Peglin
- April 25, 2022
- Red Nexus Games Inc.
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam"Peglin is a single-player Fantasy Arcade game with sensational gameplay, splendid graphics, and a spectacular soundtrack, reminiscent of Peggle and Slay the Spire. Fight enemies with Pachinko-like gameplay, collecting and upgrading powerful orbs and relics to conquer monsters and bosses. With a new map every time, Peglin is very grinding, funny, and highly replayable."
iPad
iPhone
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Steam Deck
Windows
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- gameplay1,326 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Peglin is a unique blend of pachinko mechanics and roguelike elements, offering a fun and addictive experience that appeals to fans of both genres. However, many players express frustration with the heavy reliance on RNG, which can lead to runs feeling unfair and unbalanced, particularly in boss encounters. While the core mechanics are engaging and the game is visually charming, there are calls for more strategic depth and variety to enhance replayability and reduce the impact of luck on gameplay outcomes.
“The gameplay is fun and engaging.”
“The gameplay loop is solid, there are some fantastic choices of orbs and relics, but it's all just far too random, even for a roguelike!”
“It's very fun when things are going well, and I love the core gameplay loop.”
“This game will actively resist your attempts to learn and improve at the game because of the several layers of randomness baked into the core mechanics.”
“A great run quickly derailed because of a single bad luck roll is frustrating, and even with the best of planning you are often at the mercy of the pachinko mechanics.”
“The balance of RNG to skill is the most important mechanic in a roguelike, and unfortunately this game fails to maintain that balance properly.”
- replayability470 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game exhibits a high degree of replayability, with many players praising its variety of builds, challenge modes, and randomized elements that keep each run feeling unique. However, some reviews note that the current content is somewhat limited, leading to repetitive gameplay after several runs. Overall, while many find it addictive and enjoyable, there are calls for more levels and content to enhance the replay value further.
“With respectful nods to its inspirations and a sprinkle of comedy, it is a very replayable experience with runs that range from fifteen to forty minutes.”
“I'd however say this could even slightly be better - the relics and orb combos are so fun to swap and change and try, the game modifiers from the cruciballs are excellent - and the replayability combined with the absolute sheer amount of content you get should absolutely have this on your wishlist as a must-buy.”
“The gameplay is exciting and engaging, the art looks very nice, the relics and orbs are (mostly) well balanced and the game itself is very rewarding and has a high replayability value.”
“The variance in cruciballs is too minor and does not provide much in replayability.”
“However, it's a little poor in terms of replayability in one sitting - I often find myself playing one or two runs and having my fill, whereas with other roguelikes like Slay the Spire, I could do runs for hours on end.”
“It is a very short game which prizes itself on replayability, yet the maps never change, there is never anything interesting and after 20 hours of playing this on the Steam Deck I feel like I know absolutely every event and fight by heart.”
- music336 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players praising its catchiness and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. Some highlight standout tracks that complement the game's whimsical aesthetic, but a significant number of reviewers express a desire for a broader soundtrack to prevent monotony. Overall, while the music is often described as enjoyable and fitting, its limited selection detracts from the overall experience for some players.
“The soundtrack is the bomb.”
“Extremely cute and fun, and the music is amazing.”
“The music is engaging and fun while complimenting the tone of this relatively quick game.”
“The music feels like it was taken from a copyright-free website and slapped mindlessly into the game with the same 3 horrible tracks.”
“The music is really repetitive and becomes grating; there is way too big a gap between normal and rare relic power.”
“The music is boring and gets repetitive quickly.”
- graphics260 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the cute and colorful pixel art style that adds charm to the gameplay. However, some players criticize the inconsistency in art quality and detail, noting that certain elements feel unpolished or bland, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered appealing, there are calls for improvements to enhance clarity and cohesion.
“This is a delightful game with a super cute art style.”
“One of the most fun and creative games I've played in recent times, with colorful and expressive graphics.”
“The graphics are colorful and cute, and the music is upbeat and catchy.”
“The quality of the graphics is fine, but nothing is done at the same pixel scale or detail quality and everything is just 'nearest neighbor' resized.”
“The game's graphics and fonts are unreadably blocky, even at 4k resolution.”
“On top of that, the visuals are atrociously unpolished (especially the level screen) - there are games that have been made in 24 hours with better graphics than this, and for a game in development for over half a year since the demo, pretty much zero improvement has been made regarding graphics.”
- humor140 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it cute, funny, and entertaining, particularly due to the antics of the "funny little goblin" and the whimsical nature of the gameplay. Many reviews highlight the comedic elements of the game, including amusing orb names and scenarios, which contribute to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. However, some players express frustration with certain gameplay mechanics that can detract from the humor, especially after updates that introduced less favorable elements.
“It's creative, it's funny, it's cute.”
“The art is so cute and the scenarios are funny sometimes.”
“This game is fun, easy to understand, and has some hilarious moments.”
- story92 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 78 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game lacks a substantial story or campaign, leaving players wishing for a narrative to enhance their experience. While there are occasional hints of world-building, the overall absence of a cohesive storyline or progression makes the gameplay feel repetitive and less engaging over time. Many players express a desire for a story mode or more narrative elements to provide motivation and context for their runs.
“I really wish there was any kind of story; while the collections are enough to keep me trying new runs, I think I'd feel more incentive if there were some story beats to look out for.”
“With that, I'd also love to have a small amount of world-building or story.”
“Any sort of story or lore would also really bump it up.”
“I really wish there was any kind of story. While the collections are enough to keep me trying new runs, I think I'd feel more incentive if there were some story beats to look out for.”
“There's tiny crumbs of world-building occasionally, but beyond that, this is a roguelike that doesn't appear to even bother with a framing story.”
“Also, there isn't anything that drives me forward: no progression, no story, no unlocks, basically nothing.”
- grinding86 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and overly reliant on RNG, leading to repetitive gameplay and a lack of satisfying progression. Players often find the early game slow and unengaging, with many encounters feeling like a slog rather than a challenge. While some enjoy the game for its fun mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the grind can become frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The rng is just oppressive and eliminates any desire for me to keep playing because any 'build' can only ever be pure accident and the only solution is constant grinding to appease the rng gods.”
“Once you get through enough cruciballs the game becomes a painful tedious slog.”
“There is minimum unlocks, no meta progression, the start of every run is extremely tedious and there is very little control you have over what is going to happen.”
- stability38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 74 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as orbs despawning and crashes. While it runs smoothly on platforms like the Steam Deck, some users have experienced significant issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the game is considered fun and engaging, but its current state is marred by instability and unbalanced mechanics.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck, locked 60fps all the time.”
“Super simple to understand with no glitches or bugs that I could see.”
“Runs great on my laptop and is easy to just pass the time with.”
“Unfortunately, it's a buggy, unbalanced mess.”
“Good game, very replayable, up there with Slay the Spire in terms of roguelikes, but can be buggy at times. For example, I got to the last boss and would've won if my orbs didn't keep despawning, not falling down the holes but just popping out of existence. I really hope the devs fix this bug soon because it really spoiled my enjoyment of an otherwise enjoyable game.”
“It's literally impossible because the game freezes when you beat the first boss.”
- optimization16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is well-optimized, allowing it to run smoothly even on older hardware, such as a 2010 HP notebook, and performs well on both integrated graphics and Linux systems. However, some players have noted issues with certain orbs not bouncing effectively, which can create a frustrating experience during early game combat. Despite these minor concerns, the game's graphics and sound quality are considered good for its price point, and it is particularly optimized for gamepad use.
“It's optimized so well I can run it on my 2010 HP notebook, and it plays like a dream.”
“Super lightweight to install and run, performance is great on both my laptop with only integrated graphics, and in Proton on my Linux desktop.”
“The quality of graphics and sound is good for the price point, and I did not run into any bugs or unstable performance.”
“Certain orbs just don't bounce well, or you almost feel like the game is conspiring against you to make every shot as unoptimized as possible.”
“Due to the limited travel speed of the ball, you literally can't rush the early game combat, even though your performance in the early game combat is completely irrelevant for your late-game strength.”
“Seems to be optimized for gamepad.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, experiencing feelings they didn't know they had, particularly during challenging moments like the final boss. While many found the game to be wholesome and enjoyable, some expressed frustration with its RNG elements and difficulty, leading to a bittersweet experience that left them hesitant to replay it. Overall, the emotional highs and lows contribute significantly to the game's appeal, despite some criticisms regarding its mechanics.
“It made me feel emotions I never knew I had.”
“I hope to see more from the game in the future, that last boss was a little hard on me so having beat him and then the game end there was a little heartbreaking seeing how I was on an incredible run.”
“Good wholesome fun.”
- monetization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of post-purchase monetization, reminiscent of classic titles without modern microtransactions. However, concerns have been raised about the developers' failure to deliver promised updates and a perceived shift towards monetization through a mobile version, leading to accusations of unprofessionalism and potential misleading advertising. Overall, while the initial experience is positive, the game's future monetization strategy appears questionable.
“I love the fact there is zero after purchase monetization.”
“This is like how you remember Peggle, but without all the modern microtransactions of current Peggle.”
“One of the discussions mentioned the game felt like it was built around a microtransaction framework without microtransactions.”
“Update - this game got worse and worse with time, they did not deliver any of the promised updates, they ditched this in favor of the mobile game for a cash grab.”
“In regards to their future planning notes, the developers might want to update it with a more formal one as the game becomes more popular because saying we are going to add 900 more balls and artifacts in bold font followed by (that's actually a lie xd) and emoticons comes off as unprofessional and might lead to people refunding or contacting business bureaus for misleading advertising, which would be a dumb way to ruin what appears to be an otherwise great game development company.”
- character development8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is highlighted by its adorable and engaging character designs, which contribute to an overall enjoyable experience. Players appreciate the fun premise and the vibrant art and music that enhance the charm of the characters.
“The character design is great, and it's just a pleasure to sit down and play.”
“Adorable character design and art.”
“Cute character design.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Peglin is widely praised for its charm and engaging quality, contributing to an enjoyable gaming experience. Players appreciate the fun and unique ambiance, which enhances the challenging gameplay, although some feel the game could benefit from additional content. Overall, the atmosphere is a significant draw for fans of the genre.
“If you like other games in the genre, Peglin is definitely worth picking up for its unique combat and charming atmosphere.”
“Great game with difficult challenges and a fun atmosphere!”
“Peglin has a certain charm and atmosphere that has kept me hooked for at least a few dozen runs so far.”
