This is an absolutely fantastic game with incredible character designs, a really engaging story that pulls you in and makes you feel, music that touches even someone like me who struggles with it, and best of all, tons of queer representation that just feels like it should feel; natural. The concerts are a struggle, but there's an accessibility option that gives you way more wiggle room and I'm so thankful for that. It took me a long time to get around to playing this game, but once I started, I was hooked. My eyes watered at many times throughout the story. There are a few typos in the dialogue, but that's a minor complaint. Episodes 7 and 8 just made me think of how the world is right now, and it hit so much harder. Overall, I highly recommend taking the time to play this game. 9.8/10

Goodbye Volcano High is a narrative-driven game set in the final year of high school for Fang, a non-binary dinosaur dealing with the challenges of adolescence and an impending apocalypse. Developed by KO_OP, it combines coming-of-age storytelling with rhythm gameplay, making for a unique and heartfelt experience.

Story & Characters:
The story is central to Goodbye Volcano High. You play as Fang, who navigates the ups and downs of teenage life, including relationships, self-discovery, and the pursuit of dreams—all set against the background of an impending asteroid strike. The narrative is full of emotional beats that resonate, especially for anyone who has experienced the bittersweet nature of high school graduation and stepping into the unknown. The game does a great job of making characters feel authentic and relatable, each with distinct personalities that add depth to the story.

Art & Music:
The visual style is vibrant and expressive, with a cartoon-like design that suits its dinosaur cast and high school setting. Characters are animated with strong attention to detail, which enhances the emotional scenes. The soundtrack is another standout, blending indie and rock vibes that suit the rebellious spirit of Fang’s band and add an extra layer of immersion, particularly during rhythm game segments.

Gameplay:
Goodbye Volcano High is mostly a narrative experience, but it mixes in rhythm gameplay where players perform music. The rhythm sections are engaging, though they may feel simple compared to rhythm-focused games. There are also dialogue choices that allow players to shape Fang’s relationships and narrative direction, making each playthrough potentially different. However, the choices are generally minor and don’t drastically change the story’s main outcomes, which might be a downside for those expecting more narrative branching.

Themes & Emotional Impact:
The game doesn’t shy away from deep themes, including identity, friendship, family expectations, and the uncertainty of the future. The impending apocalypse metaphorically represents the end of adolescence and the inevitable change it brings, adding weight to each character’s decisions. For many players, these themes may resonate on a personal level, making the story impactful and, at times, genuinely touching.

Pros:
• Strong, relatable story with emotional depth
• Beautiful, expressive art and soundtrack
• Well-developed characters with diverse identities

Cons:
• Limited replayability due to less impactful choices
• Rhythm gameplay may feel too simplistic for some players
• Pacing can be slow if you’re more interested in gameplay than story

Verdict:
Goodbye Volcano High is a heartfelt journey that’s more of an interactive story than a traditional game. It’s perfect for players who value narrative depth, emotional storytelling, and character-driven experiences. While it may not satisfy players looking for complex gameplay or impactful choices, it excels as a narrative game that deals with the bittersweetness of growing up and letting go.

I had been following Goodbye Volcano High (GVH) since the trailer, and I decided to buy and play it at launch. While I wasn’t expecting anything amazing, I did at least hope for a decent experience given the price and the time they had to develop it. Despite starting with rock-bottom expectations, I was still massively let down.

Recently, I was reminded of GVH and decided to look into its development history, which only made me feel disgusted with myself and regret ever supporting KO_OP with how they managed this game and community. I’m honestly amazed that anyone could enjoy this game when KO_OP blatantly spits in the player’s face. The art and writing are wildly inconsistent, with some scenes so poorly written that it feels like they were created by someone with zero social experience. It’s honestly laughable to call this a “game” rather than just an animation, especially when the tiny bit of gameplay it has doesn’t even matter. You can AFK through every music scene, and nothing changes. There’s not even an illusion of choice here in the dialogue—if they even let you pick the option you want; the only decision that has any impact is which character you want to talk to at the end of the game. For some reason, you’re also forced to replay the entire game three times just to see what each character has to say in that scene, plus endure the three hours of poorly written D&D content again and again.

For all its issues, I will say the game has some positives. The soundtrack is genuinely amazing and was the one thing that kept me from refunding the game. Most importantly, while looking into the history of GVH, I found a number of fan games created by the community. It’s fascinating to see how different people have interpreted the game’s world and characters. Some of these fan games are really well-made and have a lot of creativity and polish, which I personally enjoyed a lot. (Don’t blindly listen to people spreading lies and treating games like it’s Voldemort, especially when they’ve never seen the game themselves.)