Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion

[h1] A 'bite'-sized Zelda-like that's equal parts adorable and unhinged. [/h1] If you're looking for a compact adventure game that doesn't take itself seriously, Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion seems to fit the bill. [h3] So, what's the premise? [/h3] You play as Turnip Boy, a small (as the name implies) turnip who [spoiler] gets evicted from his greenhouse [/spoiler] for [spoiler] not paying taxes [/spoiler]. Mayor Onion offers to [spoiler] clear your debt if you run some errands for him [/spoiler]. What follows is a top-down adventure heavily inspired by classic 2D Zelda games, complete with puzzles, boss fights, and a surprising deep lore hidden throughout. The gameplay loop is simple and straightforward. You explore areas, solve puzzles using items like a watering can and portal crops, and slashing enemies up with a sword. Each area introduces new mechanics without overstaying its welcome, whereas boss fights strike a nice balance between basic combat and light puzzle-solving elements. [h3] The humor carries [/h3] In the best ways possible. The game leans heavily into internet-savvy humor, memes, and fourth-wall breaks. It won't be for everyone, but I found myself smiling throughout. Turnip Boy is [spoiler] a silent protagonist who spends most of his time committing petty crimes and ripping up any document he can find [/spoiler]. It's silly, but it works. [h3] It's short. Like, really short [/h3] This is both a strength and a weakness as I 100%'d the game in under 4 hours. However, the main story alone takes around 2. The game doesn't overstay its welcome, but it also ends right about when the mechanics started getting interesting. At full price the game might feel a little light, but it's an easy reccomend nontheless. [b] Some frustrations: [/b] ⦁ The sword controls can feel a bit floaty and imprecise. The combat works, but it's not the tightest. ⦁ There's a lot of backtracking where fetch quests send you across the map repeatedly, so you'll need to keep in mind who needed what. ⦁ The meme-heavy humor won't land for everyone. If internet references and inside jokes aren't your thing, a lot of this game's charm could be lost. [h3] Overall [/h3] Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a nice palete cleanser between longer games. It's short, charming, and doesn't ask much of you. I quite enjoyed my time with it. [b] An 8.5/10 for me. [/b]