Indie game prioritizes humor over traditional design

The developers of the indie game "Thank Goodness You're Here" shared insights at the 2025 Game Developers Conference. They admitted that they struggled with traditional video game design. As a result, they prioritized making players laugh instead. "Thank Goodness You're Here" is a two-hour adventure set in Yorkshire. Players help locals with various quirky tasks, and the humor shines throughout the game. It became more popular than several high-profile releases, like "Silent Hill 2" and "Black Myth: Wukong." The game's absurd jokes and funny situations have resonated with many players. During the panel, the team from Coal Supper explained their approach. They focused on humor because it was what they felt they could do best. “We’re shit at video game design,” they joked, acknowledging the challenge of combining comedy with gameplay. The developers also mentioned that they did not overly worry about creating a traditional game structure. Instead, they filled the game with funny content, thinking players would enjoy that more. They realized that trying to apply typical game patterns did not fit their style. Ultimately, the unconventional design and humor attracted many players. This shows that even if a team struggles with traditional game design, they can still succeed by focusing on their strengths. The game has become a standout, contributing to a growing trend of successful titles set in northern England.