REVIEW | Turnip Boy Robs a Bank

“A thrilling single-player adventure full of bank robbing, dark web browsing, and fuzz fighting.”

Turnip Boy is ready to commit more felonies in this comedic action-adventure game with roguelike elements. This time, the career criminal is teaming up with the fearsome Pickled Gang to plan and execute the weirdest heist of all time! Shake down hostages, steal precious valuables, and explore the deep, dark depths and history of the Botanical Bank. This is the follow-up to Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, released in 2022, and with new roguelike gameplay mechanics this time. While the game may be aimed at younger players, there is plenty of humour for everyone to enjoy.

Things I liked!

• Gameplay | The gameplay is utterly bonkers, with so much going on and some of the most bizarre yet lovable characters you will ever meet in a video game. The idea of the game is to enter the bank and steal as much cash and valuables as possible within the few minutes you have on the timer before the police arrive. By this time, it’s usually a good idea to leave the bank, as you can only carry a certain amount of money. While you are navigating through the bank, you’ll encounter some quirky food-based characters with their own stories and problems. By helping these characters, you can earn new hats to wear and discover new music tracks to listen to. When you exit the bank, it takes you to the weapons warehouse where you can upgrade your weapons, visit the shop, and even order special items from the black market, such as C-4 or Goob Boots.

• Controls | The controls are really easy to pick up and play, and the game also offers some excellent accessibility options that can be turned on to make the game much easier. Whether the game becomes too difficult or you simply want to quickly grab all the achievements, these options have got you covered!

Neither good nor bad

• Sound | The sound effects are pretty good, with lots of explosions, and each weapon has its own unique sound. While you can unlock new music tracks to play as you progress through the game, I found that with all the mayhem going on, the music would be drowned out most of the time unless I was back at the weapons warehouse where it’s much calmer.

• Graphics |  The game runs with the screen automatically set to a 4:3 ratio, which means you will have big borders on the left and right. This isn’t a significant issue, but I would have much preferred full screen. Fortunately, there is an option in the video settings to make these borders look more colourful, which I would recommend to any new players. The game itself is a top-down pixel game and runs in 4K at 60FPS.

Things I disliked!

• In-game map | The in-game map was overly basic and not particularly helpful. You get a basic grid layout of the ten main rooms within the bank. It would be better if it showed the characters’ location for any active quests. These characters could be located anywhere within the bank, especially considering that the side rooms change with each playthrough, and side rooms do not appear on the map.

• Level design | Every run in the game is unique. Upon entering the bank, you encounter the main foyer area, which remains consistent. However, the lifts transport you to various random sections within the bank. Occasionally, when you must reach a specific area to complete a quest, the lift inexplicably takes you elsewhere. This can be quite frustrating.

How long did I play the review before publishing? 8 hours
How long to beat the story? 5 hours +
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 21/23
How long to achieve 1000G | 10 hours +
You’ll love this game if you like these | Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion and Neon Abyss