The end result is a wholly enjoyable, surprisingly deep and well-crafted indie experience.
"The game’s open-ended sandbox focus is one of its greatest strengths."
Compared to its more action-oriented cousins in the stealth genre, Untitled Goose Game is as understated an affair as its title suggests. There’s little in the way of exposition, tutorials or even plot, and the game’s open-ended sandbox focus is one of its greatest strengths.
Part of the game’s appeal is the freedom to see and do as much of your own volition as possible, but there is still a small “to-do list” of missions - all of which involve causing as much distress to the human residents as possible, while plenty have open-ended solutions.
Watching the world expand as more and more chaos is unleashed is a joy unto itself. From the humble beginnings of a single man’s garden patch, to the local high street, and wrapping up in a beer garden full of angry customers, the self-contained hamlet where the action takes place is so well-crafted that it’s a surprise to learn that the developers aren’t even British.
Add to it a brilliantly-executed dynamic piano soundtrack that rises and falls according to the action and Untitled Goose Game perfectly nails its quaint atmosphere.
"It’s such a tightly-crafted game that you’d scarcely think it were only developer House House’s second release."
It’s an unsurprisingly short affair, weighing in at around three hours, but even during its brief duration, Untitled Goose Game is proof that sometimes the simplest ideas are the best. It’s such a tightly-crafted game that you’d scarcely think it were only developer House House’s second release.
It goes without saying that this indie gem comes highly recommended - after all, it’s the only game on the market with a dedicated “honk” button.