Trash Goblin

Trash Goblin isn’t aiming for mainstream appeal. It’s designed for players who enjoy slower experiences, repetitive comfort loops, and low-pressure gameplay. If that sounds appealing, there’s a good chance this little goblin shop will quietly steal hours of your life without you even noticing. If not, the experience may feel too shallow to hold attention for long.

Trash Goblin is a cozy sim in which you play as a goblin in charge of a travelling cart. You find, clean, and upgrade different kinds of antiques-from trinkets to weapons-and sell them for a profit. Help local townfolk, get to know different creatures, and enjoy the fantasy elements as you upgrade your tools and shop, becoming a master of your craft.

Even with a port that compromises the qualities of the game, the Switch version carries the best aspect of games of this type: portability. There's nothing better than doing some puzzles, cleaning some objects, and making a sale or two in between activities. Furthermore, the game manages to break away from the simulator mold, giving us more of a desire to perform handcrafted tasks than training us for an increasingly gamified job market.

While it has some sluggish controls and a loop that can feel a bit thin when you’re too prepared for customers, it’s a proper relaxing time. It’s got that “one more day” pull if you just want to scrub some junk and make a bit of coin without any pressure. If you want a hand-drawn zen experience and don’t mind the mouse-style cursor, it’s a solid bit of fun.

By describing itself as a “wholesome” game, Trash Goblin makes it clear that peace of mind is part of the deal.

While the emphasis here is mostly on the repetitive cleaning and repairing of random items, the game has a reasonably cozy vibe and a little more substance than some of its competitors

Spilt Milk Studios has made such a cute, cosy game set in a fantasy world. I love all the named NPCs and all the different races that come to your store. However, the trash left behind by the titular Trash Goblin has left a bit of a stench on the Switch port of this title. I do genuinely recommend exploring the life of running a trinket store, just maybe not on the Switch.

Trash Goblin is a fun mix of running a shop, making things, and solving simple puzzles. Even though it's still in Early Access and needs some work on inventory management, tracking, and contact accuracy, it's already a very fun and stress-free experience.

Cozy shopkeeping experience in which you'll be upcycling items and giving them a new life

You play Trash Goblin for the relaxing tedium of everyday shopkeeping as well as encountering interesting folks along the way. You don’t play this if you’re looking for a challenge or engaging gameplay. That isn’t a bad thing necessarily. It’s entirely up to you depending on the kind of game you want to play.