In a world where RPGs are built on the promise of leveling up and chasing power, I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town throws out the rulebook. This indie turn-based strategy game from developer Bor Greve flips traditional mechanics on their heads, challenging players not to become stronger, but to keep others from doing so. With its sharp humor and clever design, it offers something that few games dare to: a serious look at how games work, all wrapped in a goblin-sized package of satire and strategy.
A turn-based strategy experience built on careful planning, not quick reflexes
At its core, I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town is a turn-based strategy game. Players don’t rush through action-packed battles. Instead, each move matters. Every turn presents a set of choices that demand thoughtful planning. Strategy fans will recognize the importance of predicting enemy movements and preparing for what comes next.
This isn’t about twitch reflexes or button mashing. It’s about thinking ahead—outmaneuvering threats, managing positions, and setting traps before enemies even arrive. Each battle becomes a slow-burning puzzle where every decision either inches the player closer to success or opens the door to defeat.
One moment might involve blocking off paths with goblin workers; another might involve baiting an overpowered adventurer into wasting a skill on an empty tile. The game rewards clever setups and punishes careless missteps.
The added pressure of time and resources forces tough decisions
Strategy isn’t only about movement on the board—it’s also about managing time and resources behind the scenes. In this goblin town, players must juggle limited tools while keeping an eye on larger goals. Should one focus on stopping a powerful hero now or invest in long-term defenses that might save more later?
Every action has a cost. Some resources are spent reinforcing defenses; others are used to sabotage adventurers before they grow too strong. Time becomes another resource—every delay carries risks as enemies get closer to leveling up.
This creates constant tension. Even when things seem under control, one bad decision can lead to disaster five turns later. It’s this kind of pressure that gives the game depth beyond its quirky setting.
An anti-leveling twist turns RPG tradition upside down
The most striking mechanic in the game is also its most rebellious: players aren’t trying to level up—they’re trying to stop it from happening at all.
In almost every RPG out there, leveling up is the goal—a reward for effort and time spent grinding away at enemies. But here? It’s something to fear. Adventurers wander into goblin territory looking for experience points—and it’s up to players to make sure they don’t get any.
This inversion turns typical progression systems on their head. Instead of feeding characters XP through combat victories, players must block them from gaining anything useful at all: deny them battles, interrupt their quests, and keep them weak enough that they pose no real threat.
This forces a totally different mindset from most RPGs or even tactics games. It’s not about powering up but shutting others down—and doing it creatively.
A goblin town filled with charm—and danger—sets the scene
The setting itself stands apart from typical fantasy backdrops. Rather than playing as noble heroes or mighty wizards crossing vast kingdoms, players find themselves deep within a cramped goblin town—full of winding alleys, sneaky tunnels, and makeshift traps waiting to spring.
It’s rare for games like this to focus entirely on goblins as more than cannon fodder or comic relief. Here, they’re central figures running their own society—and defending it fiercely against invading heroes who see them only as XP sacks waiting to be plundered.
This unusual choice allows for some surprisingly rich world-building. The town feels alive with oddball characters and strange little systems cobbled together by green-skinned engineers working just hard enough not to blow themselves up.
When does I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town come out?
The game is listed as “Coming Soon” with no specific release date yet announced by developer Bor Greve. It will be available for PC via Steam when it launches.
A singleplayer journey designed for quiet thinking and big laughs
I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town is made for solo players who enjoy taking their time inside rich worlds without being rushed by timers or online opponents. There’s no leaderboard pressure here—just one player against a steady stream of increasingly annoying adventurers trying to wreck everything good goblins have built.
This focus allows for slower pacing, deeper exploration of the setting, and full appreciation of the narrative details woven throughout the campaign missions.
During an early demo session at an indie showcase last fall, one fan got so caught up in reading item descriptions that they lost track of enemy movement and accidentally let a level 3 Paladin slip through untouched—only realizing their mistake when he returned fully geared with three blessings stacked on his armor plates. That kind of moment—the blend of humor and consequence—is baked into every part of this game’s structure.
A sharp-tongued satire aimed straight at old-school RPG habits
Beneath its goofy name lies something far sharper: pointed satire aimed at common video game habits that many take for granted—especially in RPGs where progress means piling on numbers until everything breaks under their weight.
I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town doesn’t just poke fun—it digs deep into why these systems exist in the first place. Why do players feel driven to max out stats? Why does every fantasy world treat monsters like walking loot bags? And what happens when someone decides not to play along?
The humor runs dry but smart—a wink here at fetch quest clichés, a jab there at min-maxing guides that suck all mystery out of gameplay discovery. The writing doesn’t just make jokes; it asks questions without ever slowing down the pace of play.
A story full of wit that challenges how games are played
Beyond jokes about goblin plumbing problems or cursed swords named “Mildly Annoying Dagger,” there’s real storytelling happening here—one that holds up a mirror to gaming culture itself without losing its charm along the way.
The narrative layers clever dialogue with meaningful themes about growth, purpose, and resistance against mindless progression loops—inviting players not just to laugh but also reflect on why they play certain ways in other games too.
No single way forward: letting go of linear paths opens new doors
The game’s strategic design invites experimentation instead of locking players into “correct” paths or forcing specific builds. There are many ways to defend Goblin Town—and none are guaranteed wins.
One player might rely on brute force tactics like funneling heroes into death corridors stacked with traps; another could lean heavily into economic sabotage by denying supplies or spreading misinformation through cleverly placed illusions.
This flexibility adds replay value while keeping each campaign feeling unique—even when revisiting earlier stages with new ideas sparked from past failures or successes gone wrong at just the right moment.
Clever writing elevates every system into something memorable
Even outside combat mechanics and meta-commentary lies perhaps one of the most enjoyable parts: writing that’s genuinely funny without trying too hard—biting without being bitter—and self-aware without slipping into smugness.
Dialogue between townsfolk veers between heartfelt concern over invaders destroying homes and hilarious debates over who left explosive cheese traps near the market stalls again (the answer is usually Greg). Even tutorial prompts carry personality instead of droning instructions read off cue cards—which makes learning curve bumps easier to forgive when wrapped in laughter.
A clever twist on genre norms awaits behind every dungeon door
I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town stands tall not because it adds more power—but because it dares players not to chase it in the first place. It’s bold enough to ask whether progress always means growth—or if sometimes standing still can be revolutionary too.
If most strategy games teach how best to win fights, this one teaches why fighting might be overrated entirely—or at least how amusing it can be when someone else tries really hard…and fails anyway thanks to well-placed banana peels behind enemy lines.
Isn’t it time someone asked what would happen if gaining levels wasn’t always worth it?
F.A.Q.
What type of game is I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town?
I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town is an indie turn-based strategy game that challenges players to prevent others from leveling up, rather than focusing on leveling up themselves. It combines strategic planning with a satirical take on traditional RPG mechanics.
When does I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town come out?
The game is listed as “Coming Soon” with no specific release date yet announced by the developer, Bor Greve. It will be available for PC via Steam upon release.
Is I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town worth it?
If you’re a fan of strategy games that require thoughtful planning and appreciate a satirical twist on traditional RPG mechanics, I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town offers a unique and engaging experience. Its innovative anti-leveling mechanic and clever humor make it a standout choice for players looking for something different.
What platforms is I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town on?
The game will be available for PC via Steam when it launches. There is no information yet on availability for other platforms.
Does I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town have a singleplayer mode?
Yes, the game is designed for solo play, allowing players to immerse themselves in its world and narrative at their own pace, without the pressure of online opponents or leaderboards.
What makes I Won’t Let You Level Up In My Goblin Town unique?
The game features a unique anti-leveling mechanic where players must prevent characters from gaining experience points. This inversion of typical RPG goals, along with its satirical tone and goblin town setting, provides a fresh take on the strategy genre.
