5 Years Later, Sayonara Wild Hearts Gains More Significance With Each Revisit

As I revisit Sayonara Wild Hearts on its 5-year anniversary, it feels like reuniting with an old friend who’s still as vibrant and captivating as ever. This pop album video game by Simogo has been a constant companion since 2019, a time capsule that I’ve returned to when in need of a quick escape or a soothing melody.


Today marks the fifth anniversary of Sayonara Wild Hearts! Let’s dive into what it’s like to re-experience this game and its music after all these years.

As time goes on, my longing for Sayonara Wild Hearts grows stronger. This “pop album game” created by Simogo, who have also developed games like Year Walk and Lorelei and the Laser Eyes in 2024, feels like a timeless arcade machine. The short levels and competitive scoring system drew me in back in 2019 and haven’t let go since. I find myself revisiting it occasionally due to its captivating presentation. Yet, even after five years, each return reveals the experience carries more meaning with every revisit.

Among the select titles that remain on my PC since their release, Sayonara Wild Hearts stands out as a favorite. Initially, I would choose to play just one or two levels during brief breaks from other activities, particularly roguelike games. However, with time, it transformed into a preferred choice for unwinding after a tiring week or when needing to clear my thoughts.

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What resonates most deeply for me is the emotional impact of these sequences, combined with their haunting soundtrack and a storyline revolving around a woman experiencing heartbreak – this has left a lasting impression on me. I’ve committed to memory which Dancing Devils character emerges during each verse in “Begin Again.” I can predict when “A Place I Don’t Know” will have its needle drop even with the sound off. The music serves as my go-to solace for melancholy moments or times when I need a boost, helping me choose the right songs to comfort or uplift me.

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Few games are as relentlessly intense and indelible in memory, making them hard to forget or leave behind for good, even years after they were first released. Revisiting Sayonara Wild Hearts on New Year’s Eve 2019, which has since become an annual tradition for me, I was still recovering from a three-year relationship. During my recent revisit, preparing for this article, I found myself reflecting on my personal growth and the dating experiences I’ve had since then. However, that evening’s play session took on new meaning once more.

It was announced by Bloomberg that the entire team at Annapurna Interactive, known for publishing games like Sayonara Wild Hearts and many others, collectively stepped down due to internal conflicts regarding the future direction of their division. These disagreements included a collapsed deal aimed at transforming the gaming sector into an independent company. Among those who left were Annapurna Interactive’s president Nathan Gary, co-heads Nathan Vella and Deborah Mars, as well as other staff members.

Megan Ellison, founder of Annapurna Interactive, emphasized that they prioritize assisting “developers and publishing partners during this period of change.” According to a representative, the company intends to carry on with current agreements while hiring new employees to fill vacant positions. In the subsequent days, some developers, such as Wanderstop, Mixtape, and We Kill Monsters, posted updates about their projects, ensuring that their collaborations remain active.

Currently, Simogo has not yet disclosed any specific plans regarding their future projects following their publishing deal with Annapurna in 2020. Previously, they were working on “Project Fuzzy Optics,” also known as Lorelei and the Laser Eyes. At this point, it’s unclear what will come next, especially since Sayonara Wild Hearts is no longer available for separate purchase on iOS or macOS after being removed from Apple Arcade on August 15th. Despite the publisher’s efforts to allay concerns about the Interactive team being rebuilt, the individuals who were instrumental in making this partnership and many others happen under a shared vision will not be involved in it moving forward.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to note that Simogo’s creations were among Annapurna’s distinctive hallmarks. In essence, Sayonara’s varied assortment of unique experiences resonates with the publisher’s eclectic game portfolio, boasting titles such as If Found…, Outer Wilds, Kentucky Route Zero, What Remains of Edith Finch, Neon White, and numerous others all sharing the same roof.

Sayonara Wild Hearts emphasizes the remnants we carry with us, and the Fading Memories cassette tape serves as a lasting record of unreleased compositions and tracks from its creators. Similar to games such as Open Roads, Florence, and Wattam, these are fragments reflecting a troubled aspect of Annapurna Interactive, following accusations in 2022 by People Make Games that the company failed to effectively address allegedly toxic work conditions within their organization.

Simogo consistently approaches each new project with a unique twist. Lessons garnered throughout their journey don’t influence sequels, but instead spark diverse aesthetics and concepts that can sometimes be strikingly different. It’s challenging to anticipate the visual and gameplay characteristics of their next game, just as it’s uncertain what fresh meaning a return to Sayonara Wild Hearts might bring.

The next time I play “Doki Doki Rush,” I might choose to bypass the collectible in the main road and opt for a side path instead, curious to discover what it holds. Instead of checking my previous score, I’ll focus solely on appreciating the music. Regardless of whether it’s been months or years, tales about someone going through heartbreak will remain relatable, and even more so when they inspire us to ponder over the passage of time – to consider that no matter how much time passes, there’s always an opportunity for a fresh start.

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2024-09-19 17:40