Thank Goodness You're Here!

In the future, when the subject of the funniest comedy games of all time crops up, the usual names will be there – Monkey Island, The Stanley Parable, Death Stranding (I’m kidding) – but now surely a new one will join them. Coal Supper has produced perhaps the first great abstract Yorkshire-based cartoon puzzler of the 21st century. Thank goodness.

Having now played it twice, all I can say is thank goodness Thank Goodness You’re Here exists. This is a gem of a game, and I hope we see a sequel in the near future. It has been an absolute joy to play from start to finish with its superb animation work, amazing writing, voice acting, and music.

Developer Coal Supper's relentlessly inventive absurdist comedy might, by necessity, keep a tight rein on players, but this is an impeccably constructed masterclass in gag-telling.

For my money, this is one of the funniest games I’ve ever played. It’s also one of those rare games that makes me think “oh, wow, games can do this, huh?” Its closest point of comparison is Untitled Goose Game, another lovely, short, funny game set in a quaint English village.

Thank Goodness You're Here is the new high watermark for a comedy game. Constantly hilarious, inventive and creative, it's a complete joy. A brisk 3 hour jaunt through the fictional north of England, Thank Goodness You're Here sets out its ambitions from the beginning, and confidently exceeds them.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is an absolute triumph of comedy. It’s not a classic point-and-click adventure game, but every single aspect of this self-described “slapformer” combines to make it a genuinely funny game that will have you in stiches with its absurdity and cartoon-like atmosphere.

Thank Goodness You're Here! It is a fantastic story of great depth, written and structured with lucidity and liveliness. It brings so much to the table that may be little known to those who just intend to play without too much ceremony, but who may find one of the hottest video games of this summer, in the same way that Slay the Princess was almost a year ago. For those who are already familiar with the misfortunes of the world, well... He may be at his home. With me it was like that.

A gleefully anarchic treasure trove of jokes and skits, TGYH is the funniest game I've played.

It’s a strange game that’s probably not going to appeal to everyone’s sensibilities – but if it appeals to your sensibilities and sense of humour, there’s a good chance it might be your game of the year.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a stout concoction of British tomfoolery that blends bawdy, slapstick and demented comedy. Slapping people is encouraged if you want to hear their daffy lines. Put a kettle on the hob and tuck in.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is one of the most creative and zany gaming experiences out there. It grabs at you constantly, surprising the player with every narrative beat and new character.

Thank Goodness You're Here! rolls around in its Britishness to an almost obscene degree, but more than that it is simply… stupid. Majestically, gloriously stupid. It’s a wildly entertaining little adventure that revels in its own ludicrous indulgences. It delightedly broadcasts a sense of humor that some may find puerile and unappealing while others will find it puerile and very appealing...Thank goodness I’m in the latter camp.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! establishes itself as one of those games that will always prompt the question of, “Have you played Thank Goodness You’re Here!”? when encountering people of a positive nature – where you will then delight in their own telling of their experiences or feel the giddy warmth of recommending it. It’s razor sharp, densely packed and firing on all cylinders for the entirety of the afternoon you will spend playing it – all for the price you’d pay for a disappointing fast food dinner. And by the time you encounter the ending and drink in all the madness THAT has to offer, I’d challenge you to not feel well cared for.

Thank Goodness You’re Here is something altogether different from most of what I’ve played in 2024, and refreshingly so. It’s most certainly a game with some puzzle-minded antics, but it feels more like a lengthy comedy special, and the slapstick absurdity of it stays refreshing with plenty of surprises and ridiculousness throughout the adventure. Even the parts I didn’t initially enjoy ultimately felt like they needed to be there because it felt like part of the joke. Even so, be prepared for some very esoteric solutions and a complete lack of guidance as you learn to adapt to the wacky way this game wants you to think.

It might be on the short side at around two hours in length, but Thank Goodness You're Here! barely wastes a single second of its absurd adventure. Not only is it consistently funny, but it also made me feel incredibly warm and nostalgic for the era of cartoons and comics I grew up with, even if it feels quite singular in its approach to both surreal and intimately familiar humor. It's not a game everyone will vibe with--such is the divisiveness of comedy in particular. But those who click with it are unlikely to find another game this year anywhere near as joyous.

Thank Goodness You're Here is beyond funny, it's one of the most laugh out loud hilarious games ever made that simply must be played.

Thank Goodness You’re Here isn’t for the faint of heart. At this point, you probably know if this game is for you or not; it really comes down to your sense of humor, and if you’re not into this sort of potty humor, then this isn’t for you. If it sounds entertaining, though, then there’s absolutely no doubt the game is worth a purchase. For sheer quality reasons alone, this is an experience worth having, and I enjoyed nearly every second of it.

Incredibly British and nonsensical slapping-simulator. And I mean it in the best possible way.

Thank Goodness You're Here is like a season of a British cartoon, a series of linked episodes in which you're constantly being pelted with jokes. And the game looks great, and the humor in it is good, and the characters are funny, and there are a lot of interactive moments as well. It's a unique project, made with great love for English culture, and a great way to cheer yourself up - whether you understand British humor or not.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is crazy, irreverent, surreal, and funny. Unfortunately, it's all in English, sometimes a bit garbled. Take a stroll through the town of Barnsworth to meet its quirky residents and help them with their routines, which seem to be going anything but smoothly. It will make you laugh and then leave you confused. Only when you're ready to embrace the nonsense and its metaphysical oddities will you truly get in sync with it. But then, catching the bus back home might be tough.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is light on traditional gameplay and criminally brief, but if Coal Supper’s goal was to make me laugh until my sides hurt for nearly two hours, I’d say mission very much accomplished.

There's no denying it's a classy product, and since when do we want less novelty? [Issue#400, p.110]

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a quirky British adventure with a Benny Hill flair—its simple mechanics, offbeat puzzles, and charming dialogue make for a fun, if occasionally frustrating, romp.

If Coal Supper had ended up with a gameplay model that was as interesting to engage with mechanically as it is downright magnificent to look at, experience and listen to, then this would have been one of the best games of the year.