Oh wow, what game did I just play?  What game did I just play?!?   Thank Goodness You’re Here! is one of the weirdest games I’ve played in a long time. It was published by the same folks who also published Untitled Goose Game and the PlayDate, if that gives you any indication of what this game might be like.   You are a little man, only reaching knee high to everyone else in the game.  Your boss tasks you to meet with the mayor of another town to sell what your business provides.  But the mayor is busy for a few hours, so you pass the time by helping out the townspeople.  You do this by walking around, sometimes in an overhead perspective and sometimes in a 2D platforming fashion.  You can jump with one button and slap with the other button.  Yes that’s how you interact with things and talk with people is by slapping them.  The game is like playing an interactive cartoon and it’s so chock full of British humor that I swear my Switch was going to start oozing bangers and mash.  The game is available on Switch, PlayStation consoles, and PC, but reviewed on Switch here.

Gameplay is super simple.  It’s kind of like a point and click adventure but instead of clicking, you slap things.  I would say that the goals and objectives can be a bit unclear, but the game is so linear that as long as you just follow your nose, you’ll get through it.  The only time I got sort of stuck was when I was supposed to hold the button to grab onto a hammer, which is something you never have to do anywhere else in the game.  But luckily I figured it out after a minute or two.  But really you’ll just be playing the game for the humor, and it is a very funny game.  My only problem is that it’s a bit short, as I only beat it in a week, but if it were any longer I’d think the gameplay would’ve worn out its welcome.  So if you enjoy weird games like Untitled Goose Game and like British humor, you may want to check this one out.

Kid Factor:

Thank Goodness You’re Here! is rated M for Mature with ESRB descriptors of Blood, Crude Humor, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, and Violence.  The only blood in the game is when you chop or grind meat and blood spills out on the table.  The crude humor and suggestive themes come from the British humor, which is definitely more Benny Hill than Mr. Bean.  I heard the B-word and S-word a few times, and the F bomb once.  As for violence, you’re just slapping people and things.  I’m kind of surprised there’s not ESRB descriptors of Alcohol and Tobacco Use as you see people smoking all the time in this game, and one of the first things you’ll do is enter a bar and swim in beer!  The subtle humor and innuendos would probably go over most US kids heads.  Heck, I’m sure some of it even went over my head!  The game might be OK for some older teens, but otherwise I’d say this one is best for older gamers only.

Tags: Game Reviews