Trash Goblin Preview

If there were a game equivalent of drinking a warm cup of hot chocolate on a snowy morning, I’d say Spilt Milk Studios’ Trash Goblin fits the bill. In this casual shopkeeping game, you’re transported to a low-stakes, cosy fantasy world, stepping into the shoes of the titular goblin whose curio shop attracts only the most delightfully quirky customers, including a mushroom bard named Mushromeo, a soft-hearted stone golem named Jaq, and many more. With a chill gameplay loop that sees you restoring unique trinkets and decorating your space with plants, candles, and much-needed shelving, it’s easy to slip into a relaxing flow as the shop fills with all sorts of trash and treasure.

Bedpans, Tiaras, Lutes, a single Denture Tooth — these are just some of the items your customers will ask for at the shop’s window. It’s up to you to uncover each trinket, clean them, and, in some cases, attach multiple pieces together, all of which involve fun mini-games. Discovering items begins with dragging a trinket sack to the middle of your workbench and picking up a Chisel to reveal a lump of densely packed dirt cubes; from there, you’ll click on each one, chiselling away at the cruft until you unveil the object hiding beneath.

At this point, you’ve got a grimy knick-knack in your possession, and while you can sell it as is, you’ll part with it for a higher price if it's squeaky clean, which brings us to Trash Goblin’s Sponge mini-game that has you scrub away the dirt on the object’s surface, scratching that satisfying itch as you fill the clean-metre to 100% — very PowerWash Simulator–esque in my opinion. Sometimes, customers will request additions to items, such as combining a Natural Charm and Lute or attaching a Tassel to a Hairpin. To do so, you’ll use your Upcycling Tool, which allows you to connect trinkets to open sockets; it’s very easy to do, as the sockets are clearly marked in the mini-game, and the attaching process only requires a simple click of your mouse button.

I found each mini-game so enjoyable and easy that I could’ve just continued chipping away and cleaning over and over again. The thing is, Trash Goblin breaks up days into six time slots, and every action you take costs one slot. This makes days end pretty quickly, especially if you get a request from a customer and don’t have the item they’re looking for, which can send you chiselling through many trinket sacks to find what you need. Fortunately, customers will stick around indefinitely (even into the next day) without complaining, but since you can only help one person at a time, you could also dismiss them and tell them to come back later, opening up the window for another request.

Each character that visits your shop is adorably designed and has a unique personality that the dialogue portrays rather well. I truly appreciate that Trash Goblin sends repeat customers to your window, and your growing familiarity with them comes through in each new conversation. It’s a great way to establish a small-town vibe, creating a cosy atmosphere that complements the chill gameplay loop.

When it comes to selling trinkets and making gold, I noticed it’s currently a slow process. As I mentioned, you can only help one customer at a time, and I definitely had days where there were long gaps between shop-goers, or no one showed up at the window at all. Additionally, you can’t haggle or set prices for your items, so you’ll have to accept whatever coin is offered. When you do manage to get a good chunk of profits saved up, you get to spend it on cute decorations for your space or more storage for your items (which I highly recommend getting first). You can also purchase tool upgrades, such as increasing the number of sockets the Upcycling Tool gives you. I was curious about a Sponge or Chisel upgrade, but after checking out the discussion section on Steam, it looks like those are still in development and will be included throughout Early Access.

Trash Goblin offers such a wholesome time with easy mechanics and delightful characters. I was surprised at just how much time would pass during a play session, as I’d just fall into a fun, simple loop: chip, clean, sell, and decorate. It’s definitely a game that pairs well with a warm drink, a comfy blanket, and perhaps even your favourite audiobook or podcast.

If you’re looking for a game with charming visuals and a relaxing gameplay loop, keep this one on your radar while it's in Early Access. Spilt Milk Studios plans to add more characters, trinkets, and quality-of-life features, with major updates planned every few months!