Developer: Orc Chop Games
Publisher: Orc Chop Games
Genre: Rogue-lite, RPG
Price: $24.99
Where to buy: Goblin Stone(Steam)
Goblin Stone, released in March 2024 by Orc Chop Games, is a unique turn-based RPG that flips the script on the classic fantasy narrative. Instead of playing as a brave hero slaying goblins, you take on the role of the last remaining goblins, desperately clinging to survival after being hunted nearly to extinction by adventurers.
This narrative twist adds an unexpected layer of depth to the game. The goblins you lead are not savage or bloodthirsty; they are simply trying to rebuild their society. The game masterfully portrays their plight, making you invested in their success.
Goblin Stone combines RPG elements with dungeon crawling, base building, and even roguelike features. You’ll assemble a team of goblins, venturing out to scavenge resources and fight off enemies. Combat is strategic, with the turn order determined by the positioning of your goblins on the battlefield.
Building your Goblin Horde:
- Squad Composition: You’ll lead a ragtag group of goblins, each with distinct classes like Shamans, Scouts, and Brutes. Each class has unique abilities that influence their combat roles.
- Breeding and Genetics: A core aspect of Goblin Stone is the ability to breed your goblins. By selecting compatible pairs, you can create offspring with improved stats and potentially inherit special traits from their parents. This allows for min-maxing your squad based on your playstyle and needs.
Conquering Challenges:
- Turn-based Combat with a Twist: Battles unfold on grid-based maps. Unlike traditional turn-based systems, initiative isn’t solely determined by speed. Here, positioning plays a key role. Goblins closer to the enemy act first, creating a dynamic flow of combat that rewards tactical thinking.
- Resource Management and Exploration: Venturing through procedurally generated dungeons, you’ll scavenge for resources like food, weapons, and crafting materials. These are crucial for keeping your goblin colony thriving and your squad well-equipped.
- Choices and Consequences: The game presents you with tough decisions throughout your journey. Do you prioritize rescuing a captured goblin or focus on retrieving rare crafting materials? These choices can have lasting impacts on your playthrough.
Roguelike Elements:
- Permadeath: Adding tension to the gameplay, Goblin Stone features permadeath for your goblin squad members. If a goblin falls in battle, they’re gone for good. This emphasizes careful planning and strategic decision-making during combat encounters.
- Procedural Generation: The dungeons you explore are randomly generated, ensuring a fresh experience on every playthrough. This keeps the exploration exciting and challenging, forcing you to adapt your tactics based on the environment and enemies encountered.
Base Building and Management:
- Developing your Goblin Lair: As you progress, you’ll manage the growth of your goblin colony. Construct new chambers within your lair, each serving a specific purpose like a Barracks for training new recruits or a War Room for planning expeditions.
One of the game’s most interesting features is its breeding system. You can pair your goblins to create offspring with improved abilities, ensuring the continuation of your goblin lineage. This adds a layer of strategy and planning to the game, as you carefully consider which goblins to breed for the best results.
Goblin Stone is a refreshing take on the fantasy genre, offering a heartwarming story of perseverance and rebellion. While reviews have been mixed, with some finding the difficulty unbalanced, the game’s unique concept and charming visuals have won over many players. If you’re looking for a challenging and rewarding RPG experience, Goblin Stone is definitely worth checking out.
Here are some additional points to consider including in your essay, depending on the desired length and depth:
- The art style of Goblin Stone is hand-drawn and storybook-inspired, giving the game a whimsical and charming aesthetic.
- The game features procedurally generated dungeons, ensuring that each playthrough is unique.
- Goblin Stone has been praised for its innovative turn-based combat system, which rewards strategic thinking.
- The game is still relatively new, and the developers are actively releasing updates and patches.
Overall, Goblin Stone’s gameplay offers a strategic experience that goes beyond basic turn-based combat. By combining base building, exploration, and character development with a dash of roguelike elements, the game creates a compelling loop that keeps you engaged as you fight for the survival and resurgence of your goblin kin.
