Thank Goodness You're Here!

It won’t be for everyone, but Thank Goodness You’re Here offers up such a bravely unique vision it’s hard not to be impressed.

Creating absurd humor is no easy task, and Thank Goodness You’re Here pulls it off with great wit. Although it's not a perfect game and its style of comedy might not appeal to everyone, the artistic talent and creativity of Coal Supper have shown that they have what it takes to stand out with their first release of a graphic adventure for consoles.

Thank Goodness You're Here is an experience. It's still a video game, sure, but over the two to three-hour runtime, you'll constantly question what exactly you're playing, and by the end, you'll still have no idea what you just went through—but in a good way! It's one of the weirdest games I've ever played but also one of the most fun.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is the most interesting and innovative game I’ve played this year, featuring ideas and absurdist humor I have never seen in the thousand-something games I’ve completed. It’s a true slice of British culture, and a great insight into the things we find funny. It doesn’t have the mass appeal of triple-A games, but it is exactly the type of game that makes me excited that indies exist. People need to buy this entertaining curio so more developers will take a chance on games like these in the future.

Thank Goodness You're Here is short, sweet but above all deeply funny. The vibe of being an interactive British cartoon works incredibly well in making you understand and want to explore Barnsworth. From its innuendos when milking cows, to the way the citizens interact with one another, it makes it a truly enjoyable and memorable experience. While at times the repetition of walking back and forth can set in, the game rarely drops the ball of making a joke. Give this game to your dad, neighbor or friend and watch them carefully explore what the town has to offer. I can guarantee their puzzlement will surely turn to laughter before they exclaim Thank Goodness for this Game.

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is a brief but oh-so sweet romp into a world that simultaneously makes no sense and yet perfect sense to those familiar with British culture. Bursting with excellent humour (which is no small feat in a video game), beautiful artwork, and fantastic animation, it’s a wonder the devs managed to pack as much as they did into its short runtime. Performance may not be 100% perfect on Switch, and if you’ve no funny bone in your body, you’ll wonder what the point of it all is, but it’s still some of the best and most intense fun we’ve had in years on Nintendo’s console. Our faces hurt from laughing so much, and we don’t think there’s much greater praise than that.

Thank Goodness You’re Here is a wonderful little indie game that punches higher than it should. The comedic dialogue will have you rolling, and the art style is to die for. A lackluster story and shallow gameplay could drag it down, but somehow work perfectly for the game Panic has created. Know your medium, and good things will come of it.

I have never seen so many people not only asking me to make a complete mess of things, but thanking me for doing so, in my life. But that’s exactly what Thank Goodness You’re Here feels like it is about, as the game rewards you for your goofy and occasionally destructive behavior with ridiculous, hilarious, and even sometimes a delightfully inappropriate response. It might not end up being a game for everyone, but those who do give it a chance and enjoy this kind of humor will likely be delighted.

It's particularly impressive the way the game manages to subtly corral the player by changing areas slightly over time, creating a largely linear experience that still feels like it offers some level of free exploration. The very short length of the title and the fact that the overall gameplay is never that complex may be a drawback for some, but it's the sort of title that's more about the overall experience. Thank Goodness You're Here! is a wild, clever ride that's incredibly unique, and a great way to spend an afternoon.

A tribute to British culture and its unique humour, which is unfortunately over far too quickly.

For better and for worse, Thank Goodness You’re Here! is unlike anything I’ve played recently: a short and mechanically lacking “slapformer” which makes up for its imperfections thanks to a bevy of hilarious jokes and zany artistic sensibilities. The final result is a game that is both more than the sum of its parts and a loving tribute to the archetypal northern English industrial town.