I started playing Goblin Cleanup, and I have to say: the idea caught my attention right away. You are a goblin cleaner hired to clean dungeons after adventurers make a mess. There are floors covered in blood, broken traps, thrown-away loot, and dangers all around. You can clean by yourself or team up with up to three other players. It’s funny, it’s messy, and it’s enjoyable. But it also shows its limits clearly.
What's good
The main activity is simple: you clean up messes, reset objects, fill chests, feed monsters so they won’t eat you, and turn on the dungeons for the next heroes. It is made for 1-4 players. The co-op play is really fun. If traps are still active and your teammate triggers one and dies, you have to clean up after them. That mix of working together and chaos gives the game a unique feel. The graphics and tools look good for an indie game: the slime-mop, the slime dispenser, the mimic chest, the blood stains, and the slightly strange fantasy style all fit well together.
What's weaker
While the game has pluses, it gets bored fast. First, there aren't many different situations. After you play the game through a couple of times, you are playing the same dungeons, the same traps, the same game loop. Playing co-op helped, but playing alone felt shorter than it should have.
The game and gameplay are straightforward. You get to unlock cosmetics and stages, but once you've played through some stages, they all start to feel the same. Those players seeking intricate systems or long-lasting diversity may be let down. It does appear to be constructed for short quarter- or hour-long gameplay, not the 50-hour long adventure.
Verdict
Goblin Cleanup does what it says on the tin: a goblin-cleaning crew that cleans the dungeons, injecting some co-operative fun and mayhem. If you have co-played and find it to be a short, fun-filled stint of cleaning and laughing, then you'll have a blast.
I'd give it 82/100, confirming my sentiment that it's good solid stuff in its market corner but far from perfect. For a Steam Deck afternoon or end-of-the-day coop hit it's a good choice - just be clear on what you're getting.