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.

"Chop Goblins" is a fast-paced, hack-and-slash dungeon crawler where players must fight their way through hordes of goblins to reclaim stolen treasure. With a variety of weapons and abilities to unlock, each run offers a unique and challenging experience. The game features procedurally generated levels, ensuring that no two runs are the same.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,928 reviews

music75 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Chop Goblins is a fun, bite-sized FPS that delivers a charming and humorous experience with solid level design and enjoyable gunplay.
The game features a catchy soundtrack and a variety of weapons, making the combat feel satisfying and engaging.
Despite its short length, the game offers replayability through secrets, achievements, and different difficulty modes.

The game is very short, typically taking around 30 to 60 minutes to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There is no save system, meaning players must complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating for those who prefer to play in shorter bursts.
Some players found the lack of a jump mechanic and limited movement options to be a drawback, making the gameplay feel somewhat restrictive.

music
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
The music in "Chop Goblins" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, upbeat, and thematically fitting tracks that enhance the game's whimsical atmosphere. While many players appreciate the energetic and memorable soundtrack, some note that the music can become repetitive, especially during extended play sessions. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The soundtrack is both energetic and thematically fitting to each of the game’s diverse levels, while also smuggling in 80s synthwave to complement the overall aesthetic.”
- “The music is really nice and peppy as well!”
- “The music is excellent and the combat has its own vibe.”
- “The music loops are a bit too short and repetitive.”
- “The music was also terrible, which probably didn't help the already dull atmosphere.”
- “An option to turn off or turn down the music volume would be nice.”
gameplay
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The gameplay of "Chop Goblins" is characterized by its simplicity and charm, offering a nostalgic boomer shooter experience with satisfying mechanics and a variety of weapons. While some players find it basic and lacking in movement options, many appreciate the fun level design, humor, and engaging combat that keeps the experience fresh despite its short length. Overall, it delivers a solid and enjoyable gameplay experience, especially for fans of retro-style shooters.
- “The gameplay in Chop Goblins is like McDonald's french fries; it's simple yet really good. The five levels are full of secrets, some of which I don't even know where they are, and some hide weapons that normally would take two more levels to get.”
- “The gameplay is absolutely flawless; the weapons are perfect, the enemies are fair and dastardly, and the level design is fun and unique.”
- “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.”
- “But from a gameplay standpoint, this one is kind of underwhelming.”
- “Pretty weird thing to say about something that doesn't try to experiment or present anything unique with its gameplay at all.”
- “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.”
humor
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its whimsical and zany nature, particularly through the amusing goblin characters and their quirky dialogue. The game's lighthearted tone, combined with nostalgic gameplay reminiscent of classic shooters, creates a fun and engaging experience that keeps players laughing throughout. Overall, the humor is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “Don't let Chop Goblins' bite-sized nature fool you: it is a very competent FPS with a funny undertone and lots of charm!”
- “It's hilarious, zany, and most importantly: well-crafted.”
- “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
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant colors, charming low-poly aesthetic, and effective level design, reminiscent of classic retro shooters. Players appreciate the unique visual themes across different levels, with particular highlights on the atmospheric environments and nostalgic art style. While some mention minor glitches, the overall consensus is that the graphics contribute significantly to the game's fun and engaging experience.
- “The graphics in this game are simply beautiful.”
- “The graphics are perfection, everything is readable and intuitive, the colors are bright and fun.”
- “I love the graphics and gameplay, very retro feeling and balanced.”
- “It's a very short, very fun boomer-shooter with bad graphics and a kickin' soundtrack.”
- “I hate the graphics and enemy models.”
- “What I really like about this whimsical game is it allows David to let his creativity run wild and I've heard this called the Dai Katana remaster lmao, but yes, the environments are pretty darn atmospheric for such basic graphics.”
story
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
67%
7%
The story of "Chop Goblins" is intentionally simple and comedic, revolving around a museum heist gone awry when goblins escape from a chest, leading to chaotic action across various whimsical settings. While some players appreciate its lighthearted and nonsensical narrative, others feel it lacks depth and can become tiresome quickly. Overall, the game prioritizes fun gameplay over a complex plot, making it an enjoyable experience despite its basic storyline.
- “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 fantastic creator David Szymanski does it again with another compelling shooter that, although follows his normal gameplay formula, still manages to remain avant-garde with the one-of-a-kind story regarding the goblins that are known to chop (as mentioned in the title).”
- “It's clear that the game is aiming for a comedic vibe with its nonsense story and silly characters (the goblins), but even as someone who doesn't care at all for the story in more gameplay-driven games like this one, the weak theme wears out its welcome really quickly.”
- “A very basic story that holds together a variety of levels across the most random settings and time periods imaginable.”
- “Takes only about 45 minutes to play and the story makes no sense whatsoever.”
replayability
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, despite its short playtime of around 45 minutes to an hour. Players appreciate the inclusion of new game modes, multiple difficulty levels, achievements, and secrets that encourage exploration and challenge, making it a fun and engaging experience worth revisiting. While some feel it lacks depth, the combination of humor and fast-paced gameplay contributes to its appeal for repeated playthroughs.
- “An incredible, infinitely replayable experience.”
- “Short, sweet, and totally ridiculous, Chop Goblins is a great time while it lasts, with plenty of replay value with the extra modes and content that have been added in post-launch updates.”
- “There's plenty of replayability thanks to the different achievement-specific challenges, secrets, potential speed runs, and various difficulty modes (not to mention the new game + mode).”
- “Took me about 45 minutes on a first playthrough and while it has new game+ and such, playing it some more I didn't feel it had any real replay value.”
- “The secrets and extra modes give it enough replayability to be worth the cost of admission, though even hundred percent-ing the game takes less than five hours.”
- “It clocks in at a relatively short 1 hour per playthrough, but has some replayability due to achievements.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as deeply impactful, with players experiencing a range of feelings from heartbreak to terror. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses, whether through its gripping narrative or the artistry that reflects the developers' passion. Overall, it is noted as a profoundly moving experience that resonates with players on a personal level.
- “This is one of the most heartbreaking games I've ever played.”
- “The pure artistry is heart-wrenching, and it is obvious how much passion and effort was poured into the creation of the game.”
- “This was the most heartwarming experience I've had in a video game recently, so 'Chop Goblins' is worth it for that alone.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
10%
30%
The atmosphere in "Chop Goblins" is described as eclectic and whimsical, with highlights including engaging enemy designs, creative environments, and a mix of music that some found enjoyable while others criticized. While the game is fast-paced and stripped back in narrative, it compensates with a fun variety of aesthetics and small details that enhance the overall experience. However, opinions on the music's contribution to the atmosphere are mixed, with some finding it detrimental to the game's ambiance.
- “Great atmosphere, with the main highlight being the lighting and the music.”
- “The atmosphere, even though it's eclectic, is great!”
- “Amazing atmosphere, good enemy designs, great gameplay flow, fantastic levels, and a banger soundtrack combine to make this one of my new favorite games.”
- “The music was also terrible, which probably didn't help the already dull atmosphere.”
- “Chop Goblins is fast and quite stripped back in story and atmosphere, which leaves a pure action-FPS that may just possibly be the current best of the genre.”
- “Dusk 2 really changed up the atmosphere.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with many players reporting smooth performance, especially on the Steam Deck. While some minor bugs and glitches are noted, they often add to the game's charm rather than detract from the experience. Players appreciate the aesthetic and graphics, though a few undesirable glitches do exist.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck!”
- “In my 45 minutes of playtime, I've found no glitches yet.”
- “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic; however, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
- “Sometimes a little buggy, but it fits the charm.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is viewed as poor, with one user noting a lack of bugs but mentioning a minor field of view error that has since been resolved. However, the game is reported to perform well on a wide range of hardware, suggesting it can run on most systems without significant issues.
- “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. As for performance, it's going to run on pretty much anything.”
- “I think it's just horribly optimized, I don't know.”
- “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.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is criticized for being excessively expensive, especially considering the game's simplistic design that could easily be developed for free with ads. This approach raises concerns about transparency and value for money, potentially leaving gamers dissatisfied with their purchase.
- “Incredibly expensive for something that could be whipped up in Unity and put on the Play Store for free with ads.”
- “This is what's called 'truth in advertising', and basically guarantees that any gamer will be satisfied with their purchase.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and emotional resonance, reflecting a strong sense of soul and passion in both design and music, which contributes to an immersive experience.
- “This game has so much soul and passion, from character design to music; it truly feels like a passion project.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and relatable.”