Published by NEOWIZ and developed by JINO Games, the narrative puzzle-platformer "Goodbye Seoul" is participating in Steam Next Fest. The game has undergone a five-year development cycle since its inception, completed entirely by a solo developer, making it one of the参展 titles with a longer development period and distinct creative imprint at this Next Fest.
Five Years of Development, A Solo Pursuit
According to development logs published on the Steam Community, developer JINO quit their job in 2021 to begin independent development. The original plan was to complete a release-ready version within one year, but this goal was not achieved, and the project was suspended a year later. In January 2022, the developer restarted the project, abandoning the full 3D approach in favor of a 2.5D pixel art style, and adjusted the scope of system and puzzle design.
By late 2023, the Demo version garnered more attention than expected, revealing deficiencies in the story structure. Development logs indicated that at the project's inception, only characters and settings were in place, with the event framework nearly blank and the ending described as "hollow." Based on this, the developer rebuilt the narrative and adjusted existing puzzles and level order.
Since 2024, the game has been showcased at BitSummit, BIC (Busan Independent Game Festival), gamescom, ChinaJoy, WCG, and G-STAR. In April 2025, the game's Tumblbug crowdfunding campaign reached 600% of its target; in September of the same year, it won "Best Game" at the gamescom Indie Arena Booth.
Over the past five years, the game's art, programming, narrative, and level design were all completed by a single developer, with no team division of labor. In a development log published in March 2026, JINO wrote: "For the past four years, I have been developing this game almost entirely alone. During that time, I became accustomed to working with hardly any interaction with the outside world." In the same log, he mentioned that as the work gradually gained more attention, he began to "connect with the world little by little," and apologized to players for some updates arriving later than expected, acknowledging that his communication might have seemed "somewhat clumsy."
Demo Content: From the Han River to Itaewon
The demo version available during this Next Fest includes the Prologue, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2, taking players from the beginning of the story to the Itaewon district in Seoul. The estimated playtime is approximately 20 to 30 minutes, offering a complete sense of the world-building and narrative pacing.
Visually, the game adopts a 2.5D pixel art style, combining desolate urban streets with neon afterglows to create a bleak yet restrained atmospheric aesthetic. In terms of gameplay, the title focuses on environmental puzzles and platforming, with no combat system. Puzzle design prioritizes clear logic and direct feedback, allowing players to progress by observing the environment and finding clues. The overall pace is relaxed, leaning towards an immersive experience.
Wishlisting Now Open
The Steam store page for "Goodbye Seoul" has opened wishlist functionality during this Next Fest. Players can add the game to their wishlists to receive notifications upon its official release.
Wishlist count is one of the reference metrics Steam uses to gauge interest in a title and influences game visibility and recommendations. The development team stated they look forward to collecting player feedback through this demo and continuously optimizing future versions.