Goodbye Volcano High

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 891 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
Goodbye Volcano High Game Cover
I can barely find the words to describe the emotional experience that is Goodbye Volcano High. While there are a few sound blips, the music, voice acting, and story were phenomenal, and these teenage dinosaurs were truly relatable.
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"Goodbye Volcano High" is a cinematic narrative game starring Lachlan Watson, featuring hand-drawn art and meaningful choices. As a senior in a world facing destruction, players must navigate personal growth, familial relationships, and potential romance. The game is written using the storytelling engine behind "Heaven's Vault," "Sorcery!," and "80 Days."

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 891 reviews
story238 positive mentions
stability25 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful art style and stunning visuals that enhance the overall experience.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, with many memorable songs that resonate emotionally with players.
  • The characters are well-written and relatable, making it easy for players to connect with their struggles and journeys.
  • The choices in the game often feel inconsequential, leading to a lack of meaningful impact on the story.
  • There are noticeable technical issues, such as audio cutting off and animation glitches, which detract from the immersion.
  • The pacing can be uneven, with some sections feeling rushed or padded, particularly the D&D segments that don't contribute much to the main narrative.
  • story661 mentions

    The story of "Goodbye Volcano High" is a poignant coming-of-age narrative centered around a group of anthropomorphic dinosaurs facing the impending doom of a meteor strike during their senior year of high school. While the emotional depth and character development resonate with many players, some critiques highlight its predictability and the limited impact of player choices, leading to a feeling of linearity despite the game's interactive elements. Overall, the heartfelt themes of friendship, identity, and existential dread, combined with a compelling soundtrack, create a memorable experience, though some players wished for a more fleshed-out plot and greater narrative agency.

    • “For those who don't know, the story follows a group of anthropomorphic dinosaurs during their senior year in high school when they find out a giant meteor is coming toward Earth, and there is a very real possibility that the planet will die right as their adult lives are getting started.”
    • “It's one of only a few games that really got to me emotionally by the end (in a good way), as the looming potential end of the world frames the story in a very compelling way.”
    • “An absolutely beautiful story and super fun.”
    • “The game goes out of its way to limit your options, often giving you nothing more than half-hearted dialogue choices that don’t feel like they actually affect the story.”
    • “The developers clearly wanted to create emotional tension, but instead, it ends up making you feel like a spectator in a story you’re supposed to be directing.”
    • “The story is so cliché that I almost fell asleep.”
  • music612 mentions

    The music in "Goodbye Volcano High" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its beautiful composition and emotional resonance. The original soundtrack, featuring a mix of indie rock and heartfelt melodies, enhances the game's narrative and character development, making it a standout element despite some criticisms of the gameplay mechanics. However, several players expressed a desire for more interactive music features, such as a song replay mode, to fully appreciate the soundtrack's quality.

    • “The soundtrack is lovely and beautifully performed, and the game has some pretty rad rhythm game mechanics that I haven't seen before.”
    • “Every song feels carefully crafted to match the emotional beats of the story, and the moments where you participate in musical minigames are some of the most enjoyable parts of the entire experience.”
    • “The music is simply incredible.”
    • “There were quite a few scenes of silence in a game with music as one of its focuses.”
    • “The music is the only part of the game that’s worth any praise, but even that can’t save the weak story, flat characters, and lackluster gameplay.”
    • “For a game that’s so centered around music, you’d expect the rhythm game segments to be top-notch.”
  • emotional157 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Goodbye Volcano High" resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings and tears through its heartfelt narrative and relatable characters. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to tackle themes of love, identity, and the impending end of the world, creating a poignant experience that lingers long after playing. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a lack of player agency in emotional moments, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers an impactful and touching story, supported by a compelling soundtrack.

    • “It's one of only a few games that really got to me emotionally by the end (in a good way), as the looming potential end of the world frames the story in a very compelling way.”
    • “Goodbye Volcano High tackles love, identity, and the emotional turmoil of adolescence through a looming specter of doom.”
    • “The characters are super well thought out and the story and ending genuinely made me cry, a feat which no other game has accomplished.”
    • “The music was the only redeeming factor; the story wasn't great. I thought the game would be intriguing, but it turned out to be mediocre with bad dialogue and a boring plot.”
    • “The emotional depth of the game was lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or care about their journeys.”
    • “Despite the potential for a compelling narrative, the execution fell flat, leaving me feeling indifferent rather than emotionally engaged.”
  • graphics105 mentions

    The graphics of "Goodbye Volcano High" have received mixed but generally positive feedback, with many praising the unique and colorful art style, emotive character designs, and smooth animations that enhance the storytelling experience. While some players found the visuals captivating and charming, others noted occasional graphical glitches and distractions from the gameplay. Overall, the game's artistic direction is seen as a standout feature, contributing significantly to its emotional impact and immersive atmosphere.

    • “The visuals are amazing, the game direction is excellent, and you really feel like the experience was meticulously crafted by the developers.”
    • “The graphics are pretty, beautifully drawn backgrounds; I just love the vibe of it all.”
    • “An absolute masterpiece of a game, beautiful visuals, stunning artwork, amazing soundtrack and voices.”
    • “Unfortunately, the artwork took me out of the experience the most.”
    • “But there were so many technical issues with displaying this artwork that I couldn't stay engrossed.”
    • “There was still a lot of bugs with the game (graphical, sound, technical wise, etc) like for example borderless windowed mode will still treat the game as if it was full screen.”
  • gameplay103 mentions

    The gameplay of "Goodbye Volcano High" primarily revolves around visual novel mechanics, featuring dialogue choices that influence character relationships and rhythm game segments that enhance the narrative experience. While the rhythm mechanics are praised for their creativity and integration into the story, many reviewers note that the overall gameplay is minimal and often feels more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, leading to mixed feelings about its value given the short playtime. Despite its shortcomings, the emotional depth of the story and the quality of the music are frequently highlighted as standout elements that elevate the experience.

    • “The rhythm game incorporated into the story is one of the most fun rhythm games I have ever played, and I only wish that there were more songs to play with its mechanics.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it can be called a graphic novel with choices that do impact the characters, and the rhythm parts are fun and not too difficult to do, even for those who are not too much into the rhythm game genre.”
    • “The character writing and voice acting is top-notch, the story is heart-wrenchingly moving, and the gameplay, while it isn't easy, is so satisfying once you get it down.”
    • “Choices don't matter; they throw in a basic Guitar Hero mechanic to make sure you're still awake throughout the game.”
    • “It's clear the rhythm segments were meant to be a highlight of the experience, but they end up feeling like a throwaway mechanic.”
    • “There's not much of the actual gameplay; it's more like an animated show with occasional rhythm game parts which are not very difficult to complete and frequent choices you make to unlock various character routes.”
  • humor45 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of lighthearted and awkward moments, with characters that evoke both laughter and emotional depth. Players appreciate the clever use of social media elements and relatable dialogue, finding the humor to be charming rather than mean-spirited. While some feel it lacks the intensity of humor found in other titles, many still find it enjoyable and recommend it for its unique comedic style and lovable characters.

    • “Left me completely heartbroken in some parts, laughing in others.”
    • “The humor really nails the very online sense of humor, but it’s never snarky nor mean.”
    • “I became so attached to them by the end of the game, and found myself laughing at their awkwardness and funny moments, but also being proud of their development by the end of the journey.”
  • optimization36 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing technical issues such as audio stuttering, visual pop-ins, and interface frustrations, particularly on PC. While many enjoyed the engaging gameplay and performances, they noted that the overall optimization needs improvement to enhance the experience, especially during critical moments like performances. Additionally, some players expressed a desire for features like a retry option for performances and better subtitle synchronization.

    • “The band performance mechanic was executed fantastically!”
    • “There are also rhythm game performances sprinkled throughout the story, with a simple but engaging gameplay format that always makes me look forward to them.”
    • “I didn't notice any significant hitches in performance, any major game-breaking bugs, any crashes, or really anything else that soured the experience.”
    • “And many games use low-res models to save on performance when characters are far from the camera, but GVH has the worst implementation of this I have ever seen.”
    • “There are some pretty strong animation/pop-in bugs that show up throughout playing, which is probably due to optimization. This will need work, as well as some subtitles that don't match with what a character is saying, and some poor sound design that cuts off character lines mid-sentence, making it feel like you accidentally skipped a line.”
    • “The game is not optimized very well, so expect to use high TDP to hit consistent FPS.”
  • character development34 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and emotional resonance of the characters, while others criticize the pacing and execution of their arcs. The character designs are noted for their diversity and visual appeal, though opinions vary on their coherence and memorability. Overall, while the character interactions and designs are highlighted as strong points, the writing and development could benefit from further refinement to enhance the storytelling experience.

    • “The story and character developments in this game are incredible.”
    • “There is tremendous diversity in the character designs and bonus LGBTQ+ representation galore.”
    • “Great character design along with the animation works really well.”
    • “The character development, writing, and sequence of events were kind of off for about 70% of the game from the start.”
    • “These character designs leave me with more questions rather than memorability and striking characteristics.”
    • “Despite all of the character development, none of that really matters.”
  • stability25 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its stability, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and audio issues at launch, including dialogue interruptions and visual inconsistencies. While these technical problems detract from the experience, many players found the overall charm, story, and character design to outweigh the hiccups. Overall, the game is seen as a solid indie release despite its stability issues, with some reviewers noting that the glitches are not game-breaking.

    • “Unpolished buggy mess at launch, weird nonsensical writing, questionable gameplay choices, terrible pacing.”
    • “A significant number of voice lines have been noticeably clipped at the start or end, and a lot of the scene transitions have very distracting visual glitches.”
    • “Unfortunately, this is one of the worst engines for visual novels: it creates uneven pacing issues, audio glitches/bugs, and prevents players from going back to decisions or skipping dialogue they’ve already seen.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to a lack of multiple endings, chapter select options, and significant choices that impact the story. While some players appreciate the opportunity to explore different dialogue and achieve 100% completion, the absence of unique save files and replayable mini-games detracts from the experience. Despite these limitations, a few players still find value in replaying for specific elements, such as music sections.

    • “For the core, I'd say that the replayability is tied to the achievements which will take 2 - 3 playthroughs to obtain.”
    • “It's worth replaying, as well, to see what you didn't get to, so the game definitely earns a sense of replayability.”
    • “The game takes about 6.5 hours to complete, but has definite replay value.”
    • “The lack of a chapter select, unique save files, and replayable rhythm game sections with customizable difficulty also seem like glaring omissions for a game of this price and caliber.”
    • “Gvh has almost no replayability, which sucks because to get a 100%, you need to play through the game several times.”
    • “And the lack of replayability options such as episode select, or maybe even the ability to fast forward or rewind makes playing through the game again an absolute slog, especially if this is supposed to be a game where your choices impact the story and characters.”
  • atmosphere13 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich and immersive qualities, evoking feelings ranging from wholesomeness to dread, reminiscent of titles like "Life is Strange." While some reviewers noted inconsistencies in other aspects, the setting, music, and overall mood contribute significantly to a captivating experience that many players enjoyed. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as heartfelt and thoughtfully crafted, enhancing the storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “Not my type of music really, but it does a great job of creating a rich atmosphere that I liked spending time in.”
    • “The atmosphere, the mood, the setting, and the feeling reminded me of games like Life is Strange, and that's a great thing to be reminded of.”
    • “From the atmosphere and ambience to cinematography and music, you can feel that everything in this game is made with love and care.”
    • “And it ruins the atmosphere.”
    • “This game inspires wholesomeness and dread, with its slice of life atmosphere slowly getting darker and darker as the story progresses.”
    • “Despite the weird atmosphere around the game's release, and the lack of many release day reviews, I do truly hope more people give it a chance.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be both entertaining and tedious; while the initial playthrough offers a solid six hours of enjoyment, achieving 100% completion requires multiple restarts from the beginning, which can feel repetitive and laborious.

    • “However, getting 100% is quite tedious because you have to restart from the beginning with each playthrough (and I have to do it three times...).”
    • “I got 6 hours of entertainment from my first playthrough alone and will probably spend more time farming to 100% the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game, while initially perceived as spiteful, ultimately contributed to its emotional impact and broader visibility, effectively serving as a form of advertising that resonated with players.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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