Chop Goblins

About

Chop Goblins is a single player shooter game with horror and comedy themes. It was developed by David Szymanski and was released on December 12, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Pursue the malevolent Chop Goblins through time, and foil them with devastating weapons, in this bite-sized FPS from the creator of Dusk, Iron Lung, and Squirrel Stapler

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,668 reviews

music118 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Fun and satisfying retro-style boomer shooter gameplay with punchy weapons and diverse enemy types
Charming, goofy, and humorous atmosphere with memorable voice lines and an energetic soundtrack
Well-crafted level design with secrets, exploration, and replayability via different difficulties and game modes

Very short campaign length, can be completed in under an hour; limited content may reduce long-term appeal
No jump or crouch mechanics, which some players find restricts movement and combat feel
Lack of mid-level saves or checkpoints, requiring players to restart levels after death, which some find frustrating

music
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in this game is widely praised for being energetic, catchy, and perfectly suited to each level's unique theme, enhancing the fast-paced and quirky gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with memorable compositions that recall classic 90s shooters and Danny Elfman-style scores. While some note the lack of separate volume controls and occasional repetitiveness, overall the soundtrack is considered a major strength that adds significant charm and replay value to the game.
- “Each environment has its own identity, supported by energetic sound design and music that enhance the frantic tone of combat.”
- “This game features the greatest soundtrack of all time, with the best song being the award winning "dracula's aria".”
- “The soundtrack is both energetic and thematically fitting to each of the game’s diverse levels, while also smuggling in 80s synthwave to compliment overall aesthetic.”
- “The music just feels a little too loud in my opinion.”
- “The music does get a bit repetitive though, especially if you're trying to run the whole game through on hardest difficulty and wanna hear enemies, since there are no separate options for music and sound volume.”
- “The music loops are a bit too short and repetitive.”
gameplay
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
52%
2%
The gameplay in Chop Goblins is praised for its satisfying shooting mechanics, smooth flow, and well-designed levels that offer a fun, fast-paced boomer shooter experience with a charming, humorous tone. While mechanically simple and lacking complex movement options like jumping, the game balances straightforward gunplay with variety in weapons, enemies, and secrets to keep players engaged. Though short, its addictive and polished gameplay loop, combined with a catchy soundtrack and retro style, makes it a highly enjoyable and memorable indie FPS.
- “Shooting feels good, response mechanics are satisfying, the environment is interactive, levels are well designed and the art style is enjoyable.”
- “Chop Goblins is a "microshooter": an FPS designed to be completed in a single sitting, without sacrificing depth, variety, or creativity in its gameplay and level design.”
- “The gameplay is simple but snappy and satisfying.”
- “Means, the gameplay mechanics are not properly explained.”
- “Very barebones when it comes to the gameplay and settings, you have to leave the game to change settings and also there's no audio options smh.”
- “But too mechanically simple and too short, even for a fan of nostalgic indie games.”
humor
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Chop Goblins is widely praised for its goofy, lighthearted, and self-aware tone, featuring funny goblin characters, quirky voice lines, and silly enemy designs that bring consistent laughs throughout the game. While some find the humor charming and a highlight of the experience, others note it may not resonate with everyone, but overall it complements the fast-paced, retro-inspired gameplay perfectly. The game's humor, combined with catchy music and clever references, creates an entertaining and memorable run-and-gun shooter experience.
- “Short, funny and bonkers, this fun little shooter will have you laughing as you shoot, stab, impale, and explode the little gobbos.”
- “The game has an unapologetically goofy tone and leans into it hard with great humor and style.”
- “Chop Goblins is a sweet and short FPS that's really fun (and funny), mechanically simple yet technically top shelf with a brilliant soundtrack, cool enemy designs, punchy weapons, and clear yet interesting level design.”
graphics
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
3%
The graphics of Chop Goblins are widely praised for their charming, retro-inspired low-poly aesthetic that blends nostalgic boomer-shooter visuals with vibrant colors and thematic level designs. While some note the simplicity and basic animations, the art style effectively complements the game's fast-paced, quirky gameplay and varied atmospheres, making each level visually distinct and enjoyable. Overall, the visuals successfully evoke classic 90s shooters with modern touches, appealing strongly to fans of retro FPS games.
- “The graphics are perfection, everything is readable and intuitive, the colors are bright and fun.”
- “While there are only a handful of levels, each one is unique and at times jaw-dropping in presentation thanks to Szymanski's genius art direction and understanding of why low-poly and retro aesthetics work (personal favorite level being Dracula's castle).”
- “The low-poly visuals, silly goblins, and cheeky writing are all on point.”
- “It's only an hour long and the graphics are very barebones.”
- “With basic graphics and animations, no abilities such as jump, crouch or reload and only 5 levels, enemies and weapon types (although all of these can be remixed, adding some replay value), it’s more of an experiment than a full game.”
- “It's a very short, very fun boomer-shooter with bad graphics and a kickin' soundtrack.”
story
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
69%
3%
The story of "Chop Goblins" is intentionally simple, silly, and tongue-in-cheek, serving mainly as a lighthearted backdrop for fast-paced combat and creative level design. It features a whimsical, nonsensical plot about goblins escaping through time, designed more for charm and humor than narrative depth. While not meant to be taken seriously or offer profound storytelling, its playful tone and brief format are appreciated as fitting for the game's bite-sized, action-focused experience.
- “The story is simple yet enjoyable.”
- “The story and its delivery is suitably simple, nonsensical and secondary, being delivered in a loading screen text before each act and finding a good balance between being both naive and self-aware in equal measure.”
- “The story exists primarily as a vehicle for creative level design and fast-paced combat, but its tongue-in-cheek tone gives the game a playful personality that sets it apart from more self-serious shooters.”
- “It's story is non-existent so if you're looking for that, this probably isn't for you.”
- “The plot is on-the-nose cringe.”
replayability
65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
50%
5%
The game, while short and modest in scope, offers solid replayability through varied difficulty levels, achievements, secrets, and remixed or mirrored levels, appealing to completionists and speedrunners alike. Its design as a "microshooter" encourages repeated runs without feeling bloated, providing a fun and engaging experience that justifies multiple playthroughs despite its brief initial campaign. However, some note the replay value is limited for those less interested in achievements or challenge modes.
- “Rather than stretching its content into a bloated campaign, it presents itself as a “microshooter,” designed to be completed in a single sitting while still offering enough depth and replayability to justify repeated runs.”
- “The game offers good replayability with remixed levels, mirrored levels, multiple difficulties, new weapons with updates, it's great.”
- “Once you account for all the alternate ways to play, you've really got a ton of replay value here, lots of achievements to hunt - it's worth the pretty low asking price for just a really good time.”
- “Now, let’s be clear: it doesn’t have much replay value, it’s strictly single-player, offers just a small handful of weapons, and barely lasts an hour, tops.”
- “A very basic and short FPS, it is only worth the Christmas discounted price and has zero replay value.”
- “Took me about 45 minutes on a first playthrough and while it has newgame+ and such, playing it some more I didn't feel it had any real replay value.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a profoundly emotional experience, blending heartwarming moments with heartbreaking and bittersweet storytelling that deeply resonates with players. Its narrative and artistic passion evoke strong feelings, from tears to heartfelt connections, making it a uniquely moving and memorable title.
- “Bittersweet and outright heart wrenching ending.”
- “The narrative pacing is impeccable, keeping readers engaged with unexpected twists and emotional highs.”
- “Never in my life have I had such a heartfelt connection to a game.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong, immersive quality, combining great lighting, varied aesthetics, and a standout soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. Despite relatively simple graphics and a stripped-back story, the blend of whimsical, eclectic, and intense elements creates a distinctive and engaging environment. Small details like voicelines and enemy design further contribute to a memorable, creatively rich atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “Gunplay feels great, movement is smooth, and the overall atmosphere really hits the mark.”
- “Great atmosphere, with the main highlight being the lighting and the music.”
- “Amazing atmosphere, good enemy designs, great gameplay flow, fantastic levels, and a banger soundtrack combine to make this one of my new favorite games.”
- “Chop Goblins is fast and quite stripped back in story and atmosphere, leaving a pure action-FPS that may just possibly be the current best of the genre.”
- “Dusk 2 really changed up the atmosphere.”
- “As subtle derivatives become transformed through the varied geometries and atmospheres of the game environment, the viewer is left with an insight into the inaccuracies of our world, leading one to ponder upon the opacity of urban spaces, and our place (as players) within them.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly and efficiently even on low-spec machines, making it ideal for quick play sessions. It delivers stable performance with minimal bugs, ensuring a seamless experience across a wide range of hardware.
- “Runs smoothly: it’s lightweight and optimized well, making it perfect for quick pick-up-and-play sessions even on low-spec machines.”
- “Performance is what I expected.”
- “There were simply no bugs, not one that I found, maybe a small FOV error I had once but it's already fixed from what I can see and as for performance, it’s going to run on pretty much anything.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game runs smoothly, including on the Steam Deck, with generally stable performance and no major glitches reported during short play sessions. While occasional minor bugs and visual glitches appear, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “In my 45 minutes of playtime, I've found no glitches yet.”
- “Sometimes a little buggy, but it fits the charm.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's character development is infused with a strong sense of soul and passion, reflected in its unique and comedic designs. It combines influences from classic shooters to create memorable and engaging characters, contributing to an overall feel of a heartfelt passion project.
- “This game has so much soul and passion from everything from character design to music; this just feels like a passion project.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in this game offers a casual distraction and can be engaging for players who enjoy score-based challenges, but those who dislike grinding may find the experience short-lived, likely lasting only about an hour.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization is praised for its transparency and honesty, ensuring players feel confident and satisfied with their purchase.