Nubby's Number Factory
| Nubby's Number Factory | |
|---|---|
| Developer | MogDogBlog Productions |
| Publisher | MogDogBlog Productions |
| Platform | |
| Release | March 7, 2025 |
| Genres | Roguelike, strategy |
| Mode | |
Nubby's Number Factory is a 2025 plinko style roguelike strategy game created by developer MogDogBlog Productions.[1]
Gameplay
In it, players control a factory where they are tasked to launch Nubby, a living ball, into a board of pegs to generate higher and higher numbers continuously.[2]
The pegs are all worth different amounts, and players must earn enough points to meet the quota for each round. If they fail to do so, the sun will explode. In between sets of rounds, a shop will pop up with items that grant abilities available for purchase. There's a vial underneath the quota that fills up every time the player scores points. The player wins money if they exceed the quota and fill up the vial. The game also features a perk system and special rounds to diversify runs.[3]
Upon achieving certain thresholds players gain stars which, are spent to unlock Tonys, which are essentially slight variants to normal play acting similar to different decks in Balatro. Stars can also be spent to unlock cosmetics for Nubby and items. Other cosmetics can also be gained through achievements and the Nubby Trials. The cosmetics, achievements, and Nubby Trials were added in update 1.4 for the game, with the Nubby Trials being a normal run with trials during certain round thresholds.[4]
Release and reception
Nubby's Number Factory released on Steam on March 7, 2025.[5] The game received positive reviews, with reviewers drawing favorable comparisons to Balatro,[6] Peggle, and Ballionaire.[7] Reviewers also compliment its price, music, absurd setting and terminology, paired with a bizarre art style inspired by 1990s computer shareware and edutainment.[8] The style of progression and addictive gameplay elements are main points of enjoyment for reviewers.[9] The game has not gone without criticism, with reviewers criticizing some of the balancing, lack of replay value, and the difficulty of the challenges.[10]
References
- ^ "5 underrated Roguelikes I can't stop playing". XDA. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
- ^ Dawe, Liam (2025-03-20). "Help, I've discovered Nubby's Number Factory, a 'plinko-style roguelike' where you stop the sun exploding". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ "Nubby's Number Factory is like Balatro if it were a plinko roguelike and instead of Jokers had items like Squirmy, Pedro, and A Ton of Feathers". PC Gamer. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
- ^ "Steam :: Nubby's Number Factory :: Update V1.4 - The Big One". store.steampowered.com. 2025-11-16. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
- ^ "Nubby's Number Factory on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2025-06-17.
- ^ McClure, Deven (2025-04-06). "This Breakout Indie Game Of 2025 Could Be The Next Balatro". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Allsop, Ken (2025-03-19). "Unassuming new $5 roguelike might be 2025's Balatro, and it's already rated 97% on Steam". PCGamesN. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Morooka, Naoto (2025-03-11). "ハイパーインフレパチンコ『Nubby's Number Factory』Steamで「好評率100%」スタート。どことなく2000年代の空気感漂う、奇天烈スコア稼ぎ". AUTOMATON (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2025-04-03. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Hopley, Alex (2025-03-16). "I've played an hour of Nubby's Number Factory and I'm already convinced it's as addictive as Balatro". Gamereactor UK. Archived from the original on 2025-03-27. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Whiteley, Adam (2025-03-28). "Nubby's Number Factory review: A chaotic, addictive twist on roguelike deckbuilders". The Mancunion. Archived from the original on 2025-04-20. Retrieved 2025-05-08.