Cleanup on Isle Goblin is an upcoming pixel life sim where you restore your goblin homeland to its former glory after an invasion of destructive humans, and it's shaping up to be a banger.
Pitched by developer Kilowatt Games as what you'd get if "Stardew Valley and Terraria had a twisted, disgusting, gobliny love child", you've got all the hallmarks you'd expect - cultivating crops, tending to livestock, spelunking through caves for precious resources, you name it. There's also plenty of combat against those pesky humans out to destroy what you've built – or rebuilt, in this case.
The developer has practically been developing the game in the public eye, with new additions and features being showcased on TikTok, like a development diary. Just a few days ago, they showcased how fishing will work. Like Stardew Valley, it'll be through a mini-game, albeit less tranquil. This time around, you're getting your fish by harpooning them with a spear – all because "goblins don't have the patience for fishing rods".
I'm especially up for its approach to forging bonds with NPCs. The developer explains that they aren't for Stardew Valley's approach to buying people's affection. As such, here you make goblin friends by asking them to come along and help you thump foes and do chores. If NPCs aren't your thing, you can get your friends to join so you can do "gobliny things" together.
Some details I'm less keen on, mind you. Instead of livestock like sheep or cows, you're getting rats – oh yes – and spiders – oh no. Aside from breeding, you can also get materials through them to use elsewhere.
There's no release date to share yet, though you can wishlist Cleanup on Isle Goblin on Steam.
Here are 10 games like Stardew Valley that’ll keep you working on the farm until the goblins come home.
