Goodboy Galaxy

About

In "Goodboy Galaxy" for GBA, players help Maxwell, a dog stranded in a hostile system, explore jam-packed levels with multiple routes, befriend over 50 characters, and upgrade weapons to find hidden areas and defeat bosses. The game is available in English, Français, Español, Deutsch, and Português, and features a blaster-upgrading system and various challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

music10 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Goodboy Galaxy features tight platforming, clever level design, and a charming art style that captures the essence of classic GBA games while incorporating modern gameplay mechanics.
The game offers a wealth of content, including numerous collectibles, mini-games, and a delightful cast of characters, making it engaging and rewarding to explore.
With its vibrant visuals, catchy soundtrack, and humorous writing, Goodboy Galaxy provides a fun and memorable experience that appeals to both retro game enthusiasts and new players alike.

Some players have reported frustrating difficulty spikes and issues with visibility, particularly with off-screen enemies that can lead to unexpected deaths.
The game can involve tedious backtracking, which may detract from the overall experience for some players, especially when solving puzzles.
While the game is well-designed, some feel that the magic of the original GBA experience is somewhat diminished in this enhanced version.

music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with reviewers praising its catchy and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the option to switch between high-quality and original GBA music, noting that the sound design complements the game's visuals and level design beautifully. Overall, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack deserves equal praise, offering a wide range of catchy, atmospheric tracks that match each environment and situation perfectly.”
- “Soundtrack is crisp, cool, and really catchy; awesome characters and a super fun world to explore.”
- “Incredible visuals, tight platforming and killer soundtrack make this a game a must buy, was planning on giving a positive review until I finished the game but reviews help out with visibility of the game and everyone should know about this game.”
- “This version offers a co-op too which I haven't been able to play but is a plus over the GBA version and a high quality soundtrack alongside the original score.”
- “A fantastic little game with great pixel art, puzzling gameplay, and a kickass soundtrack.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
34%
14%
The gameplay in Goodboy Galaxy is highly praised for its innovative mechanics, engaging level design, and a refreshing take on the collectathon platformer genre. Players enjoy a variety of gameplay elements, including platforming, shooting, exploration, and puzzle-solving, enhanced by a compelling co-op mode and a satisfying loop that encourages repeated exploration. The clever re-contextualization of gameplay mechanics and the depth of content contribute to a captivating experience that keeps players coming back for more.
- “Goodboy Galaxy brings a refreshing twist to the collectathon platformer genre, weaving together clever mechanics, beautiful visuals, and a surprising amount of depth for such a compact game.”
- “This makes for a nice gameplay loop where you explore the level multiple times with one base ability missing each time, giving it a good 'just one more time' effect that made it hard for me to put the game down.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's perhaps most reminiscent of Cave Story (or perhaps a little like 2D Metroid), with platforming, shooting action, exploration, and a little puzzle solving.”
- “The gameplay is constantly being re-contextualized in very clever ways.”
- “The amount of level layouts made by just simply taking a mechanic from you really boggle the mind as to how much time this took to put together.”
- “Gameplay-wise it's perhaps most reminiscent of Cave Story (or perhaps a little like 2D Metroid), with platforming, shooting action, exploration, and a little puzzle solving.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
27%
6%
The graphics of Goodboy Galaxy are widely praised for their vibrant and detailed pixel art, effectively capturing the charm of old-school handheld games. The beautifully animated cutscenes and well-crafted backgrounds enhance the overall visual experience, making it a standout in the collectathon platformer genre. Reviewers appreciate the game's ability to deliver stunning visuals within its modest resolution, showcasing impressive artistry despite technical limitations.
- “The graphics are vibrant and detailed for its 240x160 base resolution, with beautiful backgrounds and animated cutscenes that bring the world to life.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and it's crazy seeing what they were able to do with the limitations.”
- “Incredible visuals, tight platforming, and a killer soundtrack make this a game a must buy.”
- “The pixelated graphics are very well done, the soundtrack fits the game wonderfully, the cutscenes are cool and this game even has a fresh-feeling fishing system that is immediately intuitive.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The story is described as simple yet engaging, set in a lighthearted, absurdist sci-fi world reminiscent of "Ratchet & Clank," appealing to both younger and older players. With delightful characters and beautiful artwork, the narrative complements the gameplay, making it a compelling experience that encourages exploration and replayability. Overall, while the story may not be groundbreaking, it effectively enhances the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “Story and setting-wise, I'm most reminded of Ratchet & Clank, with a slightly absurdist sci-fi setting filled with lighthearted humor, all ostensibly quite family-friendly, but with much added content to appreciate for older players.”
- “This is a simple but extremely tight Metroidvania platformer that has a nice story with beautiful artwork in line with old school handhelds.”
- “I did not want to stop playing this once I finished the main story, so I spent hours getting collectibles and unlocking all the game's secrets.”
- “Story and setting-wise, I'm most reminded of Ratchet & Clank, with a slightly absurdist sci-fi setting filled with lighthearted humor, all ostensibly quite family-friendly, but with much added content to appreciate for older players (who could forget Karl Barks, the revolutionary donkey who doesn't like to share?).”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its charming and adorable humor, featuring well-animated characters and a light-hearted writing style that includes funny moments and clever references. Players enjoy the humorous dialogue and the engaging interactions with a variety of amusing characters, making the overall experience fun and entertaining.
- “The game is adorable, humorous, and all around just a lot of fun!”
- “A well animated and cute puzzle platformer with a genuine sense of humor and design intention.”
- “The writing has a light, charming touch with some cute, funny moments scattered throughout.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's level design is praised for its excellent optimization, functioning like a maze that challenges players' adaptability while gradually enhancing their limited move set. This thoughtful design contributes to a more engaging gameplay experience.
- “I particularly like how well optimized the level design is, like a maze that tests your flexibility with an in-universe bare-bones move set that optimizes over time.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is a standout feature, with each of the 67 unique "friends" being intricately designed and memorable, contributing to a rich and engaging experience. Players particularly highlight characters like kapparama as favorites, showcasing the game's attention to detail in character creation.
- “Character design is another highlight—each of the 67 'friends' you encounter is uniquely crafted and memorable, with Kapparama standing out as a personal favorite (where is my friendship card?)!”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, particularly for its diverse and engaging soundtrack that complements various environments and situations effectively, enhancing the overall immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack deserves equal praise, offering a wide range of catchy, atmospheric tracks that match each environment and situation perfectly.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to the excessive backtracking required to solve puzzles. While the game is recommended, the repetitive nature of revisiting previous locations can lead to frustration.
- “Definitely recommend--but you're forewarned, some of the puzzles are frustratingly tedious because of all the backtracking over places you've already been.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users consistently praise the game's stability, highlighting its solid performance and lack of bugs. Overall, it is regarded as a reliable and well-functioning experience.
- “Not to mention how solid and bug-free it is.”