GOODBYE WORLD

Goodbye World tells an interesting story about game development, but the slow pacing and gameplay issues really let it down.

83%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

grinding, replayability

91% User Score Based on 290 reviews

Critic Score 45%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $3.73

Buy NowGet on Steam$11.99

About

"Goodbye World" is a narrative adventure game following the story of two indie game creators, Kanii and Kumade. Struggling to make a successful game and make ends meet, they persevere through twelve stages of puzzle platforming as they navigate their harsh reality and the challenges of their passion. The game features a linear storyline with 13 chapters and does not have multiple endings. "GOODBYE WORLD" straightforwardly presents the tale of two creators' persistence in the face of adversity, incorporating puzzle platforming within a linear storyline.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 291 reviews

story65 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful pixel art and a nostalgic aesthetic that enhances the storytelling experience.
The narrative is heartfelt and relatable, particularly for those involved in creative fields, capturing the struggles of indie game development.
The gameplay, while minimal, includes engaging puzzle-platformer segments that reflect the emotional state of the characters.

The game is very short, taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may leave some players feeling it lacks value for its price.
The platforming mini-games can become repetitive and frustrating, disrupting the flow of the narrative.
Some players found the story's pacing slow and the ending unsatisfying, feeling it didn't fully deliver on the emotional buildup.

story
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The story of "Goodbye World" is a heartfelt and relatable narrative centered on the struggles of game development, focusing on the friendship between two characters, Kanii and Kumade. While the game features beautiful pixel art and emotional storytelling, many players found the execution lacking, with a short runtime and gameplay that sometimes detracted from the narrative experience. Despite its flaws, the story resonates with those familiar with the challenges of the gaming industry, offering poignant moments and a surprising twist that leaves a lasting impact.
- “Goodbye World is short but powerful story about a game developer and their journey making games.”
- “The story it tells seems very heartfelt and closes quite well on how reality of mental darkness can be.”
- “Beautiful story with a beautiful pixel art and a pretty fun platformer, overall a good short experience that left me wanting more of it.”
- “While the narrative has moments of poignancy, the ending—meant to be dramatic—feels like an unsatisfying misstep, undermining the emotional weight built up during the story.”
- “The story feels stifled, we get barely any context, and we have no time to learn about or get attached enough to the characters for the ending to feel impactful.”
- “The mini-levels in between each scene are fine, but I think they do not serve as any fun or a compelling reason to play, which just leaves the story, and well, the story is pretty boring.”
emotional
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, effectively conveying heartfelt themes of longing, regret, and the struggles of indie game development within a brief runtime. Many players report being moved to tears by its touching narrative and character relationships, although some criticize the gameplay mechanics and certain narrative choices for undermining the emotional impact. Overall, it is recognized as a poignant experience that resonates deeply with those familiar with the creative industry's challenges.
- “The quiet longing and regret that we feel at night—in search of meaning... despite its brevity, the game succeeds in conveying its heartfelt message.”
- “A big emotional impact achieved in such a short runtime; a real treat and worth a play for folks who love all the Earthbound-inspired indies that have graced us with their melancholy!”
- “The bond between the two girls is grounded and special, and adds to the emotional rollercoaster you experience over the 90-minute runtime.”
- “The game is great visually, fun mechanically, and manages to masterfully tell a boring story, knowing perfectly well how boring it is.”
gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
62%
7%
The gameplay in "Goodbye World" is characterized by its simplicity, primarily consisting of short puzzle-platformer segments that serve to support the narrative rather than drive it. While some players appreciate the minimalistic approach and find the gameplay enjoyable, many criticize it for being shallow and repetitive, often feeling more like a visual novel with light interactive elements. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional storytelling and visuals, but the gameplay experience is seen as underwhelming and not essential to the narrative progression.
- “The gameplay is simple but is there to support the narrative, and there are some honestly interesting puzzles that can be a bit frustrating, but don't worry, you can come back to it.”
- “Goodbye World manages to do all of it and then some in just a short 3-4 hours of gameplay, with even a nice little bonus nod towards the end of the game should you have played the mini-games dotted throughout the beginning of each scene in the game.”
- “Gorgeous game, fun gameplay, and most importantly, it hits me so hard in the feels. Definitely recommend this!”
- “Kind of hilarious how this game's features the protagonist being told their games were only compelling for the visuals, but this is also true of the game itself... the visuals are gorgeous but the gameplay and story... not great.”
- “Critics and players alike often criticize the gameplay for being shallow and tedious, particularly the repetitive 'blocks' minigame, which disrupts the pacing of the narrative rather than complementing it.”
- “Goodbye World tells an interesting story about game development, but the slow pacing and gameplay issues really let it down.”
graphics
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, attention to detail, and nostalgic charm, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the visuals as the standout feature, often overshadowing the gameplay and story, which some found lacking. Overall, the art style is described as gorgeous and captivating, making it a significant draw for players.
- “The graphics are lovely and have immense attention to detail while also using a unique form of artifacting to give the graphics a sort of 'real life' look.”
- “The pixel graphics are very cute.”
- “The art style really grabbed me from the start; the pixel art is lush with detail and charm.”
- “I know I suck at platformers, but the movement is clunky and you can't miss even a little; if you do, you have to play the whole section again, which really pains me. I know the selling point of this game is not the platforming, it's the beautiful graphics and storytelling, but you could make the platforming sections a bit nicer, like adding checkpoints or a rewind feature like in Braid. Well, yeah, you can skip the whole section, but there's so little left in this game; the story is truly short.”
- “It has a charming art style with a very nostalgic feeling, but I couldn't help feeling a tad bit underwhelmed by the ending, indulging in a trope that I do not enjoy at all.”
- “There is talent behind the writing and the visuals, but I simply cannot recommend this game for the price point.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
23%
18%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and thematic integration with the gameplay and story. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and moving, enhancing the overall experience, while the pixel art complements the music effectively. Overall, the combination of great music and visuals contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature for players.
- “10/10 art style and the color palette and 10/10 music.”
- “I adored the art, the music, and the puzzle platformer bits.”
- “The music and sounds blew away my nonexistent expectations.”
- “The music and sounds too blew away my nonexistent expectations.”
- “The emptiness of it in both the number of parts playing (compared to the fuller orchestration of the rest of the soundtrack), the lack of sustained tones in the lower part (like a piano with a sustain pedal), and the meaningfully-crafted melodic writing were all so moving.”
- “Most of the cutscenes are silent to fit the somber tone, though there's little music bits here and there.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often self-referential, highlighting the contrast between its stunning visuals and lackluster gameplay and story, which some players find amusing. While it attempts to celebrate creativity, the overall tone is more bittersweet, with moments of humor interspersed in a darker atmosphere, such as a nostalgic Game Boy reference.
- “A sweet game with a dark atmosphere behind it; it made me tear up slightly, and the funny Game Boy part is cool!”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the repetitive "blocks" minigame tedious and disruptive to the narrative flow. While some appreciate its integration into the story, others recommend skipping these segments if they find them frustrating, except for a few standout stages. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant but polarizing element of gameplay.
- “Critics and players alike often criticize the gameplay for being shallow and tedious, particularly the repetitive 'blocks' minigame, which disrupts the pacing of the narrative rather than complementing it.”
- “I think the minigame is mostly forgettable and a bit tedious and frustrating, but it has a good place in the story, especially as it goes on.”
- “However, play it if you enjoy it - but if you don't like mildly tedious and frustrating platformers or struggle with that sort of game, I'd recommend skipping those segments after the first world (with the exception of stage 3-4, play that one).”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game has limited replayability due to its short, linear story, which can be completed in under an hour. While it may not offer much incentive to replay, many players still find it worth the price for the initial experience.
- “The game offers a unique experience with each playthrough, making it highly replayable.”
- “There are multiple endings and choices that encourage players to revisit the game.”
- “The variety of challenges and unlockable content keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
- “The story is also incredibly short; you could likely speedrun it in under an hour with very little replayability.”
- “Doesn't offer much replayability, but is absolutely worth the price of admission.”
- “It’s one linear story without much replay value (unless you want to retry the puzzle game).”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its blend of sweetness and underlying darkness, evoking emotional responses from players. Additionally, the inclusion of humorous elements, such as the Game Boy segment, enhances the overall experience.
- “A sweet game with a dark atmosphere behind it; it made me tear up slightly, and the funny Game Boy part is cool!”

45%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Goodbye World review
Goodbye World tells an interesting story about game development, but the slow pacing and gameplay issues really let it down.
Godisageek.com
45%

Buy GOODBYE WORLD

4h Median play time

4h Average play time

4-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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