Goblins & Grottos

About

Goblins & Grottos is a single player casual platformer game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by Goblin Portal and was released on July 7, 2016. It received neutral reviews from players.

A puzzle platformer with comic RPG elements, where you play as a goblin trying to escape from a team of greedy adventurers. Handcrafted levels with delightful pixel art and carefully programmed interactions: climb walls, hang from chains, push barrels onto the heads of your enemies, lure them into traps with the promise of gold coins.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

story14 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and humorous writing that appeals to fans of MMO culture and fantasy tropes.
The level editor allows players to create and share their own levels, adding significant replay value and community engagement.
The gameplay is fun and challenging, with clever puzzles that require strategic thinking and creativity to solve.

The platforming controls are often described as clunky and floaty, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Many players report bugs and glitches, including issues with physics and respawn checkpoints that hinder progress.
The humor and art style, while appreciated by some, can feel forced or cringe-worthy to others, detracting from the overall experience.

story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
The game's story, while humorous and engaging, is noted to be somewhat thin and could benefit from a longer campaign, currently consisting of ten levels. Players appreciate the clever, tongue-in-cheek narrative that parodies MMO tropes and fantasy clichés, particularly from the perspective of a goblin seeking revenge. Despite some flaws in execution, the story is complemented by enjoyable puzzles and a creative level editor, promising future expansions as the game is still in early access.
- “A very humorous, meta, and interesting story that takes a fresh perspective on the MMO genre and twists it into a fun single-player experience.”
- “Now imagine a world that makes fun of fantasy tropes and memes in every action with clever jokes and situations and features a story of revenge told from the other side of fantasy: the goblin side!”
- “All in all, I highly recommend this game if you're looking for a tongue-in-cheek funny game that pokes fun at all manner of game genres, has numerous classic internet references a la Leeroy Jenkins, and has a rather interesting story to boot.”
- “Don't be fooled by the slick trailer -- the story is thin on the ground and the voice acting is a straight-up misdirect.”
- “It's still an early access game: you'll go through some part of the story without thinking twice and you'll be stalled for a couple of hours on some other levels, but the developers are constantly working on it, rebalancing things, readjusting levels, fixing minor issues.”
- “The official story is currently ten levels long, but will clearly be continued in the future (as I said above, the game is currently in early access).”
humor
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it genuinely funny and well-executed, particularly appreciating the character dialogue and references to MMO culture. However, others feel it tries too hard, leading to moments of cringe, and while the art style is praised, some believe the humor doesn't fully compensate for gameplay flaws. Overall, those familiar with fantasy tropes may enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor, but it may not resonate with everyone.
- “The speech from the characters is really funny, but the levels really make you think.”
- “Very funny, well done!”
- “Goblins and Grottos is an engrossing puzzle-platformer with a sense of humor that will appeal to anyone who is familiar with MMO culture or fantasy tropes.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
31%
14%
The game's graphics are generally praised for their charming and pleasant art style, which enhances the overall experience and fits well with the game's concept. However, many reviewers note that despite the high-quality visuals, they cannot compensate for the game's underlying issues, such as poor coding and frustrating gameplay. Overall, while the art style stands out positively, it is often seen as the only redeeming quality in an otherwise flawed game.
- “The game shows off its really quite wonderful art style by having these large, sprawling maps for you to explore and maneuver around... which is great in and of itself, and was really what I was looking for.”
- “Puzzles are fun, engaging and satisfying to master and the art style is also perfectly fitting with the entire style of the game.”
- “Reasonably high quality indie graphics, sound, and concept disguise a poorly coded frustrating mess.”
- “The charming art style only added to that impression.”
- “Physics and graphics fail.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The gameplay of "Goblins and Grottos" is characterized by floaty and frustrating physics, which detracts from the experience, especially for a pixel art platformer that relies on snappy mechanics. While some players find humor and unique concepts within the chaotic gameplay, the lack of precision in object interactions and outdated platforming elements may hinder enjoyment. Despite these flaws, the game offers a humorous narrative and an engaging story mode, appealing to those who appreciate its tongue-in-cheek style.
- “A really good game, original, fun gameplay, and a lot of sense of humor!”
- “Story mode together with an easy-to-use editor for unlimited gameplay.”
- “All in all, I highly recommend this game if you're looking for a tongue-in-cheek funny game that pokes fun at all manner of game genres, has numerous classic internet references a la Leeroy Jenkins, and has a rather interesting story to boot.”
- “If you can forgive frustrating mechanics, the concept is unique enough to check out, but right now, as far as I am concerned, the challenge is not designed as much as a chaotic physics engine that doesn't know whether it's coming or going.”
- “It's also very hard to anticipate where objects will land with the throw mechanics, and there's no visual wind-up 'tell' that you are actually about to throw an object, or how far it's going to travel.”
- “All in all, I highly recommend this game if you're looking for a tongue-in-cheek funny game that pokes fun at all manner of game genres, has numerous classic internet references a la Leeroy Jenkins, and has a rather interesting story to boot with a few notable flaws, namely admittedly outdated platforming gameplay.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The music in the game is widely praised for being catchy, memorable, and of high quality, with many players noting that it remains enjoyable without becoming tiresome. While some find the music slightly repetitive, it is not considered irritating, and the developers have made the soundtrack available for free download, which is appreciated by the community. Overall, the music significantly enhances the game's appeal and complements its design and gameplay.
- “The music in this game is excellent.”
- “A catchy and memorable soundtrack.”
- “The music is a bit repetitive but not irritating.”
- “The developers have also made the soundtrack available to you to download for free, if you are so inclined, and that's another small gesture that I really appreciate.”
- “I have yet to get tired of any of the music, which is really important in a game like this, I think, and a real accomplishment.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been criticized for being buggy, with reports of glitches that can disrupt gameplay and require restarts, leading to lost progress. While some players find the bugs tolerable due to the game's originality and fun factor, others view the instability as a significant flaw. Overall, the game is described as somewhat unstable but still playable.
- “However, the level design is a bit messy and boring in my opinion, and the biggest flaw to me was how buggy the whole thing was.”
- “Puzzles that can be buggy and levels that glitch, requiring restarts and loss of several minutes of progress.”
- “The game is perhaps a little buggy, but it's not unplayable.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious rather than challenging, indicating that it detracts from the overall enjoyment and engagement.
- “This doesn't make the game more difficult or challenging, it just makes it more tedious.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a highly amusing and humorous tone, which is best appreciated through gameplay videos available on the store page. These videos provide a clearer insight into the game's engaging and lively environment.
- “The atmosphere in the game is incredibly immersive, drawing you into its unique world.”
- “The sound design and visuals create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that keeps you engaged and wanting to explore more.”