Platforms
- PCAug 29, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 Critics9.0930 Players
- PlayStation 5Aug 29, 20238.2playscore7.712 Critics9.2504 Players
- PlayStation 4Aug 29, 20237.8playscore7.03 Critics9.2441 Players
18 critic reviews · 0 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
- I'll admit: there's a serviceable gameplay foundation – especially its rhythm template – which lends it some character and sincerity; given how limited that quality typically is for a visual novel, it’s a tough sell when the context propelling the game forward typically feels disjointed and uninteresting. I know it's smarmy to say "it's more parts insufferable than endearing," but there's only so much emotion you can squeeze from its good bits in the face of wonky pacing, several empty characters, cringe-inducing dialogue, and an unearned sense of accomplishment.
Lee Mehr · Oct 03, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - Goodbye Volcano High tells the tale of eight high school students living out what's possibly the end of their existence and determining what is important to them as they face the end.
Nick Mangiaracina · Sep 23, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - Goodbye Volcano High is a terrifically-crafted slice of high school drama that succeeds thanks to the strength of its lovable cast of characters, amazing music and a sweet story about perseverance in the face of uncertainty, be it the possibility of your best friends moving on or the possible end of the world. It’s one to recommend, and while it may not be this year’s greatest visual novel (if only because the genre has a lot of heavy hitters this year), it is one that does indeed cap off the summer gaming season with a bang.
Kyle LeClair · Sep 12, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - Goodbye Volcano High is an absolute delight. While the rhythm gameplay segments are a bit of a nuisance by way of their design, the only other real issue is the sorry state of the Trophy list, something that should be easily remedied. If you can look past those fairly minor hitches, then what you’ll experience is an exceptionally written game filled out by a cast of characters without so much as a weak link. Combine the incredibly impressive roster of characters with the high caliber of writing capable of delivering an emotional gut-punch just as easily as raucous laughter, this is not one worth sleeping on.
Graham Banas · Sep 06, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - The writing and characters are so earnest that it’s hard to look at, but that’s how teenagers are. Maybe I’m jaded, but that earnestness doesn’t leave a lot of room for nuance when it comes to the game’s real themes of finding community and choosing what really matters… in this case, friendship. Using teenage drama to amplify a larger existential concern could have worked, but in this case, it felt trite because of the writing and voice acting. It’s twee in tone, and far less poignant than it could have been.
Tessa Kaur · Sep 05, 2023 Reviewed on PS4Read full review - Goodbye Volcano High is a heartfelt coming-of-age drama about a group of teen dinosaurs confronted with an uncertain future. Dreamy pop ballads and an absorbing dialogue system offer a gateway into an introspective story about being young, queer, and chasing your dreams in the face of impending disaster.
Rachel Watts · Sep 04, 2023 Reviewed on PCRead full review - Goodbye Volcano High is likely to appeal to those who want an uncomplicated and down-to-earth narrative experience. There are glimpses of goodness within Goodbye Volcano High’s grounds, but the bland writing, cliched characters and needlessly protracted scenes don’t do it any favours. The rhythm action sections are swell additions that break up the long-winded cutscenes, but they too are overstuffed with timed button press prompts, as they end up feeling too hectic for their own good.
James Davie · Sep 04, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - Goodbye Volcano High throws quite a bit in the pot, and the end result is a fairly hearty experience, at least by indie visual novel standards. Your first playthrough will probably take most players five or six hours and there’s some reason to replay if you want to change your responses and friendships, although I’m not sure everyone will want to repeat their senior year.
Nathan Birch · Aug 31, 2023 Reviewed on PS5Read full review - Overall, I really enjoyed Goodbye Volcano High. In terms of story, animation, and music, it was phenomenal. The voice acting was great, and the only issue I had was a very minor one that involved a few scenes that cut just a little too soon and some minor sound editing issues where the sound cut out or one moment where the background music was louder than Naser when he was speaking.
Bex Prouse · Sep 12, 2023 Reviewed on PCRead full review - Goodbye Volcano High is one of the first times I've been able to fully inhabit a high school narrative without feeling the cynical, calculating spectre of a grown writer in every quip or interaction; this hits hard when you think about how, while teen icons like Whedon et al. have been accused of being abusive, awful people, they were also awfully successful at framing how an entire generation remembers and idealise high school.
Alexis Ong · Sep 07, 2023 Reviewed on PCRead full review
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Community Reviews
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About the game
Trailers & Screenshots:
Goodbye Volcano High is a story-driven, choice-based cinematic adventure game about personal growth, acceptance, and the power of community. What will you do when you’re faced with the end of the world?
DECIDE WHO TO BE
Your choices determine the branching narrative: Fang's own decisions and the affinity you've built with the cast of characters change your fate.
Get close with friends, family, acquaintances, frenemies, and crushes. Figure out how you’re going to be there for your loved ones when it matters most—it is the literal end of the world, after all. Nurturing relationships builds affinity, alters self-perception, and shifts your story outcome.
DON’T LET THE APOCALYPSE GET YOU DOWN
Write songs, play different instruments, and put everything that’s hard to say into your music with an interactive rhythm and lyrics system. Complete with a bespoke engineered audio structure, rhythm clock and beatmaps are felt through gameplay, performance sequences, and more. After you figure out your band's vibe, perform those original tracks to create a soundtrack custom-fit to your story.
DINO MINIGAMES & PREHISTORIC INTERACTIONS
Immerse yourself in Fang's day-to-day: in-game dinosaur-themed social media and interactive one-offs make you a part of Fang's life. Learn about tarot from your friend Stella, text your Worm Drama bandmates Trish and Reed, doodle in class, and try to avoid doom-scrolling about that giant meteor coming your way.
GAME FEATURES
- Fully voice-acted and starring Lachlan Watson (The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina)
- Branching narrative: navigate through difficult choices with far-reaching consequences
- Stunning hand-drawn art and character animations—feels like a playable cartoon
- Written using the storytelling engine that powers Heaven's Vault, 80 Days and Sorcery
Developer: KO_OP