For a few years there, PopCap games dominated our PCs and Mobiles with games like Plants Vs Zombies and Peggle, so it was crazy to see a Peggle-inspired rogue-like game show up in the latest Nintendo Direct. Red Nexus Games have somehow managed to mix their indie game with a pixel art style, Peggle-type gameplay, and add an almost Dungeons and Dragons-like adventure all in one. What’s It Like? Grab some pebbles, pick a relic, and take aim as we review Peglin on Nintendo Switch.
Peglin puts you into the role of a small goblin who is trying to recover his gold stolen by a dragon. To get your gold back and defeat the dragon, you must battle your way through hordes of slimes, knights, enchanted mirrors, and epic bosses, but… you won’t be doing it the normal way. Combat is handled by popping peglins, the pegs in the main area of the screen. You have orbs in your inventory which start with a humble stone to throw, or a dull dagger, and eventually will possess magical obelisks and lightning orbs. You hurl these orbs pachinko style down the playboard, accruing damage to deal as you go. You can hit golden peglins to get coins, exclamation peglins to get critical hits and double your damage, and reset peglins to reactivate all of the peglins on the board. Unlike Peggle, you can take as many shots as your HP allows, as your orbs “reload” after a rotation, allowing the enemy to make one move during this phase. These mechanics on top of the orbs and their modifiers, create a strategic element to all battles that boils down to risk, skill, and a bit of luck. Each battle offers up a different board, with some boards being static patterns, while others have moving parts to make things trickier. Another great feature is how the board changes during battles, especially during boss fights. At one stage in the game, I was battling a giant slime boss, and when he swallowed me, my launching point appeared inside the slime’s peglin silhouette.
The adventure part of the game is delivered via a branching overworld path of the 3 locations which are the Forest, Castle, and Mines, each with their own unique enemies and events. You choose your path by finishing the tile or event you are on and shooting a direction at the bottom of the screen. It’s rather simple to go where you want, but I managed to get misdirected with some of the more animated boards. A strategic player will map out the path to maximise rewards and events, while minimizing battles, and collecting orbs and powerful relic modifiers. In my first playthrough, I was rushing through picking any and all upgrades with reckless abandon, only to hit a wall on the final boss. The second time I was much more careful, planning out hitting the right tiles for the most treasure and upgrades. I faced different bosses (except the final boss) and was victorious. Then I started a new run… It’s such an addictive loop, especially when a full run will only take you about an hour.
This is where the value and replayability of the title come together. Admittedly, I was a bit unsure of the $30 AUD price tag, especially after being burned before, but Peglin has an addictive charm to it much like “Balatro.” Bosses and encounters change with each run, and while you may find some encounters you did in the last run, knowing how to best tackle them makes you more efficient at getting through the story. Beating the game also unlocks the “Cruciball” difficulty modifier, challenging the most stalwart goblins with punishing difficulty spikes, but offering up an even greater sense of achievement. After your first successful run, you can also use custom game options to set yourself up with a more difficult run or have absolute power, and give yourself some crazy gear to start with. Be warned though, as using custom settings will not unlock any achievements of items.
Peglin is presented in a simple, but charming pixel art style, with unique enemies and level layouts. Your hero Goblin is well-animated, and the spell effects look great. Hitting an enemy, especially with big damage, feels impactful thanks to the visual style, and the world is painted with a bright and varied palette. All of this is complemented by a simple yet happy and boppy soundtrack that works really well with the style of the game. Controls feel responsive, and the game runs without a hitch as one would expect. There’s an Encirclepedia which acts as a bestiary and guide to orbs, enemies, and relics you have already encountered, allowing you to study up and plan out your next run.
For my Goblins who are looking for accessibility options, I’m pleased to report you can choose static or animated prompts for better visual acuity, reduce screen shake, as well as reduce the vignette intensity for a clearer overview of the screen. You can also pull up a map while choosing a destination to help plan out your route. Due to the turn-based nature of the combat, you can take as much time as you need between turns, as well as tap on the d-pad to fine-tune movement to really nail your shot. There are times when the ball may be hard to see after being launched, but there’s a bright white aiming reticle when you shoot which makes aiming all the more easier. If you’re short on time you can set the speed of the game to go faster at the press of a button, but to me, the satisfaction of hitting a perfectly aimed shot was far too appealing to miss.
Peglin is one of those unexpected delights waiting to be discovered. It has a fun, addictive, and replayable gameplay loop that will keep you going back for more. The world of Peglin is bright and charming, with an interesting cast of characters, and clever little touches that may go unnoticed at times. There’s plenty to do to challenge yourself after completing the first run, and there’s a lot of game here for the asking price. Peglin is a unique and fun concept that’s an absolute blast to play. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some gold to recover and a date with a dragon.
So, What’s It Like? Peglin is like Peggle, crossed with Slay the Spire.
I award it an 86/100
