Why Scrubbin’ Trubble Could Be the Next Big Thing in Co-op Roguelikes

There are more indie roguelikes on Steam now than ever, so when Odd Object’s debut title Scrubbin’ Trubble popped up, my ears perked. It isn’t just the pedigree—team members from UFO 50, Cadence of Hyrule and Catacomb Kids—but a genuinely fresh mash-up: “cleaning” meets party-based tactical roguelike. I’ve logged dozens of hours in Hades and Into the Breach, yet nothing prepared me for splashing soap at mutant dust bunnies with friends. Here’s why this soapy brawler could become your next co-op obsession.

Key Takeaways

• Made by indie veterans behind UFO 50, Cadence of Hyrule and Catacomb Kids
• Turn-based, quick-session runs for one to four players, local or online
• Six RPG-inspired classes with over-the-top cleaning powers and unlockable upgrades
• Pitches accessibility without ditching the tension of permadeath roguelikes
• Procedural Floors of The House, boss fights against the Four Filths of the Apocalypse

Specs at a Glance

A Fresh Twist on Familiar Mechanics

Roguelike is a catch-all buzzword these days, but Scrubbin’ Trubble carves out its own niche. Imagine Into the Breach’s chess-like planning fused with Overcooked’s chaotic party play—and then dunked in a vat of slime you have to scrub away. You and your crew drop into randomly generated “Rooms” filled with grime-spawned nasties—Mildude, Asbeastos and more pun-heavy foes—each with elemental slimes you neutralize using class powers or environmental hazards.

Tyriq Plummer, veteran lead designer on UFO 50 and Cadence of Hyrule, explains: “Our mission was to blend the strategic depth of turn-based tactics with the sheer fun of cooperative chaos. We wanted players to coordinate soap combos and laugh, not just grind endlessly.” That philosophy shows in every design choice—from bite-sized runs (15–20 minutes) to persistent meta-upgrades that carry over between sessions.

Classes, Progression and Party Synergy

• Bubbaladin (Tank): Absorbs sludge, builds soap shields, can sacrifice health to resurrect allies.
• Washbuckler (Crowd Control): Throws splash grenades, buffs movement, and cleans entire clusters of filth.
• Bleacher (Ranged DPS): Paints slimed floors with bleaching rays, can stun enemies with flash bursts.
• Refloxer (Support): Reflects toxic goo, creates soap mirrors that bounce delayed attacks.
• Squeegeemancer (AoE): Summons cleansing clouds and can summon puddles that slow foes.
• Broomarine (Speed): Dashes through dirt, sets up vacuum traps to clear corridors.

Each class has a branching skill tree with goofy gear—Wiper Rifle, Splash Bang, Bubble Grenades—and hundreds of procedural upgrades. Between runs you earn “Cleaning Points,” unlocking persistent perks like extra carried items or wider attack radii. One friend noted after a playtest: “I never thought I’d coordinate soap jets with strangers, but it felt as tactical as a XCOM mission and as ridiculous as a Friday night kitchen rush.”

Level Variety and Boss Challenges

Floors of The House shift themes: grimy kitchens, mold-infested libraries, dusty attics full of spectral spiders. Environmental hazards push you to adapt—slippery soap spills, electrified water puddles, and even rotating platforms that force area control. Every five floors you face a boss fight against one of the Four Filths of the Apocalypse, each demanding unique teamwork: dodging acid rain, extinguishing fire slime, or disrupting a toxic cloud generator.

Comparisons and Context

While Hades delights with fast hack-and-slash runs, it can last 40 minutes or more—and focuses on solo mastery. Scrubbin’ Trubble trims that length, making every decision count in short bursts. It channels Into the Breach’s high-stakes planning—one misstep and your run ends—but uses a forgiving permadeath loop with meta progression to hook you back. Fans of Spelunky and Risk of Rain will recognize procedural variety, but the party focus and ability to drop in or out mid-run set it apart.

Balancing Accessibility and Depth

Odd Object aims to avoid the usual roguelike grind: no endless tedious runs, no punishing one-hit deaths that lock out progress. Instead you get adjustable difficulty settings—from “Mild Muck” to “Filthy Fury”—and scalable challenges depending on party size. The team’s philosophy is clear: accessibility shouldn’t mean shallow, and depth shouldn’t mean frustration.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Scrubbin’ Trubble is set to fill a gap in the co-op roguelike space, offering quick, tactical runs infused with humor and teamwork. With veteran devs at the helm and playtests already praising its tight combat loops, this glossy grime-battler could become a cult hit or even break into the mainstream. Keep an eye out for the upcoming demo this summer, where players can test all six classes and two boss arenas. Until then, add it to your wishlist and prepare your best scrub squad—filth doesn’t stand a chance.

TL;DR: Scrubbin’ Trubble is a turn-based, cleaning-themed roguelike from seasoned indie talent. With six wacky classes, quick co-op runs, procedural levels, and meta progression, it promises tactical depth without the grind.