A brand-new fantasy RPG with an old-school soul is climbing Steam’s trending charts, and it’s doing it with one of the strangest (and most charming) settings in recent memory. Kingdoms of the Dump takes the familiar comfort of retro, turn-based role-playing games and drops it into a world built entirely from garbage, scraps, and discarded ideas. It’s weird, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt—and players are clearly paying attention.
In Kingdoms of the Dump, you step into the dented armor of Dustin Binsley, better known as the Trash Can Knight. The adventure unfolds across the Lands of Fill, a junk-built realm where everything—from towns and landmarks to enemies and objects—looks like it was stitched together from what everyone else threw away. Your mission is to journey through five and a half Kingdoms, push back the invading Toxic Grimelin Army, and restore order to a world that’s literally held together by trash.
Gameplay-wise, this one is designed to feel like a throwback without being a carbon copy. Combat is turn-based and plays out on small grid-based battlefields, so where you stand and how you move matters. Instead of random encounters, enemies appear in the world before you engage, which keeps exploration feeling more deliberate. There’s also a timed-attack element—hit your inputs at the right moment and you’ll squeeze out extra damage—adding a bit of rhythm and interactivity to the classic formula.
Exploration aims for a mix of RPG roaming and light platforming, with an overworld vibe some players compare to the Mode-7 look of SNES-era games. Progress isn’t only about leveling up or grabbing better gear, either. Party members bring unique field abilities that open up new routes and solutions. One character might climb to reach higher areas, another might smash through rusty barriers, and others carry gadgets that help unlock pathways. This encourages backtracking and gives the world a more puzzle-like sense of discovery as your team grows.
Kingdoms of the Dump launched on Steam at $19.99 and is currently offered with a roughly 15% launch-week discount, bringing the price down to $16.99. Early user feedback has been strong, with Steam reviews sitting at “Very Positive.” Players praise its creative worldbuilding and nostalgic combat, often describing it as retro in the best way—familiar, but not tired. One review summed it up by saying it’s “a little rough around the edges,” yet packed with heart, a strong story, and endearing characters.
That “rough around the edges” part does come up more than once, though. Several players report bugs and a noticeable lack of polish in spots, with some calling it messy at times. If technical hiccups tend to ruin your fun, it’s worth keeping in mind before jumping in.
Still, the game’s momentum makes sense. While plenty of RPGs chase the same polished fantasy look, Kingdoms of the Dump wins attention by going in the complete opposite direction. No pristine castles. No elegant elves. Just eclectic towns made from cans and scrap, enemies cobbled together from soggy cardboard, broken toys, and junkyard leftovers, and a setting that’s unapologetically committed to its own oddball identity. That uniqueness, paired with classic RPG fundamentals, is likely why it’s trending—especially for players hungry for something different that still feels comfortingly familiar.
For those who prefer playing RPGs with a gamepad, the good news is it supports controller play too.
