Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter Review
Clean magical artifacts for strange patrons in Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter.
Wyrmhalll: Brush and Banter. Credit: Leafy Games
Reading this, you might think I wrote about this game just a couple of days ago as Trash Goblin, but Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter from Leafy Games is, in fact, very different. On the surface, both games are you playing as a goblin working in a shop that specializes in cleaning trinkets. However, while Trash Goblin would qualify as a cozy, wholesome game, Wyrmhall is a silly narrative comedy with a slightly dark edge. Wyrmhall adds some tension to its artifact cleaning thanks to story consequences and carefully designed gameplay challenges.
Wyrmhalll: Brush and Banter. Credit: Leafy Games
You are a goblin, or “gob,” who answered a help wanted ad to work as a temp in a magical artifact cleaning kiosk while the regular manager takes a weeklong vacation. The kiosk is in a busy marketplace in Wyrmhall, a pocket dimension that connects thousands of different worlds, so you’ll encounter all kinds of strange, wonderful, or dangerous customers.
Wyrmhalll: Brush and Banter. Credit: Leafy Games
Several customers will show up each day and ask you to clean magical artifacts. You can hit your bell and say you’re done at any time, and how well you do—or don’t—will affect the outcome and story. Some people are obviously sketchy and bring you things to clean that are clearly dangerous or illegal. Or sentient. It makes for a hilarious, unpredictable experience.
Cleaning magical artifacts is simple. You start with three tools: a brush, a cloth, and a bag. Each one will remove a specific type of blemish, and before the game ends, you get access to a few more tools. You just select the right tool and click on the matching crud on the artifact. The challenge is finding all the stuff you need to remove, which is often hidden cleverly and requires careful observation. Things get more complicated when clicking, hovering, or even looking at specific features of an artifact becomes lethal. Wyrmhall repeatedly found ways to surprise me, something that never happened in Trash Goblin. Thankfully, only a single challenge is based on a timer.
The game’s art is cartoonish and fits the tone perfectly. Everything is in 3D, rendered with flat textures shaded with gradients; this effect is similar to toon shading but softer as it lacks any outlines. It’s impressive how much rich detail the artists created using this more minimalist 3D style. Even with very simple animation, the developers squeezed massive amounts of character into all the patrons you meet.
The game is short, taking just a delightful 2-3 hours to reach the end of the story and see an ending. Based on how I played, I was able to see four different endings by reloading my save at the end of the game, but I think there are more that I need to find. I could see myself revisiting the game, but I’d prefer a sequel; there’s a lot that Leafy Games could do with the whimsical world of Wyrmhall they’ve created.
Wyrmhalll: Brush and Banter. Credit: Leafy Games
Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter is more under the radar at the moment than Trash Goblin, and it deserves notice. It’s easy to compare the games, but I feel that Wyrmhall is unique, brimming with personality. It’s trying to do its own thing and succeeding. I had a great time with it.
Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter is available now on Steam.
Overall Score: 9/10
Played on: Steam Deck
