When the playable demo for Goat Simulator 3 started, we had to ask: what is the? Real why Coffee Stain North labeled this as the third game in the series when in fact it’s the second? Stuart Docherty, sound designer and composer, gave a simple, honest answer. As it turned out, the team just thought it was really funny. This would set the tone for the rest of the demonstration.
For those who may not know, Goat Simulator was released in 2015 and parodied straight-faced simulation games and video games in general. Set in a tiny sandbox with intentionally shaky physics and less-than-stellar imagery, it quickly became a big hit. The ability to thrust NPCs into oblivion and drag objects around with a sticky tongue provided ample scope for ridiculous shenanigans, and the wacky indie title became a viral sensation. After a ton of DLC, Coffee Stain North was tasked with creating the sequel, and it looks set to bring even more unadulterated mayhem.
The main change is the addition of local and online co-op multiplayer for up to four goats. We played alongside 3D artist Philip Bretschneider, who graciously allowed us to go crazy in the game’s vastly expansive open world. Returning players will feel at home as the controls are largely the same, but multiplayer greatly increases the game’s capacity for madness. You can of course headbutt and lick each other, which in itself is enough for a laugh, but the developer has filled the game with so many things to see and do that you are never far from something really silly to enjoy .
This can come in the form of an occasional encounter in the world. Apparently there are hundreds of these jokes to discover on the map. We approached a barn with a large food bowl outside. Bretschneider dragged an unwitting human into the bowl, rang the bell and a giant chicken stuck its head out and ate the NPC. Shortly after, an egg rolled into the garden through a parachute. Bretschneider then stood on the egg to hatch it. After expanding several times, the egg burst open, revealing the consumed human, alive and well, next to a clone. We asked how many times you could clone an NPC this way. The answer was that there is no limit.
Another big new feature is that each goat is fully customizable, but some of these options will give you some ridiculous extra abilities. For example, we equipped a belt with which we could shoot fireworks. We also fiddled with a sight that allowed us to fire laser beams, and a pair of horn boots that simply made honking noises as we trotted around. You can also change species; we briefly played as a pig – or as the game calls it, a ‘tasty goat’ – which had its own ability to slide on its belly. You can equip these different items all at once in different slots, so there’s a lot of potential to become a seriously overwhelmed billy once you unlock everything.
Minigames are also new to Goat Simulator 3. These are initially found in “ideal” open world locations, things like King of the Hill, The Floor Is Lava, and so on. They’re fun, rapid-fire rounds that give you a little more focus when looking for a target. The great thing is that once you find these minigames, you can play them anywhere on the map, even where it’s practically impossible. You can make the multiplayer modes as easy or hard to play as you want.
We also got to see how the game will feature some story missions, allowing players to enjoy something a little more structured. These are also scattered around the map so you can sign up whenever you want. There’s no set order of quests and they won’t be forced on you – if you want them they’re there, but otherwise you can continue to wreak havoc on your own terms.
There’s more to talk about, like how you can now drive cars and other vehicles, gain elemental skills like fireballs and spitting electricity, and how, yes, physics still breaks out in hilarious ways. After talking to the developers and playing for the better part of an hour, we have a feeling that Goat Simulator 3 is going to be great. If it can really keep the chaos going and continue to surprise players like it did in our demo, this could easily be one of the most brutally fun games of the year.
Goat Simulator 3 will be released on PS5 on November 17, 2022. Are you excited to play this crazy game? Butt heads together in the comments below.
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