Cozy games really hit the spot sometimes. I think practically every activity has been cozy-fied by the genre, especially cleaning. The simple act of rotating an item, picking up the appropriate tool, and clicking the specific section to clean is all I need to relax.

This week is my Wyrmhall: brush and Banter review.

Wyrmhall is a cozy cleaning game from Leafy Games. The game was released on Steam in March and retails for $10 (cheaper on Itch.io).

Wyrmhall is all about cleaning with a little touch of mystery on the side. The player takes the role of a goblin who is hired as a temp worker to clean magical artifacts at one of the most prestigious spots in all of Wyrmhall. Wyrmhall is described as a magical bazaar where patrons from every realm enter to browse wares and maybe get something cleaned. You are hired to work a full week, and you can keep whatever you are paid.

Seems like a sweet deal.

It may seem like a quaint existence, but the Gob the player plays as has a little brother to take care of, while being embroiled in a mystery that has the fate of Wyrmhall hanging in the balance. There are powerful players who have an eye on the kiosk that you work at, and by the end of the week, their plans are fully realized. The story, just like the patrons that need their magical items cleaned, is goofy, but it’s a real good time to watch the goofiness play out.

The goofiness extends to the patrons as well. There are loads of customers who stop by the kiosk to have their items cleaned; some are normal, and many are weird. A human that claims to have a staff that can wipe out the realm, a spider that has an absolute fascination with having you clean incredibly dangerous items, and a seemingly kind shadow woman that has just pitch black items to clean are just a few of the clientele that stop by the kiosk.

Though the dialogue options are a little cheeky, they fit the bill for adolescent humor that Wyrmhall brings to the table, reminding me a lot of shows like Adventure Time and Regular Show.

Some talk about their lives, some want you to die, but every conversation has a weight to it and feels goofy due to the dialogue choice.

The rest of Wyrmhall boils down to cleaning. Flick open the measly lock and get the day started cleaning artifacts. At the beginning, the player has a set of three tools: a brush for grout, a rag for scuff spirals, and a bag for bugs. Artifacts can be rotated in every possible direction so that you can get into those little nooks and crannies. Grab the appropriate-colored tool and clean the appropriate-colored mess. Ring the bell when you are satisfied with the condition. Pat on the head and the game continues on.

The catch here is that doing your best is key. Customers won’t get mad at you if you can’t clean 100%. It’s relaxing.

For a game centered on being at a kiosk all day, Wyrmhall is a joy to look at. The many people who come up to the kiosk are unique, and their magical artifacts are even more unique. From a shadow amulet that, when rotating, exposes a whole new item to clean, to a line of sentient weapons that pass by, and you have to quickly clean all of them. Wyrmhall feels and looks like a bazaar for magical beings, as you clean, loads of goofy-looking characters in the background go about their day. It’s a nice touch to the visual design. All of this cleaning, talking, and wondering what the outside world is like is accompanied by a nice elevator theme songs that make the cleaning even more relaxing and enjoyable. Wyrmhall is just a wonderful world to clean in.

Wyrmhall: Brush and Banter is a short and cheap game that scratched the itch. A whimsical post-dad game that focuses on cleaning and funny banter between magical entities. Onboarding is easy, and once you’re in, you can play the game at your own pace, which is nice. I really liked the banter between characters, especially the responses that the player can give. I rolled credits in about 3 hours, and there were still 3 other endings to get to. I recommend Wyrmhall if you are having a lazy day and want a relaxing, funny game with loads of personality.

7/10