Before I Go

About

Before I Go is a single player open world platformer game with fantasy and dark fantasy themes. It was developed by J's Labratory and was released on April 13, 2026. It received very positive reviews from players.

Explore the haunting, dreamlike fantasy world of BEFORE I GO, a punishing Metroidvania where you embody the innocence of an inner child on an allegorical odyssey towards death acceptance. The end is inevitable, but will you brave the journey? The world is old and unwell. An ominous affliction has left every living soul weak, terrified and helpless before despair. But this paralyzing infestation h…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews

gameplay8 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Extremely tight, smooth, and responsive platforming controls that enhance the precision gameplay experience.
Beautiful and atmospheric art style paired with a calming, fitting soundtrack that supports exploration and immersion.
Well-designed, interconnected map with rewarding exploration, upgrades, and meaningful progression through abilities.

Backtracking can be tedious due to sparse fast travel points and late acquisition of dash ability, making navigation feel slow.
Some platforming sections, especially later in the game, become very punishing and may frustrate players not looking for extreme challenge.
Boss fights and combat feel less polished and somewhat repetitive, occasionally lacking challenge or variety.

gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The gameplay is widely praised for its smooth, innovative mechanics and enjoyable platforming, combining elements reminiscent of Hollow Knight and Metroid with smart controls and a strong atmospheric feel. Despite some underwhelming enemy designs and a less captivating story, the gameplay remains the standout feature, delivering a satisfying and polished experience for metroidvania fans.
- “Awesome game with really cool, borderline innovative mechanics.”
- “A joy to play :-d I love the world's atmosphere, the characters are strange and intriguing, the gameplay is smart and our puppet controls wonderfully!”
- “For Metroidvania enjoyers (and for all): if you value smooth gameplay and solid performance, this is a must play.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
45%
The game's graphics are highly praised for their beautiful, polished 2.5D art style that evokes a strong atmospheric sense of loneliness and depth, reminiscent of classic titles like Super Metroid. The visuals skillfully complement diverse environments—from dark caves to sky heights—enhanced by moody lighting and a cohesive aesthetic that grows more impressive as the game progresses. Overall, the combination of stunning artwork, detailed environments, and fitting musical accompaniment creates a captivating and immersive experience.
- “The 2.5D art style is beautiful, somewhat reminiscent of Grime or Mobius Machine.”
- “It plays super well and the aesthetics of the game and surrounding world are really magnificent, ranging from dark caves to sky heights and many more.”
- “Most of the game occurs in the setting of a huge cave, and it manages to give some “lo-fi” aesthetics with both the music and the lighting effects.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
30%
20%
The music is widely praised for its calming, minimalist, and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the game's sense of loneliness and exploration. Many users find the soundtrack soothing and enjoyable enough to listen to outside the game, complementing the art style and overall mood effectively.
- “The art style and music create a sense of loneliness similar to Super Metroid.”
- “Music and OST were pretty nice and calming, allowing for hours of exploration without getting bored. I didn't mind listening to it the whole time during the playthrough.”
- “While the presentation can feel sometimes stiff or dull due to only basic use of lighting, it can make up for it with its bizarre atmosphere and minimalist soundtrack.”
- “Most of the game occurs in the setting of a huge cave, and it manages to give some 'lo-fi' aesthetics with both the music and the lighting effects.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The story is generally brief, surreal, and somewhat obscure, with elements of mythology and a quiet, intimate narrative. While it adds meaning to the world, many players found it less compelling or secondary to the gameplay experience. Overall, the story serves more as an atmospheric backdrop than a deeply engaging plot.
- “Most important of all, I have the feeling there is meaning to the world and the developer tries to tell an intimate story that's quite clear from the beginning when a mother-like figure tries to comfort you; still, it's up to you to make it through the end.”
- “The game presents you with the story of old architects and gods and how some kind of plague is taking over the world, and you are just a chosen survivor to disrupt the chaos.”
- “I didn't pay a lot of attention to the story, but it's told in brief, surrealistic dialog with NPCs that you periodically encounter.”
- “The story itself wasn’t captivating enough for me, and I feel that it was saved (and mostly ignored) by the gameplay and how smooth everything feels.”
- “There is a story (that mostly went over my head), but gameplay is king here.”
- “I didn't pay a lot of attention to the story, but it's told in brief, surrealistic dialogue with NPCs that you periodically encounter.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique, intriguing world and characters, complemented by a minimalist but effective soundtrack. Despite occasional stiffness in presentation, the bizarre and hostile environment enhances the overall experience, striking a strong balance between challenge and immersion.
- “I love the world's atmosphere, the characters are strange and intriguing, the gameplay is smart and our puppet controls wonderfully!”
- “Before I Go is an unapologetically difficult but remarkably fair precision platformer with wonderful visual style and atmosphere.”
- “Finding a metroidvania that strikes the right balance between good atmosphere and comprehensible challenge is no easy feat, especially when it’s the work of a single developer.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is well-optimized, delivering smooth, rock-solid performance even on older hardware without any bugs or frame drops, ensuring an enjoyable experience for all players.
- “I played on an older laptop with zero performance issues.”
- “Atmosphere is great, music was solid, performance was excellent.”
- “Rock-solid performance: I played the entire game without a single bug or frame drop.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciated the character designs and cryptic dialogue, which added depth and personality to the game despite its otherwise bland visuals. However, enemy designs were generally considered underwhelming.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players feel that grinding can be tedious and suggest either increasing the game's price or limiting purchasable checkpoints to only the most monotonous sections to balance the experience.