GOODBYE WORLD
- June 30, 2023
- YO FUJII
- 4h median play time
Goodbye World tells an interesting story about game development, but the slow pacing and gameplay issues really let it down.
Get on Steam"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful pixel art and a charming soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
- The story is relatable and poignant, particularly for aspiring game developers, capturing the struggles and realities of indie game development.
- The game is a heartfelt narrative experience that resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong emotions and reflections on personal experiences.
- The game is very short, typically taking only about 1-2 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- The gameplay consists mainly of simple puzzle-platformer segments that can feel repetitive and are not essential to the narrative, leading to a lack of engagement.
- Some players found the story predictable and lacking depth, feeling that it could have explored its themes more thoroughly.
- story152 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Goodbye World" is a poignant exploration of the challenges faced by indie game developers, focusing on themes of friendship, passion, and the harsh realities of the industry. While the narrative is short and linear, it resonates deeply with players, particularly those in the game development community, and is complemented by charming pixel art and engaging music. However, some players found the story predictable or lacking in depth, with gameplay mechanics that occasionally detracted from the overall experience.
“I loved the story and the after credit scene was what brought everything together for me.”
“The story was incredible.”
“Goodbye World is a short but powerful story about a game developer and their journey making games.”
“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.”
“While the visuals may be stunning, the story felt lacking.”
“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.”
- emotional36 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game "goodbye world" is widely praised for its emotional depth, with many players reporting that it evokes strong feelings, including tears and a sense of loneliness. The narrative, centered on the struggles of indie game developers, resonates deeply with those pursuing creative passions, making it a heartfelt experience despite its short runtime. While some found the gameplay challenging and detracting from the emotional impact, the overall consensus highlights its ability to deliver a poignant and relatable story that leaves a lasting impression.
“The final chapter is actually heart-wrenching, I loved it.”
“The story was very real and emotional; the gameplay was challenging for me, and the art is the perfect amount of pixel and pretty.”
“This game made me feel; not many games truly make me feel, thank you.”
“The game is great visually, fun mechanically, and manages to masterfully tell a boring story, knowing perfectly well how boring it is.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Goodbye World" is minimal and primarily consists of short puzzle-platformer sections interspersed with narrative cutscenes, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional game. While some players found the gameplay engaging and challenging, others noted that it is not essential for progressing the story, which is the main focus. Overall, the game is praised for its storytelling and visuals, but those seeking a gameplay-heavy experience may find it underwhelming.
“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.”
“The puzzle platformer gameplay was engaging, but I'm also grateful that progressing the story was not locked behind actually completing levels.”
“Gorgeous game, fun gameplay, and most importantly it hits me so hard in the feels, definitely recommend this!”
“It's a very story-focused game with only some gameplay and can be beaten in an hour or two.”
“There's not really a lot of gameplay to this, just short platforming sections in-between cutscenes.”
“The game is an hour long, and the actual gameplay segments are inconsequential.”
- graphics34 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, charming visuals, and attention to detail, which evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic games. Many reviewers highlight the art style as a key selling point, complementing it with a fitting color palette and engaging animations, although some note that the platforming mechanics could be improved. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that enhances the storytelling experience.
“The art style sold me on this game.”
“The graphics are cute, and the minigames were challenging yet entertaining.”
“As I said before, 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.”
“I really love the art style, but the whole story and mini-game are just a piece of shit.”
“There is talent behind the writing and the visuals, but I simply cannot recommend this game for the price point.”
- music15 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and thematic integration with the story and visuals. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and moving, enhancing the overall experience, while the pixel art complements the music effectively. Overall, the combination of compelling music and art contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout feature.
“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 was really nice; I like how the stage layouts played thematically into what was happening in the story.”
“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.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a juxtaposition of sweetness and a dark atmosphere, leading to a bittersweet experience that evokes both laughter and tears. While it aims to celebrate creativity, the humor often feels overshadowed by the underlying somber themes, with moments like the amusing Game Boy reference providing brief levity.
“A sweet game with a dark atmosphere behind it; it made me tear up slightly, and the funny Game Boy part is cool!”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in the minigame segments, though some appreciate its narrative significance. While it may appeal to those who enjoy challenging platformers, others are advised to skip these sections after the initial world, except for a specific stage that stands out.
“The grinding in this game feels mostly forgettable and a bit tedious and frustrating, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“If you don't enjoy mildly tedious and frustrating platformers, I would recommend skipping the grinding segments after the first world.”
“The minigame aspects of grinding can be quite frustrating, making it hard to stay engaged with the story.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its blend of sweetness and underlying darkness, evoking emotional responses from players. Additionally, elements like the humorous Game Boy segment contribute to its overall charm.
“A sweet game with a dark atmosphere behind it; it made me tear up slightly, and the funny Game Boy part is cool!”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has limited replayability due to its linear story structure, but many players still find it worth the price for the initial experience, particularly if they enjoy revisiting the puzzle elements.
“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).”
