Untitled Goose Game: Is it Good to be Bad? 

While I love the leftist interpretations of the Goose Game, the whole game was reframed for me at the very end, with the reward for finishing every goal. A shiny crown that you can only wear with the help of a townsperson. I had assumed you needed to manipulate the neighbours into giving it to you, like the ribbon, and ended up staring in disbelief when the clean neighbour calmy put the crown on my head, Looked me quietly for a moment, and returned to his business. That was actually the most radical thing that left me speechless about this game. That they'll all do it, no questions asked. All your past actions, no matter how disruptive, doesn't stop them from doing this one random act of kindness, just because. It made me want to do something nice for them. Which is pretty cool. It's important to remember that the townspeople are also faceless. We can assign villainy to them easily but like the goose, that interpretation isn't absolute. I like that, however unintentionally, the game reminded me that while not gory, it is still violent. And while that's perfectly reasonable and the catharsis is clearly appreciated, I like to remember how powerful the opposite can be as well, especially considering how little we see of it in gaming.

I am legit angry at how good this is how dare you

What I took from the bell pit joke was that the goose is just part of the cycle rather than its destruction. Maybe part of the goose is that it's role in the structure is to consistently disrupt the structure, thus making the goose an unofficial part of it.

Interesting is that the undefeatable opponent of the goose is a stoicist. Someone who doesn't want havoc to be made. But if their shoe just happens to get stolen by a goose, accepts it instead of unsuccessfully chasing it around.

I disagree with the assessment on how dangerous geese are. I think they are vicious, violent, angry MFs.

I came here from Architect of Games. "I was not expecting to enjoy a leftist reading of untitled goose game and the nature of taking back power as much as I did". My expectations were high, and you still managed to surpass them.

I have this on my Switch and my sister's two-year-old *adores* it. I enjoy how everyone who plays the game starts to roleplay the goose almost immediately. Angrily honking when thwarted, flapping wings at the gardener, dumping sandwich in the water for no reason. It's beautiful.

It occurred to me a while ago that when animals behave the way humans do people call them "evil" or "chaotic". Bottom text

This feels a lot like parenthood. Especially the bit about the father, I mean farmer, looking at the goose, neither speaking nor willing to concede. Were you also as amused as I that the interview about the Goose was in Vulture? Video is so so bloody good as always, but you're tired of superlatives from me so please just assume them from now on.

I'm so out of touch with video games these days... Last one I played was Age of Empires 2, at the turn of the century... At the time I assumed that all games would just continue escalating in strategic complexity, growing in the scale of the universes they created and in the nuance of every character... About two decades later, I watch this video and realize that as long as there are people with imaginations and intellect sophisticated enough to fill any voids left by the game (narrative, symbolic, or otherwise), then even the simplicity of a small-town not-so-wild goose chase will have a place in the heart of gaming culture. Thank you for the wonderful and enlightening commentary, as always!

yes y e s an essay about goose game

The Trickster is a necessary spiritual component of human consciousness. It is the chaos that forces change and challenges the other parts of who we are that need to dominate, order, and exploit.

What’s So Goose About That?

Wow, you beat out Philosophy Tube for my favorite video released today about fighting hierarchies through video games ;) Great essay as always!

Adam Millard (Architect of Games) linked this in a recent video's description. Your channel was definitely worth the look and now I'm going to plow through the backlog.

omg!!!! the tiger is out ... my fave!!!!

I wish I saw this video when I was writing an academic essay about Untitled Goose Game and other similar games! I came to many of the same conclusions but it is interesting seeing how you interpreted the chaos factor as well. I hope this game goes down in internet history as showing chaos is only really the activeness of putting things where *you* think they belong.

THE GOOSE IS OUT

Be goose do crime.

iS ThAt A SNUFKIN QUOTe I HEaR? The goose does have a lot of snufkin energy actually

"not really harm" sounds like someone has never come face to face with a goose before!!! :D :D :D

I'm glad you took something simple and just, very silly to disect like this. It really felt like you had fun and a lot of freedom to explorer several ideas and concepts that could be hidden within THE GOOSE. Really loved this video!

I played Firewatch after your essay on it, and absolutely loved it. Now I'm going to do the same with Untitled Goose Game ^_^

I have watched this, 8 months past it's creation, and am baffled it's only got 30k views. I hope more people discover your channel and it blows up exponentially. This was an extremely entertaining video, albeit one out of "left" field (pun 100% intended)

You are like.... the best thing that happend to video essays since kaptainkristian, you're really an inspiration to my work.

I love how every video you do has personality (this video and the speed of being online in particular) and your voice is so nice to listen to. Your videos are just a lot of fun to listen to/watch

Your essays are so wonderfully engaging and written! Damn it's inspiring. Wonderful video as always!! : D

Rake in the lake is the closest I think to the goose ideas. There is a rake and the humans only see it as a rake and used for things only takes are used for. But what is it used for in a lake? Only the goose knows.

Somehow I associate the goose with absurdism

How do you not have a million subs alreadyyyyy?

There are few things I look forward to more than your videos! They're always a treat! Also thank you for intoducing me to my new favorite poem. I will look out for Nael's future work

The academic text slowly encroaching upon the goose at 11:59 made me honk with laugher! This is such a brilliant essay!!

I'd like to nominate this video for one of the best things of 2019. Not videos, just THINGS overall. Freaking great.

I’m applying to colleges now. I’m at a transition stage in my life I thought I wasn’t ready for. Thinking back, I thought I was still a little kid. But I’m not. I’m a young adult about to venture out. Your videos have helped me think about who I am and what I want to do with my life. It’s introduced me to new literature and media I haven’t experienced. It’s fantastic, truly. I’m alive and experiencing life. Thank you for teaching me lessons and themes I can look for in my own life.

great essay as always! also i love how much humour is in your editing

I don't know if I really want to include this game in my political identity. I feel like I love this game in a much less grown-up way than that. It perfectly captures the harmless and carefree mischief that I got up to as a kid.

This channel is gonna change the world one day

captivity was never an option

Here from an architect of games video, though I'm sure my frequent viewing of leftist essays and game essays I would have eventually found my way here. Absolutely phenomenal video. The final poem and the music immediately proceeding was probably the craziest frisson inducing masterpiece I've ever witnessed. And you also got me thinking about everything in the lake.

This might be my favorite video of yours yet! Nice and breezy, yet still getting across a lot. Excellent job!

This is a comment to show RU-vid and the algorithm that I like WSGAT!

Look at the Facebook group “Untitled Goose Group” and after following the leftist goose meme trend and generally embody the be gay do crimes philosophy, it’s fascist/anti-Semitic/TERF mods flooded the group with weak memes for kyles and chads. It broke my heart

EVERYTHING IN THE LAKE!

This was awesome! I played the game (and 100%ed it because I love procrastinating...) fairly shortly after having re-read some of Raymond Williams' The Country and the City for a thing I was writing and so the idea of the "green and pleasant land" and the countryside as a container for "Englishness" really jumped out for me. Loved all the other themes you pulled out of it and the thing about us recreating capitalism in play/play not necessarily allowing us to escape capitalism too! Love your stuff, so insightful and insanely well-presented!

it is such a nice video & such a nice analysis! now i'm filled with happiness because this channel can tell us WHY do we like things

11:53 "I like putting things where they aren't supposed to be" Would you look at that, so do I

Came from Adam Millard and watched your adventure time video and I really enjoyed it! And this video is good as well, keep up the great work.

Came straight here from Adam Millard's video about The Longing, now I can't wait to consume all your stuff! I super appreciate how tidy your channel is, playlists and visuals, and all that.

Can we not also interpret The Goose as a downright Situationist? The havoc he causes - the interruptions from the spectacle of daily life - seem to me the actions of a good old Situationist! Also, fantastic video. I found your channel today and have been watching obsessively!

I clicked so quickly, this is already exactly what I needed, frick yes. Also [honk!]

I'm offended you didn't say "be goose, do crime"

Thanks for the amazing video i love your essay videos and I like your ability to write video essays on such a broad variety of topics. °³°

I love your videos so much. It's been cold and rainy where I am for the past few days, and something about listening to you talk about the joys of being a degenerate goose up to no good is so fitting somehow. There's something cozy? about them, like a mug of hot tea on a chilly day under a pile of blankets but for your brain. Also this game sounds like an excellent Christmas present for someone I know (...yes, by someone I mean myself), so thanks!

I wrote a poorly written essay about this game a couple months ago that covered really similar thoughts, and I wanted to use it as a base to make my first RU-vid video! But I lost faith in my abilities to make it with the high standards I aspire towards, so I dropped the topic. I'm glad to see that was the right option because I could have *never* made something as well crafted, insightful, and entertaining as this. Thanks for being an inspiration to do better!!!

peace was never an option

Grace this was so good! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the game and the cognitive endeavour of life. It was fun 💛😄

Great video, Grace. Really enjoyed this analysis.

And now I have a fave new poem

Just wanted to say how much I love all your videos. You need a lot more appreciation for how much thought and effort goes into these well crafted essays. My particular favourite was your episode on Night In The Woods, one of my favourite indie games. Can I recommend The Dream Machine? I think you'd really enjoy it

"Be gay, do crimes" was definitely my slogan in high school =P

yes YES the goose is out

I loved everything you said :D I don't know, it might be, because i was on a climate protest today, but I got GOOSEBUMS when you talked about the goose being a symbol of revolution. I would love to see a serious nerdwriter-style essay on the meaning of this game, Maybe I should start doing videos and stop bothering other youtubers with my video ideas :D

You know, usually your essays are pretty serious and dry and I love that, but this is probably the most fun I've felt you've had in a any of your previous videos.

I really love your content, you're really onto something. Every statement on this paragraph is really real. Also, I'd like a list of your sources for each video. Because I'm that lazy member of your audience.

If the goose becomes an anarchist symbol, humanity will have succeeded.

When the Revolution comes, let the battle cry be: Rake in the Lake

I now understand why I've been leftposting goose memes, thank you

Oh, this is brilliant. The best take on a wonderful game. I'm glad I found your channel :)

This was lovely little chaotic video (like the goose I guess). I can see the Goose being the more chaotic form of rambling, the idea that beings can walk wherever it likes is a concept that was a massive part of Leftist movements particularly British one's throughout history. What I'm try to say is the Goose is the Gaming Equivalent of the Kinder Scout...that maybe a bit of a reach.

This game made geese my favourite animal

Me: *This belongs in my [totally] anarchist Steam Library* ... Release Date late 2020. Damn you, Authorities!

This was so funny! Another top notch deep dive.

This may be my favourite video you've done

ah fabulous video!

This is really great, and works bizarrely well with a session I ran at uni this past week (in accordance with the UCU strikes) on video games + activism. We even oft quoted Paolo Pedercini!

I learned to take the world by its tongue teeth

Thanks for sharing this

I once stole tons of objects and brought them to my lair I basically decorated it like a home

This video made me happy. Thanks for the rec, RU-vid

Fredrik Knudson brought me here. And I love it!

"Ain't no such thing as Australia son!"

what an awesome video

Great video!!!!!!!

the tiger is also my fav poem

Very very clever analysis

"I Like Putting Things Where they dont Belong" 🤔

Mess with the honk, get the bonk.

I keep revisiting the I Threw It on the Ground parts. Thank you so much for this excellent and well-crafted video. 4:54 5:20

The humans and the goose merely coexist there not enemies nor are they allies the goose is simply a part of every day life

When did I sub to this channel? It's great!

The Lonely Island joke is so good, I'm surprised I haven't seen it meme-ing itself around on Twitter et al.

Fight the power, goose! Freedom is right!

To mangle a George Orwell quote, the real fight is between animals and humans. Or humans and geese.

I am not a part of this system maaaaan

There will always be a little part of me that wants to release a gaggle of Geese into Polling stations later today.

Honk if Thatcher's dead.

This video was super cute I loved it!

The Debussy background music tho...

very nice video. I like the game now

I beg to differ at the start of the game the goose has a lot of freedom and he chooses where to go its until he starts destroying things that the vilagers start putting down some rules this is equvilant to a friend keeps on coming to your house when you are working the first few times you were ok with it after some times it becomes obsessive and you tell him that you can only come a few times a week then he starts telling you its unfair he cant come to your house the people were largely at peace before the goose came most if not all people want some sort of order and the goose is the opposite of order (edit: i feel like i have mis interpreted what she was trying to say plz correct me in the replays)