Goblins Go North is a strategy indie RPG auto-battler in which players lead a goblin horde on raids through Viking territory on PC. The core loop centers on building a force of fighters, outfitting them with visible gear, positioning them on a hexagonal grid, and observing automatic battles as the army advances toward the Jarl's Hall.
Gameplay
Players recruit goblins and arrange them into formations with sturdy warriors in front and archers in the rear. The hexagonal battlefield rewards careful placement, as a strong setup can overcome tougher opponents. Each fighter has 14 equipment slots for helmets, masks, armor, shoulder pads, gloves, boots, weapons, and trophies, and every item shows on the character model for a unique appearance.
Loot comes in common, rare, epic, and legendary rarities from treasure chests. Five identical items fuse into a higher-rarity version, while unwanted pieces melt into gold. Captured Viking settlements turn into goblin camps that serve as checkpoints and supply gold, new recruits, or upgrades on later runs. The journey passes through villages, watchtowers, shrines, and other sites on the way north.
Customization lets players alter the leader goblin's body type, ears, nose, teeth, hair, beard, and color. For extra power, a troll can be hired for one expedition to deliver heavy smashing attacks without needing equipment. The final obstacle is the Iron Knight guarding the Jarl's Hall.
Game Modes
The main experience is a single-player campaign that follows the goblin raid from the valley onward. A demo version delivers the full campaign through the valley, including five Viking buildings to conquer and a concluding battle against the Iron Knight. The full release is planned to add new goblin classes such as shamans, more treasure chests and legendary items, additional lands, and a separate mode in which players control Vikings to defend the North and repel the goblin invasion.
Key Features
Auto-battler combat lets players prepare their army and formation before watching battles resolve automatically. Tactical positioning on the hexagonal grid determines outcomes. Loot and fusion systems encourage repeated expeditions to improve gear quality. Settlement conquest creates persistent checkpoints that speed up future progress. Goblin customization combines appearance options with equipped items for distinctive looks. Troll mercenaries provide occasional brute-force support.
Is It Worth Playing?
The demo offers a complete slice of the goblin campaign with multiple conquests and a boss encounter, giving players a clear sense of the formation-building and looting loop. Those who enjoy auto-battlers focused on army composition, visible equipment progression, and incremental conquest will find a focused single-player experience here. The planned expansion into a Viking defense mode adds variety for players who want to switch sides. Availability of the demo allows direct testing before committing to the full campaign on PC.