Do you hate paying your taxes? So too does the rambunctious Turnip Boy. If you clicked on this article because you were intrigued by the title of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, I can guarantee you’re not alone; it’s what drew me in, too. The genius developers over at Snoozy Kazoo have crafted an adorable 2D indie adventure game about just that: a chaotic turnip that avoids paying his taxes. There’s a lot to unpack about this preview of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion, so let’s buckle down and see what brought us to Veggieville in the first place.
So, where do we begin? Well, with Turnip Boy of course. Turnip Boy has accrued 143k in tax debt, and Mayor Onion is not happy about this at all. Instead of kicking you to the curb, however, you’ll become his little turnip errand boy, running through the town of Veggieville and attempting to solve the problems of its sketchy citizens. Simple enough.
Thus begins our adventures together solving a host of characters problems and ripping up every paper collectible that doesn’t immediately interest us. Alright, hold on. Tax bill? Rip it up. The love letter from the strawberry to the blueberry you just helped? Donezo. No, really, that’s how chaotic Turnip Boy is. The only option to deal with even the mildest of inconveniences is to rip them up. Turnip Boy’s chaotic nature really threw me for a loop right out of the gate. Or should I say…grate?
I wanted so badly to deliver that love note to the desperate blueberry, but Turnip Boy had other plans. Let me make this clear: you cannot progress unless you rip up that love letter. After a few quests of ripping up everything of value the NPCs gave me, it became clearer as to what kind of vegetable could accrue 143k in debt from tax evasion. The kind that just rolls around as a ball of raw, uninhibited mayhem and bedlam; AKA Turnip Boy. He didn’t need to utter a word to get his point across. If it didn’t benefit Turnip Boy, he was out.
There are so many lively characters that you can pester in Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. One of my favorites is probably the gamer/streamer celebrity sensation “slayQueen32”. She’s a…well, to be honest, I’m not really sure what vegetable she is. But, I know that she’s the best “forkfight” player in Veggieville and the sandwich-maker down the road is excessively fond of her. Even veggies be simping.
Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is an exceptionally vibrant and delightful adventure game to look at. The bright green and brown color palette really compliments the reds and blues of your vegetable neighbors and helps them stand out amongst all the greenery. It’s absolutely adorable.
Speaking of adorable: hats. As you complete the odd job around town, you unlock a variety of hats for Turnip Boy to wear, adding yet another layer to his unexplainable chaotic nature. They serve no other function than to make you smile, and I’m more than alright with that. The crown is unlocked after you assist slayQueen32 with her piggy problem and is by far my favorite hat to wear.
The writing and dialogue for this little game are fantastic as well. Turnip Boy doesn’t speak- he just reacts. However, your friends and neighbors have plenty to say about his actions and misdeeds during the game. The dialogue is hilarious and self-aware, with lots of modern quips and references to sink your teeth into. Sorry, that’s probably in poor taste since we’re talking about vegetables.
In addition to all the random hi-jinx and mayhem you can get up to, there are also boss fights to look forward to. In the demo, you only have access to one: the King Pig. You can use your environment by watering the boomblooms around you to take out the King Pig and prove once and for all who’s the real bacon. The inclusion of environmental function keeps the fights interesting, as well as provides an extra element of strategy to take into account during combat. Sure, you could slash at the King Pig with your Soil Sword, but you do way more damage with the boomblooms. It’s also much more fun.
Honestly, I had so much fun with this preview of Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion. It is still in development with a confirmed release date on Steam of 2021. After only thirty minutes of playtime, I was so upset when the demo concluded. We need more Turnip Boy! I am so happy with the progress of this game so far and absolutely cannot wait to dive back in and see what shenanigans we can get up to. This is definitely one indie game you don’t want to sleep on. In some ways, it reminds me of Secrets of Grindea and Stardew Valley with its bright 2D colors and references. Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion is a fantastic experience with its own charm that just works. It’s insanely fun, and there’s a little something for everyone to love about this game. I can definitely see it being a popular “Let’s Play” title in the future when it releases.