Demo offers introduction to Goodbye Seoul

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Side-scrolling pixel art puzzle-platformer coming soon to PC on Steam

One of the more intriguing titles on display at gamescom's Indie Arena Booth was Goodbye Seoul, and thanks to a downloadable demo, now players can check out this pre-apocalyptic side-scrolling puzzle-platformer for themselves. 

It may be "pre-apocalyptic," but it may as well be post-apocalyptic, because mankind has all but destroyed civilization on its own even before the world's impending annihilation. An asteroid is due to collide with Earth in six months, but the capital city of South Korea has "morphed into a violent, lawless place," much of it a veritable wasteland deserted by all except for looters and the few remaining soldiers trying to keep the peace. Contemplating suicide, a depairing student named Rion leaves her dorm and learns of a "secret space evacuation project" that could save many thousands of people. Its success, however, depends on a device called Dorothy, which Rion acquires from a dying soldier. Now, not only does her own safety depend on delivering it to the arranged rendezvous point, but the lives of all those who could be rescued by the project as well. To find it, Rion must overcome the many obstacles and dangers throughout the ruins of Seoul, from "the rubble to the rogues and the remnants of rebellion eyeing Rion with hostile intent."

Goodbye Seoul shares much in common with traditional puzzle-platformers, with its side-scrolling navigation and a host of environmental puzzles and challenges that will see players run, jump, climb, and push-pull objects as required to progress. But here there are two key differences that help it stand out. The first is its distinctive 2.5D pixel art design depicting the collapsed, broken-down remains of a once-thriving city. The second is its focus on narrative, with various characters to interact with and a story that represents a quest for hope that is driven by courage and a need for forming bonds with fellow human beings.  

There is no firm target release date for Goodbye Seoul, but you can jump right into the first part of it right away as the demo is available now on Steam for Windows PC.