Review by Jon Donnis
Gobliiins Collection arrives on Nintendo Switch in 2026 as a sizeable archive of puzzle adventure history, bringing together the first five entries in the long running series originally released on PC between 1991 and 2023. It presents itself less as a modern remake and more as a carefully preserved museum piece, and in that respect it largely succeeds.
What stands out immediately is how faithful the collection feels to the originals. These are not reinterpretations or softened reworks, but direct reproductions of the classic games, including multiple versions of the early entries such as MS DOS, CD-ROM and Macintosh builds. For anyone who remembers the series from its early days, there is a clear sense that the developers have tried to preserve the odd, slightly chaotic identity that defined Gobliiins from the start. The humour is intact, the tone remains stubbornly peculiar, and the puzzles still demand patience and lateral thinking in equal measure.
There is also a surprising amount of extra material included, which goes some way to broadening the appeal beyond nostalgia alone. The music player draws from all five games and offers a simple but effective way to revisit the series’ distinctive audio identity. The inclusion of 3D models of original packaging and a gallery of design documents adds a layer of archival interest that feels genuinely thoughtful rather than decorative. The documentary mini series, featuring a new interview with Pierre Gilhodes, co creator of Gobliiins, gives the package a human anchor that helps explain why these games still matter to a small but loyal audience.
On Switch, the games themselves translate reasonably well to console play. Point and click design has always been a tricky fit outside of a mouse driven environment, but the adaptation is serviceable enough that it rarely becomes a barrier. The underlying challenge remains intact, which will please long time players. These puzzles are still uncompromising, sometimes almost wilfully obscure, and that difficulty curve has not been softened for a modern audience. There is a charm in that stubbornness, even if it occasionally tips into frustration.
That said, the collection is not without its shortcomings. The omission of Gobliins 6: The Madmen of the Year 1000, released earlier in the same year, feels like a glaring gap in what is otherwise marketed as a comprehensive set. It is difficult not to see this as an oversight, particularly given the emphasis on completeness elsewhere in the package. There is also the simple reality that these games remain extremely tough by contemporary standards. What once felt like playful experimentation can now feel opaque, and not every player will have the patience to push through its more punishing moments.
Taken as a whole, Gobliiins Collection is best understood as a preservation project aimed squarely at returning fans and puzzle enthusiasts rather than newcomers. It captures the spirit of the original games with care, supports them with meaningful archival extras, and presents them in a convenient modern format. At the same time, it does little to smooth their rough edges or address the long standing difficulty spikes that defined the series from the beginning.
Gobliiins Collection ultimately feels like a well curated time capsule rather than a reinvention. For those who grew up with the series, it is an easy recommendation, even with its gaps and frustrations. For everyone else, it is a curious, often demanding glimpse into a very particular corner of puzzle game history. A solid 7 out of 10 still feels about right, balancing preservation, nostalgia and the occasional reminder that these games were never interested in being easy.
Out Now on Nintendo Switch
