A narrative adventure four years in the making, Bye Sweet Carole was a surprise upon its release in 2025. The first production of the Italian studio Little Sewing Machine, is an entirely hand-drawn video game. Much like how Cuphead combined rubber hose art and run ‘n gun style, this title merges the style of animated classics with the horror genre. A passion project that shines for visuals and narrative alike, but whose gameplay struggles to meet expectations.

The mystery of Carole’s disappearance

It all starts with a girl, too small and inadequate for that world of ash, tar and coal where she was born.

The game opens like a fairy tale, with a narrator introducing the protagonist and the story’s setting: the Bunny Hall orphanage. Here is where young Lana Benton‘s story begins, shortly after the disappearance of her only friend, Carole Simmons. Rumours say that she has run away with a boy, but Lana believes that there is more to it. Her quest to uncover the truth will lead far beyond the world she knows, into the magic Kingdom of Corolla. Here she will meet the nefarious Mr Kyn, a man made of tar whose presence begins to corrupt the fabric of time and reality.

As the story progresses, more and more strange events begin to occur within the orphanage’s walls. Girls start to disappear, adults transform into monsters, and time itself stops. But where does real life end and dreams begin? Why is Mr Kyn after Alana? And the greatest mystery of all: what happened to Carole?

Chris Darril’s hand-drawn fairy tale

The defining feature of Bye Sweet Carole is its hand-drawn nature. It is created and directed by Italian game designer Chris Darril, author of the survival horror series Remothered. This project takes direct inspiration from the classic animated films of his childhood. From the character designs to the backgrounds, from the music to the voice acting. Every element is an homage to the golden era of 2D animation. Lana’s design, expression and event moments allude to the early protagonists of Disney movies. The concept of a fantastical world evokes the imagery of Lewis Carroll‘s Alice in Wonderland. Meanwhile, the darker atmospheres remind one of Don Bluth’s works. However, while paying tribute to such classics, the title maintains its own identity.

While the story itself is not original, the visuals are unique for a video game. The cut scenes give the chance to appreciate the extent and detail of the animators’ work. However, the in-game animations are of no less quality. Everything is elevated by the soundtrack, which uses delicate melodies for the moments of tranquillity and spikes in intensity when danger draws near. In addition, every character is dubbed, which contributes to the nostalgia of watching an animated classic, complete with a narrator. The result is a product bound to stand out, and the passion poured into it is tangible.

Coming-of-age themes and feminist undertones

Despite its fairy tale-like tone, the themes it explores are mature, and the narrative handles them with due care. Bye Sweet Carole focuses first and foremost on the passage into adulthood. Much like Peter Pan, Lana refuses to grow up, choosing instead to cling to the remains of her childhood. The prospect of the fantastical kingdom of Corolla seems far more appealing than the strict, industrialised 20th-century England she lives in. The very world of ash, tar and coal that the Narrator introduces at the beginning. Between her fears towards the future and longing for a genuine connection, it is easy to feel sympathy for Lana. And it is that connection that makes the emotional aspect of the story resonate even more.

Then there is the theme of feminism. There are multiple references to the rise of the suffrage movement, as well as to the mentality of a society that still refused to grant women independence. Ms Hinman, the director of the orphanage, embodies that society. She strives to shape young girls into proper ladies, whose only prospects are to become wives and mothers. And those who do not fit into this expectation – like Lana and the newly arrived Amanda – are outcasts, who end up finding solace in one another. Like the friendship between Lana and Carole, which made life at the orphanage bearable. Or the support of Ms Josephine, the only adult figure to bring comfort to Lana. As a result, the importance of female bonds becomes even more relevant, as also shown in the graphic novel Paper Girls.

A blend of fairy-tale fantasy and survival horror

Another unique aspect of Bye Sweet Carole is its blend of charming visuals with horror elements. As a narrative-driven platformer, the environmental puzzles to solve during Lana’s investigation are relatively simple, from unlocking an elevator to retrieving a burning letter and even finding a way to reverse time. This is a deliberate choice, as these puzzles are a support to the main story rather than its core. Instead, the elements of challenge and horror in such scenarios are the stalker enemy. Usually one per level, these enemies present varying degrees of fantastical, from the eerie housekeeper Frank to the monstrous Ms Fisherin, who appears to be a humanoid rabbit. These ominous figures remind of the Janitor and the Twin Cooks that pursue the player in Little Nightmares.

Then there is the main antagonist, Mr Kyn, set on haunting Lana with his army of tar creatures. After an encounter with him, the girl will unlock the ability to transform into a rabbit. This second form is quicker and much more agile, but cannot interact with objects. Thus, the player must choose the best fit to sneak around without being detected by the monsters. However, for the more complex puzzles and rare moments of combat, the player can control a second character: Mr Beasie. With him, new abilities are unlocked: withstanding fire and electrical damage, attacking with an umbrella, and even accessing restricted areas. These extra elements add variety to an otherwise straightforward gameplay.

A stunning narrative adventure held back by flawed gameplay

While Bye Sweet Carole shines in visuals and atmosphere, its gameplay presents various issues. Despite its simple mechanics, the controls make it challenging to perform basic actions. Lana’s walking speed is relatively slow, and many actions require precise timing. In turn, this makes exploring more complex than it needs to be. There are also extra steps to every action that take time to get used to. For example, climbing the stairs requires waiting for a specific icon to appear; otherwise, the character keeps moving along the corridor. And in a game like a survival horror, these flaws become all the more frustrating when running from an enemy.

As shown in other games of the same genre, such as INSIDE, even simple mechanics can elevate the experience when combined with a well-structured design. Bye Sweet Carole attempts to compensate with elements like a regenerating health bar and various checkpoints to avoid excessive backtracking. However, it falls behind due to repetitive mechanics and tedious controls. In conclusion, Bye Sweet Carole is an ambitious project with the potential to be an indie gem, but it still lacks a refined game design to realise its potential fully. Nonetheless, its wonderful animated tale is a feat that commits it to memory.