Goblin and Coins

About

Goblin and Coins is a single player casual platformer game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Nikola Bulj and was released on November 8, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"Goblin and Coins" is a casual physics-based puzzle game. The objective is to collect as many coins as possible using the goblin, while avoiding obstacles and enemies. Players can use various tools and abilities to navigate through the levels and compete for high scores on online leaderboards.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 72 reviews

gameplay4 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

Goblin and Coins offers a charming retro platforming experience with well-designed levels that gradually increase in difficulty, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore players.
The game's minimalist pixel-art aesthetic and quirky humor create a delightful atmosphere, complemented by a lighthearted story and engaging gameplay mechanics.
With its low price point and solid controls, Goblin and Coins provides good value for fans of classic platformers, encouraging exploration and replayability through hidden collectibles.

The game suffers from occasional frustrating hitbox issues and imprecise controls, particularly in later levels, which can lead to unfair deaths and hinder the overall experience.
Some players find the Old School difficulty mode excessively punishing, lacking sufficient checkpoints and lives, making it difficult to progress without significant retries.
While the game has its charm, it is criticized for being derivative and lacking innovation, with some reviewers feeling it does not meet modern gaming standards in terms of graphics and mechanics.

gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and responsive controls, providing a nostalgic platforming experience reminiscent of classic titles. While each environment introduces new hazards and minor twists to keep progression engaging, some players criticize the overall execution as janky and lacking polish. Despite its straightforward nature, the game offers enjoyable moments and well-designed levels, though it may leave players wanting more depth and innovation.
- “Each environment introduces new hazards and small mechanical twists, ensuring that progression feels fresh even when the gameplay remains simple.”
- “The story unfolds through small bits of text and context rather than long dialogues, keeping the focus on gameplay while giving enough flavor to make the world feel alive.”
- “A cute little retro looking 2D platformer to remind you of the good old simpler times of gaming; it's enough for the price it asks for, a couple of hours of fun and challenging gameplay, sometimes will have you rage and repeat till you get over your obstacles.”
- “Terrible mechanics and terrible gameplay. I hate you.”
- “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
- “Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The game's graphics feature a charming minimalist pixel-art style that aligns with its indie roots, offering a nostalgic retro aesthetic. While some players appreciate the simplicity and endearing quality of the visuals, others note the lack of resolution options and graphics customization. Overall, the graphics are described as cute and coherent, contributing positively to the game's appeal despite their basic nature.
- “Visually, the game embraces a minimalist pixel-art aesthetic that fits comfortably within its indie identity.”
- “The graphics and audio are simple, but they have a natural charm to them.”
- “There are lots of details in the background and sprites, and it all seems to blend together well into a coherent aesthetic, with a cute story.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades-old retro pixel 'art' as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “It's incredibly basic and simplistic, with the player character moving like something out of 'click and create' and most of the graphics seemingly taken from a '10,000 royalty free clip art collection'.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
62%
19%
The game's story features a unique and humorous premise, centering on a goblin cook on a quest to retrieve his dragon master's treasure, which adds charm despite its simplicity. While the narrative is presented through brief text and comic-style images, it effectively enhances the gameplay experience and offers a satisfying conclusion that surprises players. Overall, the story is lighthearted and engaging, contributing to the game's replay value with its interesting characters and fun levels.
- “Instead of playing as a noble hero or a chosen warrior, you step into the shoes of a humble goblin cook, an unlikely protagonist on a mission to recover his dragon master’s stolen treasure.”
- “The story unfolds through small bits of text and context rather than long dialogues, keeping the focus on gameplay while giving enough flavor to make the world feel alive.”
- “What put a smile on my face is the story's ending which came out of nowhere, from a fairly simple plot.”
- “The story in the game isn’t very fleshed out, but it does its job relatively well.”
- “The story is only shown/progressed in between the chapters and is presented through a set of images almost like in a comic.”
- “Hardly a success story, gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Goblin and Coins" is characterized by its lighthearted and whimsical tone, driven by a quirky premise featuring a goblin cook on a treasure-reclaiming adventure. Players appreciate the game's charming simplicity, with amusing voice acting, funny sound effects, and a narrative that elicits smiles and chuckles, making it a delightful experience for fans of classic platformers. Overall, while the game may not innovate significantly, its well-crafted humor adds an enjoyable layer to the straightforward gameplay.
- “It’s a premise that immediately sets the tone for what Goblin and Coins aims to be: a lighthearted, self-aware adventure that celebrates the charm of old-school platforming while infusing it with a quirky sense of humor and personality.”
- “The choice of a goblin cook as the main character, the humorous premise of a servant trying to reclaim his dragon’s stolen riches, and the light narrative framing all work together to set a whimsical tone.”
- “The story, while very uncomplicated, is mildly funny and the ending did earn a couple of chuckles and put a big smile on my face.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The music, composed by Kevin MacLeod, effectively enhances the game's retro atmosphere with upbeat and whimsical melodies that maintain player engagement. However, some players find the soundtrack too short and repetitive, with suggestions for more varied music during boss fights. Overall, while the music fits the game well, its limited length detracts from the experience.
- “The music, composed by Kevin MacLeod, reinforces this retro mood with upbeat, looping melodies that blend whimsy and tension.”
- “It’s a soundtrack that doesn’t distract but keeps the player engaged, complementing the game’s rhythm of exploration and trial.”
- “The soundtrack fits the game and how the enemies call out their names is cute; enemy design is good overall.”
- “The only problem is that the soundtrack is very short, so the music quickly becomes very repetitive.”
- “Some happycore music would have been more appropriate.”
- “Boss fights lack any sort of music.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features distinct atmospheres for each world, characterized by unique color palettes and layouts that enhance the sense of place. Additionally, the developer's quirky voice work contributes to a fun and engaging overall atmosphere.
- “The game is all voiced by the developer, and it has a really fun and quirky atmosphere.”
- “Each world has its own atmosphere, with subtle variations in palette and layout that create a sense of place.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Players appreciate the replayability of the game due to the presence of hidden stashes, secret exits, and additional challenges that encourage revisiting earlier levels for full completion, even after finishing the main storyline.
- “Secrets and challenges after completing the main storyline give this game significant replay value.”
- “Finding concealed stashes of coins or unlocking hidden exits adds replay value, encouraging players to revisit earlier levels for full completion.”
- “Secrets and challenges after you've completed the main storyline give this game some replay value.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its small file size and low system requirements, allowing for casual play without performance concerns.
- “Its small file size and low system requirements make it easy to pick up and play casually without worrying about performance.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of Gamemaker Studio is often criticized for facilitating the creation of retro pixel games that are perceived as low-quality cash grabs, suggesting a focus on profit over innovation or quality.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”