! That Bastard Is Trying To Steal Our Gold ! is a compact puzzle platformer that embraces a simple objective and builds practically its entire identity around it: enter a series of dungeon-like stages and steal every piece of gold. Developed and published by WTFOMGames, it is an intentionally straightforward indie production that combines platforming, puzzle solving, treasure collection, and light arcade elements. There is little interest in complicated storytelling or elaborate progression. Instead, the game quickly establishes what the player needs to accomplish and concentrates on creating obstacles between the character and the treasure.
Each level revolves around collecting all available gold, turning exploration into a combination of navigation and environmental problem solving. Simply seeing the treasure does not necessarily mean reaching it will be easy. Players have to understand the arrangement of platforms and hazards while working out the appropriate route through each stage. This structure gives the game elements of both a logic puzzle and a precision platformer. Knowing the solution is only part of the challenge because the player must still execute the necessary movements successfully.
The concept has an appealing arcade quality. There are no complicated character builds, sprawling quest systems, lengthy conversations, or elaborate inventories competing for attention. The motivation is amusingly direct: raid the Lerpikon's dungeons, take the gold, and become rich. That uncomplicated premise gives the game a humorous personality and complements its associations with dark humor, comedy, memes, destruction, mining, and loot. Rather than presenting the player as a heroic adventurer saving a fantasy kingdom, the game cheerfully makes greed the driving force behind progression.
Its strongest characteristic is therefore accessibility. The rules are easy to understand, and the individual stages provide clearly defined goals. Players who enjoy completing levels methodically may find satisfaction in locating and obtaining every piece of treasure. The puzzle-platforming combination also prevents the experience from becoming a completely passive collection exercise. Successful progress depends on observing the environment, understanding what the level expects, and then demonstrating enough control to carry out the solution.
At the same time, the game's simplicity places a noticeable ceiling on its depth. The central treasure-stealing mechanic does not evolve into the kind of sophisticated puzzle system found in more ambitious representatives of the genre. Its entertainment value depends heavily on whether the player enjoys small, self-contained platforming challenges. Anyone expecting extensive dungeon exploration, advanced combat, substantial character development, or a rich narrative is likely to find the experience thin. The dungeon-crawler flavor is more thematic than representative of a deep role-playing structure.
Presentation follows the same modest philosophy. The 2D visuals are functional and keep the platforms, environments, and objectives readable, but the production does not aim for elaborate artwork or highly polished animation. This gives the game the unmistakable character of a small independent project. For players who enjoy obscure and rough-around-the-edges indie releases, that simplicity can have a certain charm. Those accustomed to extremely polished modern platformers may find the presentation dated and mechanically basic.
Controls are especially important because precision platforming forms part of the challenge. The game supports controllers only partially, so players should be prepared for an experience that is not completely designed around seamless gamepad navigation. This does not fundamentally undermine the gameplay, but it reinforces the impression that the title comes from an earlier and more modest era of indie development. The challenge is most enjoyable when successful movement feels like the execution of a discovered solution rather than a struggle against the controls.
The game is designed strictly around a single-player experience. Steam Trading Cards and Family Sharing add a few peripheral platform features, while English is supported for the interface and subtitles. Since the gameplay does not rely on extensive narrative exposition, its limited language selection is less disruptive than it would be in a dialogue-heavy adventure. The technical footprint is also extremely lightweight, fitting the uncomplicated 2D presentation and making the game relatively undemanding.
Steam Deck compatibility requires an important qualification. The Steam store does not currently present an official Valve Steam Deck compatibility rating for the game, so it should be regarded as Not Tested or officially unverified rather than confidently labeled Verified or Playable. The game does have Linux and SteamOS support and partial controller support, which are encouraging factors for handheld use, but they do not constitute an official Steam Deck certification. Players intending to use a Steam Deck should therefore expect that manual control adjustments or other minor workarounds could potentially be necessary.
Ultimately, ! That Bastard Is Trying To Steal Our Gold ! works best when approached as a small and inexpensive puzzle-platforming curiosity rather than a substantial dungeon adventure. Its clear objectives, treasure-focused stages, humorous premise, and mixture of logic and platforming provide enough personality to distinguish it from completely generic indie platformers. The downside is limited sophistication, modest presentation, and a central idea that may become repetitive for players seeking greater mechanical variety.
There is something pleasantly uncomplicated about being sent into a dungeon with essentially one instruction: take everything valuable. The game understands that concept and rarely pretends to be more ambitious than it is. Players fond of old-school 2D games, precision platforming, compact puzzles, loot collection, and eccentric indie projects may get some enjoyment from its deliberately simple approach. Those looking for refined controls, extensive content, complex puzzles, or meaningful narrative depth will have considerably less reason to stay.
Rating: 5/10
