Game: Isle Goblin
Developer: Kilowatt Games
Publishers: Fireshine Games · Pocketpair Publishing
Genre: 2D Sandbox Survival
Playtest: Open · free · limited spots
Players: Solo or co-op up to 8
Release: To be announced
Platform: PC (Windows · SteamOS/Linux)
🧪 Playtest impressions, not a final review. Isle Goblin is still in development, and this is based on its first open playtest, which launched on October 8. The score at the bottom is provisional, and features, balance and performance may all change before release.
🪓 Know this first: playtest spots are limited. The open playtest is free, but there’s a cap on players and it will likely run for about two weeks (possibly longer). If it’s full when you get there, sign up for future playtests so you’re first in line.
👺 This Time, the Goblins Are the Good Guys
Isle Goblin flips the usual fantasy script. Humans are the invaders: they’ve overrun your island, scattered your goblin family and left the place war-torn. Your job is to fight back, rebuild your village, rescue your displaced relatives from powerful human bosses, and turn the humans’ own discarded junk into gear to use against them.
It’s a 2D, pixel-art sandbox survival game in the vein of Terraria, and one playtester summed it up perfectly: “Necesse, but with goblins.” The difference is the personality. Isle Goblin is cheeky, mischievous and very, very goblin, from the character creator (“taste is completely optional”) to the promise of “more bodies to throw at humans when things inevitably go sideways.”
Steal their junk, build your swamp, and send the humans packing
Isle Goblin is a sandbox survival adventure from Kilowatt Games, published by Fireshine Games and Pocketpair Publishing. After three years of development and closed testing, its first open playtest was revealed during the Triple-i Initiative showcase on October 8, the same show where Windrose, also co-published by Pocketpair, teased its Ashlands update, and it’s free to join on Steam right now.
Our verdict so far: Isle Goblin is a charming sandbox survival game that nails the cozy-yet-chaotic vibe of rebuilding civilization with friends. Skip it only if you hate crafting, exploration, and pure cooperative fun.
Life on the Isle
🗺️ Explore
A hand-crafted world of varied biomes, sprawling caves and “blasphemous human temples.”
⚔️ Fight
Level up, gear up and take on powerful human bosses to rescue your goblin family.
🏘️ Rebuild
Homes, shops and taverns, filled with weird neighbours who each have their own personality and schedule.
🗑️ Scavenge
One man’s trash is a goblin’s treasure. Turn human junk into gear, gizmos and upgrades.
There’s farming in there too, plus mining for rare resources and a full character creator covering skin tone, hairstyles, features, outfits and accessories, so no two goblins look the same. The playtest drops you into an existing town rather than a blank slate, which gives you a quick taste of the village-building side.
A Proper Goblin Tribe
🤝 Up to Eight Goblins
Isle Goblin supports online co-op for up to eight players, which is a big number for a game like this, and the playtest includes it. More players means more hands for building, more pickaxes for mining, and, in the game’s own words, a “proper dysfunctional tribe.” It works solo too, but this is clearly a game built for a chaotic group of friends.
Early Feedback Is Promising
The early playtest feedback we’ve seen is very positive. One player found no bugs and no spelling or grammar mistakes, and enjoyed it so much they stopped playing to avoid getting too invested before launch. That’s a good sign for a game at this stage, and a very goblin problem to have.
♿ Accessibility in the Playtest
Isle Goblin already offers some thoughtful options: rebindable keyboard controls, toggles for camera shake, wind sway, water motion and fog, and phobia filters for spiders and insects. Playtesters have asked for toggle vs. hold options for sprint, crouch and aim, a flashing-lights toggle, post-processing toggles, and a softer fade in the intro cutscene’s flashing sequence. If you’re photosensitive, take care with the opening. Controller support is currently partial.
Still Under Construction
🛠️ Playtest Rough Edges1. Long first load. Initial island generation can take a while, and one player saw it sit on “Underworld, generating bases” for a long time.
2. Water hurts. Falling into water costs you HP, which one player found more annoying than challenging. They suggested treating it like a wall.
3. Hotbar clutter. New pickups go straight to your hotbar. A lock option to send them to your inventory is high on the wishlist.
4. Partial controller support. Keyboard and mouse is the way to play for now.
5. Plenty still unknown. No release date, no price, and system requirements are still listed as “TBD.” It’s also not yet clear whether the full game will let you start from scratch rather than in an existing town.
Where It’s Headed
Asked whether the game will have an ending, the developer said that, as a sandbox, it won’t have a traditional one: you’ll reach the end of the main content and can keep playing, and updates during Early Access will keep expanding the world and story, “much like games like Terraria.” Feedback from this playtest goes straight into development, so if you play, it’s worth filling in the official feedback form.
🎟️ How to Join the Playtest
• Head to the Isle Goblin Steam page and request access to the playtest. It’s free
• Spots are limited, and the playtest will likely run for about two weeks
• If it’s full, use Fireshine’s future playtest sign-up form
• Share feedback through the official feedback form and the community Discord
• Solo or online co-op for up to 8 · 8 languages · partial controller support
The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
The Good
The Bad
The Ugly
Bags of PersonalityCheeky goblin humour and a fun role-reversal premise.
Long First LoadIsland generation can hang for a while.
Limited SpotsNot everyone who wants in will get into this playtest.
8-Player Co-opA genuinely big tribe for a 2D sandbox.
Water DamageFalling in costs HP, which feels more annoying than tense.
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Building a Real VillageShops, taverns and neighbours with their own schedules.
Partial Controller SupportBest on keyboard and mouse for now.
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Strong Early AccessibilityRebinding, motion toggles and phobia filters already in.
Hotbar Auto-FillPickups clutter your hotbar, with no lock option yet.
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Clean So FarEarly players report no bugs and no text errors.
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The Verdict (For Now)
Isle Goblin’s first open playtest makes a strong first impression. The goblins-vs-humans premise is a fun twist on the survival sandbox, the village-building and scavenging give it a clear identity, and eight-player co-op is a big draw for anyone who likes their survival games loud and chaotic. It already looks clean and thoughtfully accessible for a game at this stage.
There’s work to do, with load times, a few quality-of-life annoyances and controller support at the top of the list, and plenty of questions about the full release remain. But if you enjoy Terraria, Necesse or Core Keeper, this is one to grab a spot in while you can, and one to wishlist either way.
Hello, I'm Flare, a devoted gamer deeply intertwined with the gaming world. Since childhood, video games have been my passion, offering endless joy in each adventure. My love for gaming extends into my professional life in game journalism. Each game is a new journey, a source of fascination and excitement, continually drawing me into its enthralling universe. Join my gaming journey. 👑
