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About Headlander
Headlander casts you as the last human, reduced to a floating head that can dock into any robotic body. Using a special helmet, you hop between hosts to explore a hostile, automated world and uncover clues about humanity’s shattered past.
Presented by Double Fine Productions, the game is a retro‑futuristic side‑scrolling action‑adventure inspired by 1970s science‑fiction. It runs on Windows and macOS and includes Steam features such as achievements, cloud saves, Remote Play and Family Sharing.
01 / THE GUIDE
Narrative Premise
You are the last known human, existing only as a disembodied head. A helmet lets you dock into any robotic host, moving from body to body across a world ruled by machines.
Through each host you discover that humanity’s minds were transferred into robotic imposters and that a deranged computer now governs this utopia gone wrong.
- Watch visual details on each host for hints about the world’s history.
- Collect dialogue fragments to piece together the larger story.
02 / THE GUIDE
Side‑Scrolling Action
The game plays as a side‑scrolling adventure, moving horizontally through environments while you control robotic bodies. Platforming challenges and confrontations with hostile machines form the core action.
A retro‑futuristic aesthetic drawn from 70’s science‑fiction gives each level a distinctive visual style that reinforces the narrative tone.
- Use the horizontal view to anticipate upcoming obstacles.
- Compare visual cues of each area to gauge difficulty.
03 / THE GUIDE
Single‑Player Mode
Headlander is designed for a single player, focusing on personal exploration and story discovery. All gameplay elements, from docking to combat, are intended for one person.
The game is listed as single-player, so the experience centers on one person’s exploration.
- Plan your route without relying on other players.
- Track personal milestones to gauge progress.
04 / THE GUIDE
Full Controller Support
The title includes full controller support, allowing you to navigate, dock and engage in combat using a supported controller. All core gameplay functions are accessible via the controller.
This support ensures that players can experience the side‑scrolling action without needing alternative input devices.
- Test analog stick movement for precise navigation.
- Observe button response when initiating docking.
05 / THE GUIDE
Steam Features
Headlander integrates several Steam services: achievements reward milestones, cloud saves keep progress synced, Remote Play streams the game to a TV, and Family Sharing permits shared access.
These features operate independently of core gameplay, offering convenience and flexibility for different play environments.
- Enable Steam Cloud so your saves stay synced.
- Use Remote Play to enjoy the side‑scroll view on a larger screen.
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