Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land PC Review

If you love Gameboy-era titles and a nod to all things old-school, Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land is the game for you. This dated RPG has a tongue-in-cheek story, 8-bit pixelated visuals, and refined core mechanics. However, it also has some interesting adventure elements and plenty of bosses to overcome. Consequently, it packs plenty into a tiny and dated package.

Developed by Exquisite Laundry Pet LLC, this single-player retro RPG will tug on your heartstrings. If you are not old enough to remember the joy of 8-bit games, this may not be so appealing. However, gamers who love retro titles and a walk down memory lane will adore the absurd plot, deadly monsters, and weird and wonderful settings.

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land tells a ridiculous plot.

The idea that a gumball sweet can be the hero in an outlandish plot is pretty ridiculous, but here we are! The hero crash-lands from their gumball machine, and they are desperate to return. However, this is easier said than done, as plenty of monsters stand in your way. Furthermore, the only person who can help has been stripped of their 7 patches of power. Therefore, you must complete an array of quests and find the patches before your path home becomes clear.

The story is bonkers, but I didn’t care. Instead, I absorbed the dated madness and fell for its charms. From simple candy characters to huge bosses, this game has it all. Moreover, it uses easy-to-follow turn-based combat to help you on your way. This was a great choice as nothing feels rushed. Instead, you can choose your best approach and defeat everything on offer.

Take your time and consider your options.

Taking your time is a key mechanic of Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land. As you explore each weird location, you’ll be ambushed by an enemy. The further you progress, the harder they become. Accordingly, you must choose the right areas and stay within your lane. Thankfully, the hero is gifted with the ability to cast magic and throw a gumball sweet. Each choice uses an action point (AP), and the hero has only 1 AP per turn.

This limited approach may be frustrating, but I enjoyed the rudimentary design. Moreover, there was a sense of gambling as each enemy would occasionally waste their turn to give you a sense of respite. As you progress, new spells are unlocked, and you may increase your health and magical powers. Although this was basic, it worked well with the core mechanics and theme. Instead of focusing on loads of skills, character progression, and a complex story, you spend your time enjoying the simple fighting and the character interactions.

Where this slightly changes is the inclusion of party members. As you successfully assist the locals, they will offer their services. However, unlike other games within the genre, you cannot control this new ally. Instead, their support is automated and a bit of a surprise.

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land is brilliantly pixelated.

Pixelated games are a joy to play. Even though this is a little blown out on a large screen, I enjoyed the vibrant colours, simple sprites, and straightforward level design. The towns, dungeons, and forests were depicted by their colours. This could be disconcerting, but I liked the deliberate and refined approach. The audio is equally retro. Shrill sound effects, familiar music, and an atmospheric experience await anyone who tackles this dated RPG.

The control system focuses on the d-pad and a few buttons. As such, this can be enjoyed on Steam Deck or PC. I played using SD and wasn’t disappointed. The inputs were responsive and easy to understand. Furthermore, the UI works well on a handheld system. Replay value is questionable. There are a few collectables to find and some branching pathways. Yet, every action ultimately leads to the same outcome. Therefore, there are limited reasons to return.

Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land is a fun, retro RPG.

I grew up in the 8-bit era, so Gumball in Trick-or-Treat Land was instantly appealing. Although it is simple and dated, its story, mechanics, and charming edge work well for modern audiences. Furthermore, it is a change of pace from the normal FPS madness or annual repeats of your favourite sporting title. Accordingly, I think it is great, and you should buy a copy from the Steam storefront!