Kingdoms Of The Dump Review : A Bold, Heartfelt Indie JRPG That Leans Deeply Into Nostalgia

Kingdoms of the Dump is a retro-flavored, SNES-style JRPG developed by the indie gamedev Roach Games (in collaboration with Dream Sloth Games) and released on Steam on November 18, 2025. What makes it stand out is its delightfully offbeat premise: it’s set in a fantasy world made of garbage — the “Lands of Fill”.

You play as Dustin Binsley, a.k.a. the “Trash Can Knight,” journeying through the “Five and a Half Kingdoms of the Dump” to rescue a kidnapped king and stop a toxic Grimelin army. This unusual setting — trash as the foundation for a classic RPG — is part satire, part heartfelt homage, and all charming.

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Gameplay & Core Loop

At its core, Kingdoms of the Dump blends traditional JRPG mechanics with some modern twists:

Turn-based Grid Combat: Battles take place on a grid, requiring tactical positioning of your characters to maximize damage and avoid danger.
Timed Hits: Inspired by games like Super Mario RPG, this mechanic lets you execute more powerful actions if you press a button at the right moment.
No Random Encounters: You don’t just walk into a fight at random — enemies are visible on the field, which makes exploration more meaningful.
Character Swapping On-Field: You can switch between up to six characters while exploring, and each has a unique ability (e.g., “Rust,” “Climb,” “Gun,” “Bubble”) to access different parts of the world or solve puzzles.
Platforming & Elevation: The field is not flat — there’s jumping, elevation changes, and platforming, which adds depth to navigation.
Large Mode-7 World Map: The world map is reminiscent of old-school Mode-7 visuals, giving exploration a classic JRPG feel.
Secrets & Creative Environments: The “garbage world” setting isn’t just aesthetic — there are creative dungeons, weird trash-themed enemies, and hidden content.

All of this combines into a core loop of exploring, platforming, switching characters, engaging in tactical fights, and uncovering the quirky lore of the Dump. To us at Indie Games Tavern, this is a simple but hooked core loop which expressed the indie spirit from the two gamedevs Roach Games & Dream Sloth Games.

What Works Really Well

Unique and Memorable Setting
A fantasy world built from trash is so unconventional that it instantly catches your attention — and that quirkiness is backed by sincere design. The “Lands of Fill” feel like a fully realized junk-fantasy, not just a gimmick.

Nostalgic JRPG Vibes
If you love SNES-era JRPGs, there’s a lot here to make you feel at home: grid-based tactical combat, Mode-7 map styling, and a turn-based battle system with “timed hits” all evoke classics like Chrono Trigger, EarthBound, and Final Fantasy VI.

Strategy + Action Hybrid
The combination of tactical grid battles + platforming exploration gives the game a satisfying mix of “thinking” and “doing.” Field exploration isn’t just walking — character abilities impact traversal, which encourages clever use of your party.

Character Variety & Ability Design
Each character brings something unique: for example, “Rust” for decay, “Bubble” for maybe floating, “Gun” for ranged, etc. This gives design space for interesting puzzles, combat synergy, and environmental navigation.

Heart & Personality
The backstory of development itself — the game was made by real janitors — resonates with the theme. That sincerity adds charm, and the writing/leads lean into humor, clean but trashy imagery, and a genuine passion for throwback RPGs.

Production Value
Despite being indie, the game has very polished pixel art (led by artist DM404) and a soundtrack by Bobby Ghostly (plus guest William Kage), lending it a professional, lovingly crafted feel. This is showing that the both gamedevs we mentioned really put attention to every details, which is what we Indie Games Tavern always love to see.

Areas for Improvement & Considerations

Niche Appeal
Because of its very specific retro and “trash-fantasy” aesthetic, the game may not appeal to everyone. Players who prefer modern, high-fidelity graphics or more serious fantasy settings might find the tone odd or off-putting.

Difficulty & Learning Curve
The combination of platforming, grid combat, and timed hits could present a steep learning curve, especially for players unfamiliar with tactical JRPGs or older games. If the game doesn’t sufficiently ease players in, it may feel daunting.

Limited Voice / Localization
Based on its Steam page, the game seems to support only English with no full voiceover. This could limit accessibility for non-English speaking players.

Replayability Questions
While there is a large world map and “lots of secrets” cited, it’s unclear how much post-story or side-content there will be to sustain many playthroughs. The depth of side quests, optional dungeons, and replay incentives will be crucial for long-term engagement.

Partial Controller Support
SteamDB reports “partial” controller support for the game. For a retro JRPG with platforming, strong controller support is often expected — if it’s limited, that could frustrate some players.

Performance / Engine Constraints
The game is built with Godot 2.1. While Godot is capable, older versions may lack some of the performance optimizations of more mature engines; depending on implementation, there might be performance quirks, especially on lower-end systems.

Final Thoughts

To us at Indie Games Tavern, Kingdoms of the Dump is a bold, heartfelt indie JRPG that leans deeply into nostalgia while bringing its own trash-themed spin. It’s not just “retro for retro’s sake” — the mechanics (grid combat, timed hits, exploration) are carefully chosen to blend strategy and old-school charm. The setting is hilarious, creative, and strangely touching, especially given the developer’s real-life janitorial background.

There are risks: the niche tone, potential technical or control limitations, and unclear long-term replayability could hold it back. But for players who love classic JRPGs, enjoy tactical and platforming hybrids, or just want to explore a unique world built from “garbage,” Kingdoms of the Dump is a very promising title.

Who Should Play It?

Retro JRPG Fans: If you grew up on SNES JRPGs or love that era’s design philosophies, this is right up your alley.
Tactical / Strategy Lovers: Players who like grid-based combat, positioning, and strategic party management will appreciate the depth.
Explorers & Completionists: Those who enjoy platforming, secrets, and environmental puzzles during exploration will likely enjoy the on-field movement mechanics.
Indie Game Supporters: If you like supporting small teams with passion projects, especially those with unique premises and personal stories, this is a strong pick.
Players Looking for Humor + Heart: The game’s setting isn’t just comedic — it has warmth, sincerity, and creative worldbuilding.

Who Might Wait or Skip It?

Modern Graphics Enthusiasts: If you prefer high-fidelity, 3D graphics or cinematic visuals, this 16-bit-style game may feel too old-school.
Casual Gamers: The tactical combat + platforming mix may be too demanding for players who prefer very laid-back RPGs.
Non-English Players: With limited language support (only English interface and text), some players might wait for localization.
Controller-Focused Players: Those who expect full controller support might hesitate because of the “partial” support.
Players Who Prioritize Longevity: If you want games with massive open worlds, endless content, or deep replay value, you might wait for feedback on how much content the “secrets” and side quests truly offer.

Kingdoms of the Dump Review by Indie Games Tavern.

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