Tinker for Treasure: Trash Goblin
Instant gratification on tap in this casual puzzler
‣ Trash Goblin
From: Spilt Milk Studios Ltd
Platforms: PC
Release: 2024
Steam Page • Demo Video
Popping bubble wrap is entertaining but quickly becomes dull. Is there a better way to keep the dopamine coming? Maybe add some novelty to keep things fresh and exciting?
How about a game about a goblin who meticulously chips grime away from trinkets they can sell? To make it easy, why not make all the grime an irregular collection of cubes, giving them different characteristics to change how they chip away? And let’s make the whole thing adorable and friendly.
Trash Goblin is the digital equivalent of bubble wrap, in a good way. The game is not challenging. It doesn’t seem possible to screw up, even though there are blocks that require particular approaches. Though the demo isn’t long enough to really test the shop system, bankruptcy also seems unlikely. But the fun is discovering and cleaning objects and then meeting the bizarre clientele that shows up to buy your baubles.
Trash Goblin’s developer is a veteran indie studio, but this game is a big step up from their previous work. They wisely chose what they wanted to focus on, creating a game that is quite simple yet rewarding. Grab a covered object, knock out cubes, give the recovered trinket a sponge shine, and then sell it to the parade of oddball customers—very satisfying. Trash Goblin is also adorable, with a nice art style and friendly atmosphere.
You can only glean so much from a demo, and Trash Goblin’s full release might add more features, such as additional tools and block types. But even in its current state, the game is very compelling and a fun way to whittle away the time (literally).
Trash Goblin is due for release in 2024.
📽 Best Demo Moment: Chip away and clean Grandma’s Egg
Explore The Game with Youtube Chapters:
📽 00:51 Let's clean some trash!
📽 02:36 Let's get another trinket
📽 03:50 Our first customer
📽 04:54 Whats in the shop?
📽07:15 Let's start day 2!
📽 08:10 Clean that horn
📽 09:28 Next trinket!
📽 13:11 More blocks...
📽 17:30 A special request
📽 19:06 Back to work
📽 22:30 Next trinket!
📽 25:15 Let's keep going
📽 28:32 Day 4!
📽 36:30 That's a big cube
📽 40:45 New customer, new order
📽 42:17 A few more trinkets
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