Goeland: Seagull Adventure from Montreal developer Maarti Games lets you live your best life as a mischievous seagull causing chaos on a peaceful island. With up to 4-player co-op, puzzles, and sandbox freedom, this Untitled Goose Game successor just might be your next cozy obsession. Created by solo developer Bryan Martinet after losing his job at Eidos Montreal during industry layoffs, Goeland transforms personal hardship into a delightful playground where being an annoying bird is not just acceptable but encouraged.
- From AAA Layoffs to Indie Freedom
- What Makes Goeland Different From Untitled Goose Game
- Gameplay Loop and Puzzle Design
- Helping Stranded Animals and Changing the World
- Accessibility and Relaxed Gameplay
- The Free Demo Experience
- What to Expect From the Full Release
- FAQs About Goeland: Seagull Adventure
- Conclusion
From AAA Layoffs to Indie Freedom
Bryan Martinet worked in the AAA game industry at Eidos Montreal before joining the thousands of developers impacted by the brutal wave of layoffs that swept through gaming in 2024 and 2025. Rather than searching for another corporate position, Martinet took the opportunity to pursue a passion project that had been brewing in the back of his mind. The result is Goeland, a game where the developer handles every aspect of creation from concept to execution.
This solo development approach means the game carries a singular creative vision without compromise from marketing departments or executive committees. Martinet mentioned the experience has been challenging yet rewarding, learning to juggle programming, art direction, sound design, community management, and all the other responsibilities that normally get distributed across large teams. The upside is creative control and the ability to pivot based on player feedback without navigating bureaucratic approval chains.
The game launched a free demo on Steam in 2024, with regular updates keeping the community engaged while development continues toward the eventual full release. No firm launch date has been announced, which is typical for solo developers who prioritize quality over meeting arbitrary deadlines. Martinet maintains active communication through the Steam page, social media, and the game’s Discord server, creating transparency that large studios often struggle to achieve.
What Makes Goeland Different From Untitled Goose Game
The comparison to Untitled Goose Game is inevitable and not entirely wrong. Both games let you play as annoying birds terrorizing peaceful communities through mischief and mayhem. Both feature sandbox environments where player creativity drives much of the entertainment. Both rely on charming art styles and whimsical soundtracks to soften the chaos you inflict on unsuspecting NPCs.
However, Goeland differentiates itself through several key features. Most importantly, you can fly. This fundamental ability transforms exploration from ground-level waddling to true three-dimensional freedom. The island becomes your vertical playground where rooftops, trees, cliffs, and hidden nooks are all accessible without artificial barriers. Flight changes the puzzle design too, since solutions can involve aerial approaches that would be impossible for a flightless goose.
The game also emphasizes player choice in how you interact with the world. You can be a mischievous prankster stealing food and annoying tourists, or you can help the island’s inhabitants by completing tasks and solving their problems. Some objectives reward chaos, others reward altruism, and many can be approached either way depending on your mood. This moral flexibility creates replayability as you experiment with different behavioral approaches across multiple playthroughs.
Multiplayer support up to four players is another major distinction. Untitled Goose Game added two-player co-op in a post-launch update, but Goeland was designed from the start to accommodate solo play or groups. Coordinating four seagulls working together or against each other amplifies the chaos exponentially. One player can distract an NPC while another steals their belongings. Two players can solve puzzles requiring simultaneous button presses or object placement in different locations.
Gameplay Loop and Puzzle Design
The island of Goeland functions as an open-world sandbox where NPCs follow daily routines, objects can be manipulated in creative ways, and environmental interactions create emergent comedy. Puzzles range from straightforward fetch quests to complex multi-step challenges requiring observation, timing, and lateral thinking. The game does not hold your hand with objective markers or glowing indicators. You explore, observe patterns, experiment with interactions, and discover solutions organically.
Stealth mechanics play a role despite you being a bird rather than a trained assassin. Some objectives require approaching without alerting guards or avoiding detection while stealing items. Your seagull can walk, run, fly, and interact with objects using its beak. The control scheme stays simple to maintain accessibility while allowing enough depth for skilled players to execute complex maneuvers.
Environmental storytelling reveals the island’s secrets as you explore. Observing NPC routines provides strategic advantages for completing objectives. One character might visit the same location at the same time every day, creating predictable windows for mischief. Another might have a specific fear or weakness you can exploit. The world feels alive rather than static, with characters reacting dynamically to your presence and actions.
Helping Stranded Animals and Changing the World
Beyond pranks and puzzles, Goeland includes a heartwarming mechanic where you help stranded animals reach the ocean. Baby turtles stuck far from water, crabs separated from their homes, or other creatures facing obstacles can all be assisted by a helpful seagull. This feature adds emotional resonance and gives players who prefer cooperation over chaos a satisfying alternative gameplay path.
Your actions have lasting effects on the island. Choices made in one area can ripple outward, affecting NPC behavior and opening new opportunities elsewhere. This creates a sense of consequence and agency that makes the sandbox feel responsive rather than scripted. You are not just passing through the world, you are actively shaping it through decisions both large and small.
The adaptive dynamic soundtrack responds to your activities, shifting between relaxed ambient music during peaceful exploration and more energetic tracks when chaos erupts. This audio design enhances immersion without becoming distracting, letting the music complement the action rather than overwhelm it.
Accessibility and Relaxed Gameplay
Goeland deliberately avoids time limits, fail states, or harsh penalties that create stress in many games. You can explore at your own pace, retry objectives without punishment, and approach challenges from any angle that makes sense to you. This design philosophy makes the game accessible to players who want low-pressure entertainment without sacrificing depth for those seeking challenge.
The September 2025 trailer specifically highlighted relaxed play options, emphasizing that the game can be as chill or as chaotic as you want it to be. Some players might spend hours just flying around enjoying the scenery and ambient sounds. Others will optimize puzzle solutions and complete every objective as efficiently as possible. Both playstyles are equally valid and supported by the game’s flexible structure.
Accessibility features include configurable controls, high-contrast options, and textless gameplay for players who have difficulty with reading. The game supports keyboard and mouse, Xbox controllers, and PlayStation controllers, giving players freedom to use whatever input method feels most comfortable. Multiple language options including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese ensure broad international accessibility.
The Free Demo Experience
The Goeland demo available on Steam provides a substantial preview of the core gameplay loop. The demo area is naturally limited compared to what the full game will offer, but this slice demonstrates the flying mechanics, puzzle variety, NPC interactions, and environmental freedom that define the experience. Local co-op was added to the demo specifically for testing, allowing up to four players to team up and cause coordinated chaos.
Player response to the demo has been overwhelmingly positive. The flight controls feel smooth and intuitive, the puzzles strike a good balance between accessibility and cleverness, and the visual charm draws comparisons to beloved cozy games like A Short Hike and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. Common feedback requests more content, which is exactly what Martinet is working toward for the full release.
The demo receives regular updates as Martinet refines mechanics and adds polish based on player feedback. This iterative approach ensures the final game addresses community concerns and incorporates requested features where feasible for a solo developer. Trying the demo costs nothing and provides a clear sense of whether Goeland’s brand of feathered chaos appeals to you.
What to Expect From the Full Release
While no release date has been announced, Martinet continues active development with regular progress updates. The full version will expand the island significantly, adding new areas with unique challenges and secrets to discover. More puzzles, additional NPCs with their own stories and routines, extra customization options, and potentially new gameplay mechanics are all planned for the complete experience.
The treasure hunt feature revealed in the September 2025 trailer suggests collectibles and exploration challenges beyond the main objectives. New animal types to help and interact with will add variety to the ecosystem. Whether online multiplayer joins the existing local co-op remains unclear, though it would significantly expand the game’s replay value if implemented.
Pricing has not been announced, though similar indie sandbox games typically range between 15 and 25 dollars depending on content scope. Given the solo development context and the care being put into polish and features, Goeland will likely position itself competitively within that range when it finally launches.
FAQs About Goeland: Seagull Adventure
When will Goeland: Seagull Adventure be fully released?
No official release date has been announced yet. Maarti Games continues active development and regularly updates the demo with improvements and new features. The full game will launch when the developer feels it is ready, prioritizing quality over rushed timelines.
Is there a demo available for Goeland?
Yes, a free demo is available on Steam and itch.io. The demo includes a limited area of the island but showcases the core flying mechanics, puzzle solving, NPC interactions, and local co-op multiplayer for up to four players.
Can you play Goeland with friends?
Yes, Goeland supports local co-op multiplayer for up to four players. The feature is available in both the demo and the planned full release. Online multiplayer has not been confirmed but could potentially be added based on development priorities.
What platforms will Goeland be available on?
Goeland is confirmed for Windows PC via Steam and itch.io. A native Linux version is also available. Console releases have not been announced, though they could be considered after the PC launch depending on the game’s success.
Is Goeland similar to Untitled Goose Game?
Yes, both games feature mischievous birds causing chaos in sandbox environments. However, Goeland adds full three-dimensional flight, up to four-player co-op, more open-ended objectives with moral choices, and environmental transformation based on your actions. Think of it as Untitled Goose Game with wings and multiplayer.
Who is developing Goeland?
Goeland is developed by Bryan Martinet under the studio name Maarti Games. Martinet is a solo developer from Montreal, Canada who previously worked at Eidos Montreal before being laid off during industry-wide job cuts. He handles every aspect of development from programming to art direction.
Do you have to be mean to NPCs or can you help them?
You can choose your playstyle. The game allows you to be a mischievous prankster causing chaos, a helpful ally completing tasks for NPCs, or anything in between. Many objectives can be approached either way, giving players freedom to roleplay however they prefer.
Are there any time limits or fail states?
No. Goeland deliberately avoids time pressure and harsh penalties. You can explore at your own pace, retry objectives without punishment, and play in a relaxed manner without stress. This makes the game accessible while still providing satisfying challenges for those who seek them.
Conclusion
Goeland: Seagull Adventure represents the best of what solo indie development can achieve when passion and talent combine with creative freedom. Bryan Martinet took a devastating job loss and transformed it into an opportunity to create something genuinely charming and fun. The game carves out its own identity despite inevitable comparisons to Untitled Goose Game, offering flight mechanics, meaningful multiplayer, moral flexibility, and a living world that reacts to your choices. The free demo provides ample opportunity to see if the gameplay clicks for you, and the regular updates show a developer committed to refinement and community engagement. Whether you want to terrorize tourists, help baby turtles reach the ocean, solve clever puzzles, or just fly around enjoying a beautiful island with friends, Goeland accommodates all these playstyles with equal enthusiasm. For anyone who ever looked at a seagull stealing french fries and thought that looks like fun, this game finally lets you live that dream without the risk of actual bird-related property damage.