Developer: Exquisite Laundry Pet LLC
Publisher: Mega Cat Studios
Genre: RPG
Price: $11.99
Release Date: Feb 19, 2026
Where to buy: Steam
Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land is a brilliant love letter to the late-90s handheld era, specifically capturing the cozy aesthetic of the Game Boy Color. Developed by Exquisite Laundry Pet, this indie JRPG follows a literal gumball who must navigate a candy-filled world to fix a broken Scarecrow’s magic. The visual style is impeccably retro, utilizing a vibrant but limited color palette that feels authentic to original 8-bit hardware. It manages to evoke a sense of childhood wonder through its pumpkin-lit towns and quirky, sugary character designs. For anyone who grew up with a handheld in their pocket, the presentation is an instant hit.
The gameplay centers on a unique, turn-based “Trick-or-Treating” battle system that feels both familiar and refreshingly simple. Instead of complex mana systems, players manage basic Action Points to toss treats or cast thematic spells found in hidden library books. While the combat starts out quite punishing with very low health, it rewards careful strategy and the recruitment of automated party members. These companions, ranging from helpful cats to local misfits, add a layer of unpredictability to encounters by acting on their own whims. It successfully bridges the gap between the charm of Earthbound and the mechanics of early Pokémon titles.
Exploration is the heart of the experience, featuring a surprisingly dense overworld filled with meaningful side quests and clever puzzles. You aren’t just fetching items; you’re solving the problems of a world where candy corn has a personality and shadowy forces are turning treats into coal. The game avoids excessive grinding by making every encounter feel like a deliberate hurdle on the way to the Seven Hallowed Patches. Finding secrets, such as rare “Dark Cereal” to boost stats, makes wandering off the beaten path feel genuinely rewarding. It turns the simple act of walking through a pixelated forest into a spooky, engaging adventure.
One of the game’s most impressive feats is how it balances a lighthearted, family-friendly tone with a genuine mechanical challenge. While the story is goofy and full of puns, the boss fights require legitimate planning and resource management to overcome. The writing is witty, often poking fun at RPG tropes while maintaining a sincere heart for its “chewable” protagonist. The music further enhances this balance, shifting from bouncy, ear-worm melodies to eerie, atmospheric tracks during dungeon crawls. It’s a game that respects the player’s intelligence regardless of their age, offering depth beneath its colorful wrapper.
Ultimately, Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land is a masterclass in retro-revivalism that stands as a strong debut for solo developer Adam Lewis Graf. It’s a compact, eight-hour journey that prioritizes personality and polished mechanics over modern bloat or unnecessary complexity. Even with small frustrations like early-game difficulty spikes, the sheer amount of charm and nostalgia carries the experience to the finish line. Whether you play it on Steam or track down a physical Game Boy Color cartridge, it is a sweet seasonal treat. It proves that great RPG design doesn’t need high-definition graphics to leave a lasting impression.
