How’s it going, gaming enthusiasts? I’m Lewis, and welcome to another XPN Gaming review!
There are countless genres in the gaming universe, and while horror has always been my go-to, I decided to take a step outside my comfort zone this time. I traded in the spine-chilling scares for something a bit more... cosy. And let me tell you, the game I discovered was a surprisingly delightful experience!
Enter Trash Goblin—a game I didn’t expect to enjoy as much as I did. Who would’ve thought a goblin running a quaint little shop, scavenging, fixing, and selling trinkets, could be so captivating? The developers at Spilt Milk Studios have masterfully blended the charm of cosy games with simulation mechanics, crafting a unique experience where managing your time and keeping customers happy is just as rewarding as the quirky characters and delightful gameplay.
Release Date: PC - 6th November 2024
Setting the Stage: What the Kickstarter Trailer Promised
When the trailer for Trash Goblin first dropped in December 2023 through Spilt Milk Studios’ Kickstarter campaign, it immediately caught my eye—and clearly, I wasn’t the only one! The campaign raised an impressive £94,902 with support from over 2,200 backers. It’s easy to see why so many players were eager to dive into this quirky adventure.
The trailer hooked me with its emphasis on scavenging, collecting, and customising, and I’m happy to say the final product didn’t disappoint. From the moment I stepped into the goblin’s shoes, I was immersed in a charming blend of creativity and resourcefulness that felt both fresh and fun.
So, grab your tools, fellow tinkerers—let’s crack open this shop, dive into the gameplay, and see why Trash Goblin deserves a spot in your collection!
Story & Setting
A World Without a Narrative – Embracing the Job
The plot of Trash Goblin centres on your role as the new goblin tinkerer, tasked with uncovering hidden trinkets that need cleaning, polishing, and preparing for eager customers. Along the way, you’ll hear an entertaining variety of stories from your patrons and encounter some truly fantastic characters.
While the Trash Goblin doesn’t have much of a personal backstory, the game focuses on the day-to-day challenges of running the shop. It’s all about balancing your time effectively, keeping customers happy, and ensuring every need is met. It’s a charmingly simple premise that’s surprisingly engaging!
In This World, You Can Build Almost Anything
I’m a big fan of games packed with lore, hidden secrets, and stories that players can spend years unravelling. Unfortunately, Trash Goblin doesn’t quite delve into that territory. The game’s world is mostly glimpsed through the window of your trinket shop and the paying customers who visit.
That said, the world still feels alive, thanks to the wonderfully imaginative and unique characters that stop by. The creativity behind each encounter is fantastic, but I couldn’t help wishing for a more engaging overarching story. At times, it felt more like an endless job simulator than a narrative-driven experience. However, this didn’t take away from the fun I had—it’s still a delightfully quirky game that kept me hooked for several hours.
Charming Characters with Stories Untold
The characters in Trash Goblin are wonderfully diverse, spanning different species, genders, and personalities. Each one feels thoughtfully designed, making every encounter a unique and imaginative experience. Meeting a new customer often felt like embarking on a mini adventure, thanks to the creativity poured into their designs and stories.
However, while the supporting cast shines, our little goblin protagonist remains a bit of a mystery. There’s little backstory or depth to your character, leaving you as more of a vessel to complete the tasks of scavenging, tinkering, and repeating the cycle. Still, the vibrant cast of characters around you helps bring the game’s world to life.
Gameplay
Simple Mechanics with a Relaxing Twist
The core mechanics of Trash Goblin are straightforward yet satisfying. You’re given a sack of items, which you empty onto your workstation to reveal a dirty, debris-covered trinket. From there, the fun begins! You’ll need to break away the debris in a puzzle-like mini-game, which becomes trickier as the objects get more complex—a feature I thoroughly enjoyed. Once the debris is cleared, you polish the trinket with a cloth, bringing it back to its former glory before adding it to your collection, ready for a customer to purchase.
Customisation also plays a role. You can modify trinkets, like adding glass to a magnifying glass, to meet specific customer requests. When a customer makes an offer, you have the choice to accept or decline. Accepting is often the easier route, as the money earned can be reinvested into upgrading your shop or workstation. However, upgrades don’t come cheap. A new table, for example, can set you back around 1,000 gold, while customers might only offer between 30 to 100 gold per item, depending on its value. This introduces a bit of grinding to the gameplay, but it also adds a rewarding sense of progression as you build up your quaint little shop.
No Stress, Just Steady Progression
Trash Goblin doesn’t include difficulty settings, and that’s by design—the game is meant to be a relaxing, cosy experience. While some of the puzzles can get a bit more intricate, they’re never overwhelming or frustrating. In fact, the game strikes a great balance, offering enough challenge to keep things engaging without causing stress or annoyance. It’s the perfect game to unwind with, letting you enjoy the process at your own pace.
Time to Rest, Then Back to the Grind: The Progression Cycle
The gameplay in Trash Goblin is entirely progression-based, focusing on upgrading your tools, workstation, or shop as you unlock new options. You can also customise and decorate your workspace, adding a personal touch to your goblin’s little world. However, be prepared for plenty of grinding, as earning enough gold for upgrades can take some time!
Replayability Driven by Collection and Grinding
This game is exactly what you’d expect—a goblin running a trinket shop. While the characters may change, the core gameplay loop remains the same. Replayability largely depends on whether you enjoy grinding, collecting, and interacting with quirky customers. For me personally, while the experience was enjoyable, it didn’t offer much variation. After several hours, I felt content to take a break and step away from the shop.
Graphics and Visuals
Handcrafted Visuals That Bring the World to Life
The art direction in Trash Goblin is entirely handcrafted, and it truly adds a unique charm to the game. The visuals are a delight to look at, with each character, object, and environment designed with great attention to detail. Honestly, the art style is one of the standout features of the game and is a big part of what makes the experience so enjoyable. It’s an artistic touch that brings the world of Trash Goblin to life in a way that’s both cosy and visually captivating.
Smooth and Seamless: A Well-Optimised Experience
In terms of technical performance, Trash Goblin delivered a smooth and seamless experience. I encountered no issues throughout my time with the game, whether it was navigating through the menus, interacting with objects, or exploring the shop. The game ran without any noticeable lag, crashes, or glitches, allowing me to immerse myself fully in the cosy gameplay. It’s clear that the developers paid attention to the finer details of performance, ensuring that the experience remained fluid and enjoyable from start to finish. This smooth technical foundation only added to the overall charm of the game.
Interactive Moments, Not Cinematics
Trash Goblin doesn’t rely on traditional cutscenes to drive its narrative. Instead, the entire experience is interactive from start to finish. Dialogue choices are presented through a series of options, allowing you to shape your responses and interactions with customers and characters.
Sound & Music
Subtle Soundscapes That Enhance the Cosy Atmosphere
The sound design in Trash Goblin features a variety of sound effects, but nothing that stands out as ground breaking. While the sounds do their job—adding atmosphere and helping to bring the shop and characters to life—they don’t particularly push any boundaries or introduce anything particularly unique. The effects are pleasant and functional, supporting the cosy vibe of the game, but they don’t leave a lasting impression.
Voice-Free, But Still Full of Character
Trash Goblin doesn’t feature voice acting, and most of the dialogue is conveyed through small noises or grunts from the characters. While this adds a bit of charm and fits the game's light-hearted, cosy atmosphere, it means that the story and interactions rely more on text-based dialogue and visual cues rather than vocal performances. It’s a simple approach that keeps the focus on the gameplay, but it might not be for everyone, especially those who prefer fully voiced characters.
Medieval-Inspired Tunes for a Tranquil Atmosphere
The music perfectly captures the medieval setting, with melodies that transport you to a world of knights, armour, and adventure. It’s relaxing and soothing, providing a gentle backdrop to the gameplay. The tunes never feel intrusive; instead, they enhance the cosy atmosphere, creating a peaceful ambience that makes it easy to unwind while playing. It’s the kind of music that fades into the background, adding to the game's charm without taking away from the overall experience.
User Experience & Accessibility
Minimalist Design That Lets You Focus on the Fun
The interface is somewhat clean and minimal, perfectly aligning with its cosy design philosophy. There’s no overwhelming or intrusive UI, allowing you to immerse yourself in the relaxing gameplay and delightful interactions fully. In the top-left corner, you’ll find a handy timer that tracks the time spent on each activity, along with a settings cog. Your current gold balance is displayed in the top-right corner. At the bottom of the screen, quick-access icons make it easy to navigate between key locations such as the workbench, customer desk, shopkeeper’s station, and your personal space. It’s a simple yet effective layout that keeps everything organised without breaking the flow.
No Accessibility Options, But the Game Is Still Easygoing
Trash Goblin doesn’t offer any accessibility options, but its relaxed and straightforward gameplay makes it approachable for most players and not overly a challenge.
Innovation & Comparisons
Unique Trinket Cleaning and Repair System
Trash Goblin includes a handful of unique features, such as the timer system, which I must admit feels like it runs down quite fast—you’ll reach Day 14 before you know it. Once the timer is up, you’ll need to rest to start the next day, but don’t worry; your customers will patiently wait for your return. The game also offers some customisation options for your shop and trinkets, adding a personal touch to your gameplay. However, beyond these elements, the gameplay features remain fairly basic, sticking to the core mechanics without introducing too many complexities.
Comparing Trash Goblin to Other Puzzle and Sim Games
A lot of cosy games focus entirely on creating a relaxed and calming experience, giving players the freedom to enjoy them at their own pace. One of my all-time favourites is Disney Dreamlight Valley, thanks to its extensive customisation options, engaging story, and the joy of meeting beloved characters. Another standout is Powerwash Simulator, which takes you through countless locations and offers the simple satisfaction of cleaning.
Trash Goblin takes a slightly different approach, blending cosy vibes with simulation mechanics. While it shares the laid-back nature of these games, it carves out its own niche by focusing on running a trinket shop, offering players a unique and charming experience.
Final Thoughts
Strengths
Trash Goblin is a delightful cosy experience, perfect for anyone in need of some relaxing downtime. The characters and art are truly remarkable, bursting with creativity and charm. Each character you encounter has their own unique story, adding depth and personality to the game’s enchanting world.
The puzzles are enjoyable and add an extra layer of fun to the gameplay, along with the customisation options that let you personalise your experience. These elements come together to create a charming and engaging atmosphere, making Trash Goblin a rewarding game to unwind with.
Weaknesses
There isn’t much of a story focused on your protagonist or any overarching narrative in Trash Goblin, which leads to a bit of a rinse-and-repeat gameplay loop. While the lack of voice acting isn't a huge issue, it does contribute to the feeling of simplicity. One element that stands out is the timer, which runs out quite quickly, pushing you to move on to the next day constantly. This can feel a bit rushed at times, but it also keeps the game’s pace steady.
Personal Opinion
Trash Goblin first caught my attention with its Kickstarter trailer, showcasing a clever puzzle system for uncovering unique trinkets—a concept that immediately intrigued me. With such a creative premise, my expectations for the game were high. While I would have preferred a more developed storyline to tie everything together, it was still an enjoyable and charming experience overall.
Thank you to everyone who took time out of their day to take a moment to read this review, your support is always appreciated and means the world to me!
So, from all of us and myself thank you! Oh, and guys before you go always remember to… KEEP GAMING!
XPN Rating: 3 out of 5 (Silver)
Trash Goblin is AVAILABLE now on : PC
(Thank you to Vincent from PlanOfAttack and the team at Spilt Milk Studios for providing the code for this review)
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