Été - A Euphoric Journey of Coloring Montreal's Vibrant Streets In This Review
Explore 'Été,' an indie game from studio Impossible, where you color Montreal's streets with vibrant watercolor art. Dive into this unique indie gaming experience today!
EDIT 5/15/2025: For new review formatting, added missing soundtrack.
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Game: Été
Studio: Impossible
Publisher: Impossible
Platforms: Steam
Completion Time: 5 Hours
Price: $24.99
Genre: Adventure, Exploration, Relaxing
❎
Steam Deck Verified
The beautiful world of Été was a game I first saw at last year’s Day of The Devs 2023. The creative director Lazlo introed the game and it’s unique look and colorful world had my attention. I was surprised a year later to have a opportunity to review the game, and here we are!
Welcome to Montreal
Imagine a summer in Montreal, where the city's vibrant streets and scenic neighborhoods come to life with every stroke of your paintbrush. You are a watercolor painter who has just arrived in this city, looking for a new creative outlet. This is the premise of Été, the debut title from Impossible, an indie studio based in Montreal.
One of the first decisions you make is to pick a color in the game, and I chose cyan as my favorite. This decision brings color to certain items you see throughout your exploration of the city, like the bike you use to travel around you can see in a painting I made here.
Euphoric Sights and Sounds
The game’s core mechanic—using watercolor to paint the world in 3D—is both innovative and visually stunning. As you color various Montreal neighborhoods, you reveal the hidden beauty of the city, making each exploration a new and delightful experience. Coloring in each item flashes with a highlight that brings it to life. Bubbles of watercolor orbs jump out from each everyday item and float above until you move closer to collect them. The sound they make is a full-on dopamine rush for me every time. That popping bubble sound is truly euphoric.
I found that I would get a bit lost in just wanting to add color to the world. In one instance, I accidentally discovered that the sky itself was a canvas. Now, I was filling the world with a bright blue sky that was not only exciting to paint but also a rush of happiness to give this world its full potential. It was the end of the day for me in the game, so I immediately went to sleep so I could wake up to paint more of the sky.
Freedom to Create
One of the standout features of Été is its emphasis on creative freedom. Players can create unique artworks by assembling stamp compositions on canvas, allowing for limitless artistic expression. This feature, paired with the ability to collect stamps for your sketchbook during your explorations, encourages players to continually seek out new subjects to paint, enriching their in-game experience.
As you create these pieces of work, you sometimes have the option to not only rotate, adjust the size, or recolor them, but also to animate them as you see here. This gives more life to the paintings when creating new pieces.
The game also offers a relaxing and pressure-free environment. There are no failures, making it perfect for unwinding and enjoying at your own pace. This calming aspect is complemented by the game's other activities, such as decorating your art studio. Players can purchase and arrange furniture and trinkets to create their ideal creative space, further personalizing their journey.
Similar to games like Animal Crossing, you can interact with the antique shop owner to refresh the items in the shop so you can complete a collection of furniture or decorations.
Engaging Interactions and Meaningful Tasks
In addition to its artistic features, Été fosters a sense of community through its commission system. Players befriend locals and take on their inspiring artwork requests. These commissions are designed as puzzles, adding a layer of thoughtful engagement without overwhelming the player. This mechanic not only drives the narrative forward but also deepens your connection to the world and its residents.
For instance, you meet a woman who sells different items in the main neighborhoods and decorates her storefront with birdcages. She has an obsession with birds and asks you to watercolor a piece for her, and upon delivering this new piece, you are rewarded with the stamps I mentioned earlier of a birdcage and feather.
Exploration
Été’s exploration aspect is another highlight. As you progress, more neighborhoods become accessible, each offering new sights and artistic opportunities. When you find bike racks in each area, they give you the ability to fast travel between these neighborhoods, making it easy to complete the artwork requests.
The game beautifully captures the essence of Montreal, with its diverse architecture and vibrant culture, making the city feel alive and inviting.
Soundtrack and Audio
The audio cues you hear from watercoloring, absorbing watercolor, and discovering new pigments around Montreal are done with great detail by Eric Shaw and the team at Pixel Audio. These audio cues are accentuated by the enthralling soundtrack that, while reminiscent of a typical French style, breathes life into each watercolor session.
You have to pay close attention to the audio in the game, or you might miss the hidden items in the city. These sometimes easy-to-find items are pigments that you collect. You hear what is the equivalent of shining light, and once you have three of them, you can combine them to unlock more colors to use in your watercolor palette.
Été (Original Game Soundtrack) - Paysages | Eric Shaw | Pixel Audio
Été (Original Game Soundtrack) - Portraits | Eric Shaw | Pixel Audio
I❤️MTL
Impossible’s Été is a delight of interactive art and exploration. It invites players to immerse themselves in a world where creativity knows no bounds and relaxation is a staple. Whether you are an artist at heart or simply someone looking for a calm gaming experience, Été offers a unique blend of painting, exploration, and personal expression that is both captivating and refreshing.
In my early 20s, I would frequent Montreal and personally loved the look and feel of that city. It was like a tiny little European town in North America where an occasional shop owner would delight this American's socially outgoing banter. Aside from me not finding any poutine in the game, it felt like I was back in the city, in my 20s, exploring the streets of Montreal again, but of course not smoking weed and going to a Justice DJ set in a dive bar. (I wasn’t a saint in my early 20s)
I typically don’t like farming in games, and I can see how coloring every item you see might feel similar, but as I mentioned, it is a truly euphoric feeling to bring color to this world.
Now that you've learned a bit about the game, what do you think? Will you check out this indie title? Make sure to let me know in the comments!
Été is now available on Steam. The game was reviewed on a Rog Ally which it plays on great with low settings. The download code for the game was supplied by Popagenda through Impossible.
I played the demo for this game and loved it. I added the game to my wish list and I've yet to purchase it. I've even skipped out on the sales. I don't typically like buying games that are short. Is it short? Replay-able?