I’ve never really been into Peggle. The gameplay, which primarily involves watching rather than actively engaging, didn’t quite appeal to me. However, when Peglin made an unexpected debut on the Nintendo Switch right after a Nintendo Direct, my interest piqued. I wondered if it might captivate me like an idle game does. Being more accustomed now to games with a pinball twist, I hoped Peglin might serve as a bridge between that genre and something new. Admittedly, Peglin didn’t turn me into a pachinko enthusiast, but its core mechanics kept drawing me back to its delightful orb-firing antics.
If you’ve heard this premise before, bear with me: Peglin is a roguelike indie game where you vanquish enemies, progressively enhancing your weapons and abilities until you face a formidable boss. It might not be groundbreaking, laying its premise bare for all to see from the start. The art style feels a bit basic, reminiscent of Microsoft Paint in its pixelated simplicity, but it does the job. Even so, the variety in enemy designs and locations adds a refreshing touch to your adventures.
The gameplay is really what determines if Peglin grabs your attention. Picture this: you launch orbs onto a board brimming with pegs, each strike ramping up the damage your orb deals to the enemies stationed above. The control you have over the direction of the shot is about the extent of your involvement. Some pegs boost your coin count, increase damage, or add special effects like critical hits. After every round, you can choose to purchase new orbs, adding them to your randomly arranged lineup, or boost your existing orbs’ potency. There are countless exciting combinations and items you can discover, which enhance your orbs’ power. They feel thoughtfully balanced; take, for instance, an item that grants a multiball effect, duplicating every orb you shoot but restricting your shooting angles. This constant balancing act makes combat encounters, especially boss fights, incredibly stimulating and satisfying. Bosses can alter your board by adding sticky lines between pegs, which can trap your orbs or spawn new foes.
For me, Peglin falls somewhere in the middle ground. On one side, the thrill of launching orbs and racking up damage evokes the rush of a pinball game. On the other, the game exudes a passive vibe. Post-launch, your strategic options dwindle; selecting your target becomes crucial against bosses or specific enemy swarms, but that’s about it. You don’t feel as actively involved in the big picture. The lack of proper tutorials or explanations of the mechanics only adds to this frustration. Discovering that you can discard orbs from your lineup for faster access to elemental attacks, which are more effective against certain enemies, was a revelation that came surprisingly late for me. As a title meant for quick play, I found strategizing took more of my time than actually playing, creating an unintended barrier.
As is typical for roguelikes, there’s a substantial element of randomness, leaving me stuck in battles I should have won. Whether due to scarce recovery opportunities between fights or key attacks missing a vital critical hit peg, it felt like luck more than skill determined my progression. Reaching a new distance in the game felt less like a testament to my skill and more like fortune smiling upon me. This balance between skill and random chance could be a deal-breaker for some, leading me to occasionally set the game aside for lengths at a time. Yet, Peglin’s simple yet addictive gameplay loop kept reeling me back in, tempting me to give those orbs another go round the pegs.
Peglin isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Its roguelike foundation combined with the hefty luck component took their time to win me over. The poorly communicated mechanics and limited control over the board would frustrate any dedicated player. Nonetheless, there’s a solid game experience at its core, one I found myself returning to repeatedly. Landing that perfect mix of attack and elemental damage to swiftly dismantle a boss is immensely gratifying. Although the initial hurdle is a bit high for my liking, once I got the hang of it, I found it hard to resist. In the final analysis, Peglin feels like one of those background games you keep coming back to. While I can’t predict the future, I suspect Peglin will hold its ground in the gaming community for a good while.
