Introduction
Gobliiins is a cult classic series of point-and-click adventure games originally developed by Coktel Vision and created by designer Pierre Gilhodes.
The Gobliiins Collection for Nintendo Switch packages the first five entries in the series and arrives with a suite of extras aimed at preservation-minded players.
This review summarizes the Switch compilation, its content, and how the games play on modern hardware.
What’s included
- The collection contains the first five Gobliiins games; Gobliiins 6: The Madmen of the Year 1000 is not included. - Both CD and non-CD releases of the relevant titles are present where applicable, and the set includes the 3D-based Gobliiins 4. - The first three games are provided as their MS-DOS versions. - Extras: a music player, a multi-part video interview with series creator Pierre Gilhodes, and an art gallery.
Presentation and omissions
The package reproduces original box art and regional variations, but it omits scanned manuals and written instructions.
The review noted only control diagrams are provided in the collection; players unfamiliar with the series will need to consult external resources for full instructions.
One reviewer summarized the presentation by noting the compilation 'fulfills its purpose in the essential ways' while calling the absence of manuals a significant shortcoming.
Controls and emulation
The Gobliiins titles were designed around mouse input; on Nintendo Switch they are mapped to button controls and touch.
The collection does not introduce modern emulation conveniences such as save states or rewind, so the games run without those quality-of-life features.
The reviewer observed that button and touch mappings work but generally do not match the smoothness of mouse control.
Gameplay and tone
The Gobliiins series is known for its deliberately obtuse puzzle design and offbeat humor.
Players manage multiple characters with distinct abilities and often solve puzzles through trial, failure, and experimentation.
The first game includes a health mechanic that can lead to character death, while later entries relax that consequence structure.
The critic identified Gobliiins 3 as the highlight of the set and described Gobliiins 4 as the experiment that divides opinion.
Verdict
Gobliiins Collection is a largely complete preservation of a distinctive early-1990s point-and-click series on Nintendo Switch.
Fans and newcomers prepared to tolerate old-school puzzle logic will find value in the five-game set and its developer interview material, though the lack of manuals and emulation features undermines accessibility for new players.
Review score given: 7/10.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Red Art Games.
Review originally published on Nintendo Insider by Shaun Musgrave.
Gobliiins is a cult classic series of point-and-click adventure games originally developed by Coktel Vision and created by designer Pierre Gilhodes.
The Gobliiins Collection for Nintendo Switch packages the first five entries in the series and arrives with a suite of extras aimed at preservation-minded players.
This review summarizes the Switch compilation, its content, and how the games play on modern hardware.
What’s included
- The collection contains the first five Gobliiins games; Gobliiins 6: The Madmen of the Year 1000 is not included. - Both CD and non-CD releases of the relevant titles are present where applicable, and the set includes the 3D-based Gobliiins 4. - The first three games are provided as their MS-DOS versions. - Extras: a music player, a multi-part video interview with series creator Pierre Gilhodes, and an art gallery.
Presentation and omissions
The package reproduces original box art and regional variations, but it omits scanned manuals and written instructions.
The review noted only control diagrams are provided in the collection; players unfamiliar with the series will need to consult external resources for full instructions.
One reviewer summarized the presentation by noting the compilation 'fulfills its purpose in the essential ways' while calling the absence of manuals a significant shortcoming.
Controls and emulation
The Gobliiins titles were designed around mouse input; on Nintendo Switch they are mapped to button controls and touch.
The collection does not introduce modern emulation conveniences such as save states or rewind, so the games run without those quality-of-life features.
The reviewer observed that button and touch mappings work but generally do not match the smoothness of mouse control.
Gameplay and tone
The Gobliiins series is known for its deliberately obtuse puzzle design and offbeat humor.
Players manage multiple characters with distinct abilities and often solve puzzles through trial, failure, and experimentation.
The first game includes a health mechanic that can lead to character death, while later entries relax that consequence structure.
The critic identified Gobliiins 3 as the highlight of the set and described Gobliiins 4 as the experiment that divides opinion.
Verdict
Gobliiins Collection is a largely complete preservation of a distinctive early-1990s point-and-click series on Nintendo Switch.
Fans and newcomers prepared to tolerate old-school puzzle logic will find value in the five-game set and its developer interview material, though the lack of manuals and emulation features undermines accessibility for new players.
Review score given: 7/10.
Version tested: Nintendo Switch.
Review copy provided by Red Art Games.
Review originally published on Nintendo Insider by Shaun Musgrave.