This Yorkshire-inspired indie has me chuffed by its potential
Among the many new game trailers that premiered at Gamescom 2023, one indie developer instantly became the unlikely standout with the unveiling of Thank Goodness You’re Here! Set in the bizarre northern England town of Barnsworth, you play as a travelling salesman who is given a series of increasingly odd jobs.
Brought to life by best friends James Carbutt and Will Todd, who both originate from Barnsley, I got the chance to go hands-on with the “comedy slapformer”, walking away with nothing but admiration for the peculiar humour that inhabits every street corner. Utilising only a walk, jump and punch command, the gameplay is a blend of exploring and interacting with the surroundings, all leading to some light puzzles.
I start the 20-minute demo stuck in a chimney. Pelted by a broom from an overly keen chimney sweep, our plucky protagonist falls into a living room that instantly recollects memories of visiting my grandparents’ terraced house. Everything from the brick fireplace, to the clocks and photos on the mantelpiece, to the lone chair that dominates more of the room than it has any right to was present. Sat amid this is an elderly man who briefly lowers his newspaper to shake his head at the mess of soot that has coated the carpet, as I make a cartoon-style quick exit through the window.
Landing in a backyard that has seen better days, a bemused gardener asks for help getting water out of his garden hose to tend his tomatoes. “I’ve been sucking this pipe, and nothing,” he admits. Quite a way with words, this chap.
IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT I NEED TO PUNCH THE WORM AND THE WALL IT’S OCCUPYING
This leads to a quick trip down a well where I’m greeted by a wiggly worm. How do I know it’s a wiggly worm? Well, it announces itself as one, “Ooh look at me,” it mutters in a soft creepy voice that’s hard not to chuckle at. It becomes apparent that I need to punch the worm and the wall it’s occupying to progress, so a small jump and a whack to the face and it’s no more Mr Worm, as he lets out a comical yell.
These weird creatures and residents essentially make up Thank Goodness You’re Here!Every character has something quirky about them.
