All Turnip Boy Games, Ranked

Let not Turnip Boy’s charm and adorable guise fool you. He’s probably, nay, most likely, the naughtiest anthropomorphic turnip. So far, he’s committed tax evasion, robbed a bank, among other petty crimes. Funny thing is, Turnip Boy has been getting into all sorts of mischief for sensible reasons. He’s been evading taxes, for instance, to fight back against a corrupt vegetable government. Okay, well, Turnip’s reasons may not quite make the sensible cut. 

In any case, gamers worldwide enjoy all the mischief (and goofy playthrough) he puts us through. And he always leaves us wondering what trouble he might be causing next. The good news is that developer Snoozy Kazoo is working on a third entry: Turnip Boy Steals the Mail, whose release date is unknown. While we wait, we thought of ranking all the Turnip Boy games so far. 

2. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion (2021)

You’re an adorable little turnip, just chilling in your greenhouse home, when you receive a tax bill from an onion mayor. And just because you think the government he runs is corrupt, you choose to tear the tax bill in frustration and commit tax evasion. That’s the hilarious start to your journey in Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, a top-down action-adventure game with a cartoony theme. You’d think that what follows is your usual exploration of different locales, solving of puzzles, and fighting enemies. 

Granted, the gameplay is exactly that. You forge out into a world where the characters are actual vegetables. You solve puzzles that, at first, seem a little too easy. However, they actually carry surprising depth and creativity. Exploration is pretty fun, too, especially with the plentiful humor bits drawing mostly from memes and absurd jokes. To be fair, the social media references in the goofy nature of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion may not always land. But it sure doesn’t take itself too seriously. I mean, besides the hack-and-slash combat, which admittedly can be quite floaty, the script is downright silly. 

The script, yes, because you actually do unravel interesting dialogue. You learn more about the turnip’s world, that, apparently, there was a nuclear holocaust that destroyed all humans and mutated vegetables into actual living, bipedal beings. At a point, you learn that your father used to be a mafia crime boss, among other constant twists and turns. Yet, the fact remains that Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion may not do it for you. Its playthrough may feel too short. The puzzles, perhaps, may leave you wanting more. Or the jokes may simply fail to land, all of which makes it a less superior entry in the series. 

1. Turnip Boy Robs a Bank (2024)

But Turnip Boy Robs a Bank stepped up its game. As is always the case with sequels, the developers learned from their mistakes, which weren’t all too many. This time, you decide to join the Pickled Gang and rob a bank. I admit, the story here feels lacking. The “why” has just been neglected for Turnip Boy getting up to mischief for the sake of it. Anyway, it serves the gameplay quite well, being a roguelite. You can rob the bank as many times as you want, with each run aiming to steal as much cash as possible. 

For added challenge, you only have three minutes to get out. Otherwise, the cops will come running, and Stinky will later flood the bank with deadly gas that kills you. After failed runs, you end up receiving less money, and that’s basically it. It’s almost like the story is non-existent here, which the series derives most of its humor. As a result, you might find Turnip Boy Robs a Bank significantly less funny than the first game. Or the story is less satisfactory in building more lore and content. 

To make up for the less engrossing story, though, is a step-up on the gameplay. The world here is much bigger, with more content to get into. It may not last as long as you might like, either. However, the heist gameplay is admittedly fun. You’ll shake down hostages for cash and steal all sorts of precious valuables. But you can also up your game by buying better, albeit wackier, tools off the dark web. These allow you to explore and rob more areas in the Botanical Bank. While you unlock new areas, you also learn the bank’s deep and dark history, which is a nice touch to further spice up your runs. 

In Closing

For gamers who feel the combat in Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is lacking, the sequel steps up its game. You’ll unlock more powerful tools, from C4s to pickaxes. You’ll also engage in intense shootouts with cops and security guards, at a point even going up against elite SWAT teams. However, if you’re looking for a more engrossing story, the first game does it better.

As for the upcoming Turnip Boy Steals the Mail, we’ll just have to wait and see where Snoozy Kazoo takes us. Interestingly, it’s a spin-off that takes a different turn, gameplay-wise. You’ll still control Turnip Boy. However, your playthrough will involve grabbing packages while running along a long-winding path. It’s a runner that’s a prequel to the first felony Turning Boy commits: stealing mail. It’s a get-rich-quick scheme of stealing mail from innocent citizens. But things turn awry when he steals something he shouldn’t have. 

Being a prequel, you’ll meet new friends but explore familiar environments. The more mail you steal, the higher your scores and the farther your progression into the story. There’s no combat here, replaced by a fast-paced, side-scrolling 2D runner and story mode. In the infinite runner mode, you’ll need to adapt your playstyle to beat different challenges. Will Turnip Boy Steals the Mail’s story be as hilarious and surprising as Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion? Will the gameplay be as intense? We may not have combat to look forward to. But perhaps the runner mode will be enough for a fun time.