I usually go for darker games: stuff with story, tension, or something weird to chew on. But I gave Trash Goblin a shot because it looked chill, and I’m glad I did because it’s the kind of game that just feels good to hang out in.
You play as a goblin running a little trinket shop.
You fix up junk, talk to odd customers, and use the money you make to upgrade your tools and your space.
That’s the loop, and surprisingly, it works really well.
So here’s what it’s all about, what it gets right, what could be better, and whether it’s worth your time.
Each day starts with a sack full of random junk.
You dump it onto your workbench, and that’s when the fun begins.
You start chipping away debris, uncover what’s underneath, and clean it up.
Some items are simple, others need a bit more work, but once they’re fixed, they’re ready to sell.
Customers show up throughout the day.
Some have specific requests, others just browse. You can take their offer, negotiate a bit, or hold onto something for later.
That part’s up to you!
Now, upgrades don’t come cheap.
A basic table can cost over a thousand gold, while most items only sell for around 50.
So yeah, there’s some grinding, but it never feels punishing because you’re always working toward something.
And that’s where it clicks. You fix, sell, upgrade, repeat… and the loop just works.
You’re not being rushed, and you’re not being punished for taking your time.
It’s calm, but never boring.
Where the game really surprised me was in the customers.
Every one of them feels unique.
They’re different species, different personalities, and most of them say something that catches you off guard in a good way.
Your goblin doesn’t talk, and you don’t really get any backstory, but the world still feels alive because of the people who visit your shop.
There’s not much story beyond that.
You don’t leave the shop, you don’t uncover some grand mystery.
But the way characters talk about the outside world gives you just enough to stay interested.
It’s not a narrative-driven game, but it still builds a world in its own way.
That was enough for me.
Visually, this game has a lot of personality.
Everything is hand-crafted. The items look worn, the characters are weird in the best way, and it all just feels right for what the game’s trying to do.
The music is soft and medieval. It’s got just enough melody to add atmosphere, but not so much that it ever gets in the way.
You could play this for hours and never need to turn it down.
There’s no voice acting, but each character has their own little sounds and reactions, and that adds enough charm without needing full dialogue.
It keeps things light, and it works.
And performance-wise, I had zero issues.
The menus are clean, everything loads quickly, and I never ran into a single bug.
You can tell it’s been polished.
That said, the game definitely has limits.
The core loop doesn’t really change. You fix, you sell, you upgrade, and you do it again. There’s no big twist, no major unlocks. If you’re not into it after the first hour, nothing later on is going to change your mind.
There’s also no story progression or major goals to aim for.
You don’t build a reputation, and your goblin doesn’t evolve or develop in any way. It’s more of a sandbox than a journey.
And yes, there is a grind.
Especially if you’re trying to unlock everything, it’ll take a while.
That didn’t bother me much, but it’s worth knowing before you go in.
Trash Goblin is one of those games that doesn’t ask much from you, but still gives something back.
It’s cozy, it’s weird, and it’s more satisfying than I expected.
If you like games where you can zone out, work through a chill little loop, and make slow steady progress, this one’s absolutely worth playing.
It’s not deep. It’s not flashy. But it knows exactly what it is.
And I think there’s a lot of value in games like that.
Positives
💚 Charming art style and expressive characters.
💚 Genuinely funny writing and great sense of humor.
💚 Satisfying loop of cleaning, organizing, and upgrading.
💚 Relaxing pace with no pressure or time limits.
💚 Great onboarding for casual or cozy gamers.
💚 Awesome design on the animatronics.
💚 Spot on location and setting.
💚 Unexpected depth with item mechanics and questlines.
💚 Perfect for short play sessions or chill evenings.
Negatives
❌ May feel too slow or aimless for players who prefer structured goals.
❌ Inventory management can get tedious without upgrades.
❌ Not much challenge or stakes for players wanting tension.
❌ Limited content in the early access version.
❌ Some systems (like character progression) still feel a bit undercooked.
Written by
Lewis Langton
1 Comment
IndieKitty
Incredible review Lew!!! This game looks absolutely adorable!