to discover. Pros Cozy, warm and inviting aura Fun minigames Beautiful art Abundance of extras to discover encouraging replays Unique setting Cons Very short Minor bugs Story …
- [3]
SANYA is a game about me. Little me, maybe 8 or 10 year old me. The game is very short (less than a couple of hours), but it feels like it is just the right "size" for the story it tells. Actually, the game has very little story. I would describe it as an intertwining ball of little stories reminiscent of the collective childhood that people of my age and my origin had. - tries and succeeds in pushing the nostalgia …
- [4]
Pros - Charming characters and dialog - Great graphics, really beautiful lighting at times. - Simple but engaging game-play, there is a couple of mini-games buts its mostly clicking through dialog, its practically a visual novel. Cons - Very short, I left the game running for about an hour so my time is overstated but you can probably get through the game in a hour even going at a leisurely pace and exploring …
- [2]
Sanya is a nostalgic slice-of-life story set in post-Soviet '90s Russia. It’s a short and warm point & click adventure about Sanya - a young boy who moves into a new apartment together with his family. We’re shown the day after Sanya arrives at his new home when he discovers a friendly dog that he adopts as his pet, makes friends with the kids around the block and embarks on small childhood adventures with them. The …
Summarised from 34 of the 56 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
SANYA sits at 91% positive across 23 opinionated reactions from 2 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Reactions
50 of 50 · most liked firstIt’s beautiful to watch how Team Palestine was welcomed when they arrived in Sanya, Hainan Island, China, for the 6th Asian Beach Game 👏👏👏👏👏👏💙😎💙
neutral · AI labelView post →SANYA is a narrative adventure centred around childhood memories and nostalgia. Whilst it is much shorter than I expected, this cozy title’s simple gameplay and beautiful artstyle creates a homely and relaxing aura with an abundance of secrets to discover. Pros Cozy, warm and inviting aura Fun minigames Beautiful art Abundance of extras to discover encouraging replays Unique setting Cons Very short Minor bugs Story SANYA is set in post-soviet 90’s…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sanya is a nostalgic slice-of-life story set in post-Soviet '90s Russia. It’s a short and warm point & click adventure about Sanya - a young boy who moves into a new apartment together with his family. We’re shown the day after Sanya arrives at his new home when he discovers a friendly dog that he adopts as his pet, makes friends with the kids around the block and embarks on small childhood adventures with them. The game succeeds at conveying these childhood memories as the best time of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Like holy shit, way to give the game away, Mussolini. In a just society this guy would be upside down right now. But maybe if we're real good for Sanya this Christmas ☺️🤞
neutral · AI labelView post →SANYA is a game about me. Little me, maybe 8 or 10 year old me. The game is very short (less than a couple of hours), but it feels like it is just the right "size" for the story it tells. Actually, the game has very little story. I would describe it as an intertwining ball of little stories reminiscent of the collective childhood that people of my age and my origin had. - tries and succeeds in pushing the nostalgia buttons. some examples include: + father who is always at work + loving and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Matching lineless icons (with alts) commission for @kumquats.bsky.social ! Sanya and Izuna from Runes of Pandemonium 🦊🤎🤍🦊
neutral · AI labelView post →A wonderful small game!! Liked all the 2 hours of it <3 Very beautiful art, great sound design and music! The forest scene especially. Max is my faborite!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I guess I should formally announce my presence. Greetings all, I'm Sanya. I'm the CEO of a quaint little game studio I founded, and am interested in Meteorology and the sciences in general. Me and my studio are making a game ATM, called Project Absentia.
neutral · AI labelView post →Completed commission for @kumquats.bsky.social of the fruit bat Sanya, from the indie game Runes.
neutral · AI labelView post →Runes of Pandemonium’s latest chapter is out now for their supporters! Check it out here: bottledstarlight.com/2026/01/26/c... If you enjoy Crimson Veil, you’ll love this game too. Free public release next month! (Sanya art by me!)
neutral · AI labelView post →VGen commission for @kumquats.bsky.social of Sanya and Izuna from Runes of Pandemonium! I had so much fun with this one 😊 [ #VGenComm #vgen #commission #art #artist ]
neutral · AI labelView post →BSKY Introduction Thread: FFXIV Edition Character: Sanya Aleksandr Server: Malboro Main: DNC/WHM When did you start: around September last year Favorite thing/s to do in game: roulettes, fishing, gpose and recently having fun with crafting but i love pvp! the most and well... i do afk a lot too :D
neutral · AI labelView post →👥 A small part of the Depra team 👤 Kolyan — code and production. 👤 Den — game design and gameplay. 🗣️ Sanya — 3D and bad ideas. 🏌️♀️ Lena — marketing and visibility. The rest stayed off-camera) #indiedev #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →My review contains minor spoilers. Here's my opinion without the spoilers: I don't think it is worth the price because of how short it is, I'm disappointed, but the art style was lovely and I enjoyed the nice parts of the game, and will come back to play those. Now the long read: Pretty game, beautiful art style, and it brought me joy and nostalgia. HOWEVER, I expected more, a bit more. I knew it was going to be short, but it was shorter than I expected. I wanted Sanya to face different…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎉 It's the 1 year anniversary of Sanya! 🎉 To celebrate, the game is part of the #WomensDaySale by @wingsfund.me which means NOW is the perfect time to dive in and experience it! 🎮✨ Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to play! store.steampowered.com/app/1667360/...
neutral · AI labelView post →This is basically an ordinary day of all boys who grew up in ex-USSR countries, and I'm glad I was one. There's no actual plot, unfortunately, but I think the game does what it's supposed to - it evokes your childhood memories. I hope the devs will get back to us with a more complex game in the same setting.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sanya is a heartwarming tale about friendship, community and not angering your mother set in a post-soviet reality. Beautifully designed and crafted, evoking some of my earliest memories, it was a joy to play and experience. Of course, it left me wanting more -- the bitter-sweetness of a story that's well written.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the lead of the game I've primarily worked on, Project Absentia, is nonbinary and one of my closest friends. anyone who wants to hurt Sanya will have to go through me first.
neutral · AI labelView post →Pros - Charming characters and dialog - Great graphics, really beautiful lighting at times. - Simple but engaging game-play, there is a couple of mini-games buts its mostly clicking through dialog, its practically a visual novel. Cons - Very short, I left the game running for about an hour so my time is overstated but you can probably get through the game in a hour even going at a leisurely pace and exploring everything. - Only saves at certain points but then again its probably meant to be…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While there’s a fair bit to do in Sanya, I waltzed through it all so easily that it never felt like enough. Most gameplay elements are fun, but they’re over so quickly I wanted even more of them, like additional logic puzzles or giving Pumpkin new commands. Others, however, could’ve used some fine-tuning or even full redesigns, like the river platforming sequence. Failing any optional mini-games won’t impede progress, but still might tempt me into a second playthrough. I want to win that bike…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Simple, short, super shallow "story", buggy, and this game has the facade of nostalgia (or at least pieces here and there) but then the credits.... Нет, спасибо
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The music and the art are awesome and heartwarming ♥ ♥ ♥ The game has sooo many adorable and nostalgic details, and the Pumpkin is such a cutie pie. It's just the right game to relax and forget your problems. At least for a couple of hours...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →hey, I’m Valya! 🌺I'm a game designer & producer 🌺living in Berlin 🌺making my first tiny game SANYA I love soft lemon cookies and my doggie will u be my friend?👉👈
neutral · AI labelView post →Characters left to right: Sasha (from a future game), Sanya (from Saccharine), and Abby (from Project Absentia). I still am planning that game with Sasha.
neutral · AI labelView post →Sketch commission for @kumquats.bsky.social of Sanya, the vampire fruit bat from the indie game Runes.
neutral · AI labelView post →Our second game is a freeware seasonal game called Saccharine. Play as Sanya, a former police detective fighting a festive threat around the holiday season. Frag possessed elves, giant bumbles, shotgun-weilding bears and more. It gets updated regularly.
neutral · AI labelView post →I wanted to play a cozy game to brighten up my day and Sanya delivered - at first. The first hour of gameplay is really sweet and the little riddles are fun. I love the artstyle and the music as well as the overall setting. Even though we only get some hints here and there regarding the characters' stories, it is enough to feel for them. Although, I would have liked for it to go on for a little longer. So much for the things that made a good impression on me. The next part contains some…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a very cozy and bright game with solid nostalgic vibes! 10 burbos out of 10!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hey all! We have a special stream today at 4pm CDT! Today I'll be streaming a NEW game from a friend and community member SanyaWaffles called Project Absentia! Sanya has been working on this game for years and it just came out, and I'll be playing it tonight until 8:30pm! Hope to see you there!
neutral · AI labelView post →I was truly excited to play this game. I wanted some safe space after work to bring back my childhood memories, that smell of hot summer, the taste of kvas after dogonyalki, and the endless feeling of being cared. Short, heartwarming story. Point & click interaction. The visual is something I can yap about for ages. Your designers did truly inspiring and awesome job! And the sound? OMG! P.S.: But why did you feel the need to mention politics in such game which is supposed to be a comforting,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sanya, a narrative adventure game, by Helpnode helpnode.mmm.page/sanya youtu.be/jusQ4v23geo
neutral · AI labelView post →Short adventure about Sanya and his dog Pumpkin, wholesome at every moment, may make you teary-eyed by the end. :')
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short and cozzy adventure. The art style is pretty distinctive and reminisce off the childhood.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SANYA, YOU'RE STILL ON YOUR GAME. GBY
neutral · AI labelView post →SANYA is a small-scale narrative adventure developed and published by helpnode that focuses less on traditional gameplay challenges and more on evoking a specific emotional space: childhood curiosity, freedom, and the quiet texture of everyday life in a post-Soviet town during the 1990s. Rather than telling a dramatic or high-concept story, the game invites players into a gentle, memory-like journey shaped by simple joys, fleeting worries, and the feeling of a long summer day that seems endless…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This lovely, challenge-free side-scrolling adventure shines brightest as a charming nostalgic reflection on childhood. A Johnny Nys -AGH review of Sanya adventuregamehotspot.com/review/1444/... @helpnode #indiegame #adventuregame #gamereview #pcgame
neutral · AI labelView post →A short good story about little boy and his dog
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My game, Sanya, is finaly coming to Steam on March 1st! It has been a long journey spanning four years. And now, it has finally come to an end. Wow! Wishlist: store.steampowered.com/app/1667360/...
neutral · AI labelView post →if you ask what the game Sanya is I will send you this pic
neutral · AI labelView post →Sanya legit might be my favorite character and I say that with the last one I’ve got to being Skin Game Butters. FRIGGEN BUTTERS I was getting those vibes. Still didn’t see it coming. Also polka will never die
neutral · AI labelView post →Nissan Formula E Team’s strong strategy went unrewarded in Sanya — a promising game plan undone by incidents and extreme conditions. Read the full recap and what it means for the championship: wix.to/4bM4B8i #FormulaE #Nissan #Sanya #Motorsport #RacingNews
neutral · AI labelView post →https://youtu.be/xyOtwA8JtmY Telling a slice of life coming of age story from a lesser focused region is a great change of pace.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Haven’t picked a J1 team to root for yet, but Kyoto Sanya and Cereza Osaka’s game sponsored ones aren’t making the choice easier
neutral · AI labelView post →#WhiteAndBlack (2007) Two years after Haley is betrayed by her partner and her employer, she returns to play a deadly game with those who betrayed her. Aided by her friend Sanya, they enlist the help of other willing and unwilling players. #GirlsWithGuns #EstellaPerez #FilmSky #MovieSky 📽️ 🎬
neutral · AI labelView post →MAY 2025 VIDEO GAMES Canvas of Kings, demo (very useful! REC) GearGrit, demo (high rec) Chorus of Carcosa, demo (rec depends) Shards Between Us, demo (rec depends) SANYA, demo (rec) Locomoto, demo (REC) The Witchmade Shop, demo (rec depends) Stay? interactive fiction game (HIGH REC)
neutral · AI labelView post →Very sweet game. I wish it was longer)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a bit expensive for the length (about an hour and 20 minutes) so I'd recommend buying the game when it's on sale. It's a little timecapsule of moving to a new area in 90s Russia and making friends. It's very endearing, the art and music are great too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing game that I would recommend for my fellow immigrants, who miss their childhood and home!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very warm and cozy game, loved it so much! Amazing art and story, a lot of small things to explore... and you can pet a dog (!!)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →SANYA is HERE!! 🎉 🐾 If you want to play a narrative, puzzle/adventure game about the warmth of childhood memories, taking place in the 90's, this is the game for you! 🎮 Sanya is out NOW on Steam! ✨ store.steampowered.com/app/1667360/... ✨
neutral · AI labelView post →Happy Valentine's season! 💘 Here is a beautiful artwork of Sanya and his boyfriend made by the developer of the game! Sanya is coming to Steam very soon! 🎮
neutral · AI labelView post →SANYA From the "About this game" section on Steam: "Imagine it's the 90s and you're a kid again. It’s a difficult time filled with political instability and poverty. But when you’re seven years old none of this matters." Demo available. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1667360/SANYA/
neutral · AI labelView post →
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