Trash Goblin Review (PC)

I distinctly remember how I felt when I first removed the grime from the kitchen counter in PowerWash Simulator, and how it made me realize that, minus the blatant monotony of the process itself, cleaning old habitants and giving them a good old-fashioned spit shine was an oddly satisfying experience. I held onto that feeling, and with it, looked to source fresh jobs from a similar gene pool—a soapy archipelago in which I could scrub the surface of neglected trinkets, and then, after a disconcerting period of time, proudly display them on my shop wall or some egocentric trophy shelf. As luck would have it, I wound up with the keys to a rather niche business shortly thereafter—a goblin-owned restoration shop, of all places. It was there, equipped with all the tools and canvases, that I could put that escalating craftsmanship to good use. Enter Trash Goblin.

Trash Goblin, for those who’ve yet to embark on their own phishing expeditions, is a business simulation game in which you, the curator of grubby artifacts and oil-smothered mementos, can build, manage, and ultimately evolve your own restoration shop. Like so many others of its kin, the company that you have the power to control and develop can also receive a variety of quality upgrades, including sturdier tools, eco-friendly decor, and, of course, more space to work in. And that’s barely scratching the surface, so to speak.

If you’re eager to hear more about Trash Goblin and its peculiar world of curiosities, then be sure to read on.

Breaking the Mold

Trash Goblin paints a simple picture: an architect, one who conveniently shares an undying passion for restoration and the general preservation of timeless keepsakes, has been presented with an opportunity to build a store from the ground up. In this world, it’s you who has the flexibility to make everlasting bonds with the colorful locals—the folk who not only have a treasure trove of moldable metals and relics to share, but a deep, deep pocket for unique crafts and upcycled goods. And that, in short, is where you commence your journey: hobbling in a small wooden workshop, and idling in possession of one of two mysterious objects—items with which you can scrape, wipe, and essentially carve away at with a selection of tools to unearth whatever valuable keepsake rests within.

The stepping stone structure found in Trash Goblin is fantastically simple, in the case that, if you’re chipping away at one artifact, then you’re pretty much working to unravel two or three more pieces of the puzzle from behind the smoke screen of unidentifiable treasures. As you progress further into the game, you eventually begin to unlock better tools, and with them, more rewarding opportunities to develop as a business and, with the right amount of skill and resources to fund your endeavors, create even better gifts for your customers. And, as it turns out, neither of these things are all that difficult to comprehend, mainly due to the simple fact that there are no time constraints, nor any overly demanding regulars to keep track of, for that matter. Simply put, the world around you adheres to your work ethic; if you don’t want to rush, then heck — don’t.

On My Watch

What truly sets Trash Goblin apart from its kin is its supportive nature and flexible gameplay. Yes, there is an overarching task that could do with your attention, but at no point does it feel that way. And sure, while there are several customers who would much rather have their keepsakes earlier than later, there isn’t exactly anything preventing you from taking your sweet time on each job and working at your own pace. Regardless of the choices you make and the timeframes you choose to lumber yourself with, guests always return, and the revenue that you bring in doesn’t necessarily reflect your overall performance. So, again, while you may be somewhat responsible for the growth of your enterprise, the fact still remains: conservation work isn’t a sprint, but a long road with numerous other factors to consider. I’m all for that.

As far as gameplay goes, Trash Goblin sees you carrying out several unique tasks, such as collecting items, cleaning said items, and then adding them together to create valuable products for your store. All in all, you’re looking at about four or five hours of work to be completed here, with the vast majority of the objectives mostly consisting of speaking with NPCs, fulfilling orders, and earning a passive income to enhance your repertoire of tools further. And honestly, that’s about as far as it goes in terms of the gameplay experience itself. It’s simple, elegant, and easy to roll through from the moment you acquire your first fragment to the second you ship your final artifact in the latter portions of the journey.

Cozy as They Come

Visually, there’s something awfully endearing about the way Trash Goblin presents itself. From its majestic workshop quarters to its beautiful hand-drawn collection of characters, each segment of the storybook has its own unique twist on a particular node, and, truth be told, it’s a real delight to watch unfold over the course of an otherwise short campaign. Likewise, the audio and effects are a great addition to the mix, and while both are only minor contributions to the design, each audible component brings a certain sense of belonging to the world and the portrait that it tries to capture in the short amount of time it’s given. Combined with the general use of a solid visual interface, Trash Goblin truly does bring out some excellent features and thematic tidbits to toy around with.

Verdict

Trash Goblin not only provides a safe and wholesome working space for fledgling architects to flex their craft, but it also manages to create a gameplay loop that is, at least for the most part, irresistibly satisfying and rewarding, to boot. The work itself is relatively easy—scrub the bits and bobs of an old trinket and equip better tools to overcome the corresponding issues — and so on and so forth. Sure enough, it isn’t a complex art by any stretch, but it is one that requires a fair amount of patience and understanding — especially if you’re aiming to make the most out of your entrepreneurial efforts and unlock all of the goodies that the game has to offer.

Suffice it to say, the world of business simulation isn’t exactly short of vessels to knuckle down with a hammer and chisel in this day and age. Heck, I could point you in the direction of dozens of other games that share a lot of the same mechanics and properties. However, there is, in all fairness, something truly special about Trash Goblin. Perhaps it’s the mystical nature of the world that you work in, or the unique materials that hide away beneath the clusters on your workbench. I don’t know, maybe it’s the eccentric spirit of the customers who find themselves at your doorstep first thing in the morning. Whatever it is, it has some form of ingredient that I can’t quite put my finger on — and I’m truly grateful for that melting pot of bubbling components.

When all’s said and done, if you enjoy the likes of PowerWash Simulator or Potion Craft, then you’re going to love just about everything that Trash Goblin brings to the table. It’s short, sweet, and oh-so inviting. Well played, Spilt Milk.