From sweeping floors to crafting worlds. It was supposed to be a children’s book, but two janitors decided to make a quirky retro RPG instead

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It’s incredible how much work goes into making a video game, especially considering that big studios need so much time and resources. That’s why it’s so impressive that Kingdoms of the Dump was created by just two people – who both happen to be janitors! – and it’s now finished and ready to play. The game is inspired by classic RPGs from the Super Nintendo era and will be released this November.

“Garbage day is coming” and I’m up for the challenge

Kingdoms of the Dump is a role-playing game set in a unique fantasy world built entirely from trash. I was immediately drawn to its quirky theme and playful visuals – it’s delightfully silly!

This game comes from a small, independent team called Roach Games. Surprisingly, the idea began as a children’s book while the developers were working as janitors! They’ve perfectly captured the nostalgic look and feel of classic SNES games – even the trailer feels like it’s straight out of the ’90s. Honestly, the tagline – “Experience the magic of trash” – was all it took to get my attention.

Battles will happen in turns on a small 3×3 grid, meaning where you stand will be important. You’ll need to time your attacks, and you won’t stumble into unexpected fights while exploring. Moving around the game world won’t be simple – expect some jumping and climbing to make finding new areas more fun.

The game features a really unique cast of characters you can control. You’ll play as Dustin Binsley, known as the Trash Can Knight, alongside his friends: a sneaky rat rogue, a wizard who fights with a bubble wand (he strongly resembles the classic Black Mage from older Final Fantasy games), a stink-bug, a librarian who’s also skilled with guns, and – my favorite – a Bard who is literally a lute!

Adding to the game’s appeal, Roach Games collaborated with a variety of skilled artists on Kingdoms of the Dump. Francis Coulombe, an indie developer who recently released Look Outside on Steam, created the boss designs. The soundtrack was composed by bobbyghostly, with additional music from William Kage and Hiroki Kikuta, known for his work on Secret of Mana. dm404 led the pixel art, while D. Jeffrey handled the concept art. Dream Sloth Games, the team behind Duelyst 2, also contributed to the project.

Get ready for Kingdoms of the Dump, a new game launching November 18th only on Steam! If you’re a fan of classic RPGs like Chrono Trigger or Breath of Fire, you won’t want to miss this one.

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2025-11-04 14:32