Each day, I eagerly step into Nubby’s Number Factory, where my aspiration is to create the most impressive numbers imaginable—failure is not an option as the sun would explode! During my lunch break at the factory’s café, I indulge in as many meat kabobs as are available, which fuel my productivity. My supervisor, Tony, ensures that if I reach the end of my shift, he unleashes lasers that obliterate my efforts. Honestly, I find immense joy in my role at this rapidly rising indie game sensation that launched just last month.
As a passionate gamer who delights in titles like Balatro and Luck Be a Landlord—games that revolve around the simple joy of increasing numbers—I was instantly captivated by Nubby. This game masterfully combines engaging gameplay mechanics with a nostalgic aesthetic and an absurdist vibe that perfectly resonates with my interests. After investing around 20 hours into this plinko-inspired roguelike, it’s clear that Nubby has plunged deep into my thoughts. There remains so much to discover, and given the future plans detailed by the developers at MogDogBlog Productions, I can see this game becoming a new sensation akin to Balatro.
Why Nubby’s Number Factory Has Balatro-Level Potential
Addictive, Synergistic Gameplay That’s Built for Breaking
Referencing the success of Balatro is no light matter—it sets an exceptionally high bar considering the records it shattered last year. However, there are intriguing similarities between the two games: both showcase innovative number mechanics and share a vintage aesthetic, albeit with Nubby featuring a quirky style reminiscent of “Adobe Flash Balatro,”as aptly characterized by streamer Northernlion. Both titles embrace an irreverent humor, featuring whimsical character designs and items like Poop Butt.
Nubby’s Number Factory — localthunk (@LocalThunk) March 28, 2025
What truly convinces me of Nubby’s potential to reach Balatro-like heights is the infectious enthusiasm it instills. Engaging with it brings back memories of the early days of Balatro, where everything around me reminded me of card games. Now, I find myself associating everyday objects—numbers, kabobs, or even circles—with Nubby. It appears I’m not alone in this sentiment; Nubby’s Number Factory currently enjoys overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, with players celebrating its retro charm and captivating mechanics. Notably, even Balatro’s creator, localthunk, has shared their thoughts on this emerging title.
The Premise Of Nubby’s Number Factory
Making Company Quota Ain’t Easy
In Nubby’s Number Factory, players are tasked with launching a sentient ball named Nubby down a series of pegs, striving to accumulate enough points to unlock the next level. Players start with only six lives, and losing all Nubbys before meeting the objective results in the sun exploding—a rather dramatic consequence! Successfully achieving or surpassing the level’s target grants players additional rewards that include restocks of the game board, as well as extra lives and coins that can be used for acquiring items—this is where the real fun begins.
Considering the overwhelmingly positive reception, it is remarkable that the game has not yet reached its full potential.
Players can acquire items and perks from four unique sources: Nubby-Mart, Café Nubby, a coin-operated claw machine, and a black market. Each item features various triggers—for example, Nubby can bounce or activate 10 pegs—and effects, such as doubling scores or causing Nubby to unleash nuclear waste that affects surrounding pegs. In the café, players can buy food and feed a giant mouth on the wall to gain different enhancements like shop rerolls or upgrades to inventory items. Permanent perks, usually acquired through unique challenge rounds, typically focus on providing force-trigger benefits for items.
With numerous fascinating synergies, Nubby’s Number Factory embodies one critical element shared by all great roguelikes: the opportunity to achieve a truly game-breaking run. In fact, players may reach such high score multipliers that the game humorously states, “You broke the game!” Despite this, the game maintains a careful balance, ensuring not every attempt feels like a straightforward victory; there can be significant challenges, especially for newcomers navigating the extra challenge modes.
Stock In Nubby’s Number Factory Is Rising
Did I Mention This Game Is Only Five Dollars?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY2oUegsyP4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pY2oUegsyP4
Playing Nubby’s Number Factory has transformed my vocabulary, leading me to make statements like, “I really need that kebab to force trigger my cheese house,” which encapsulates the game’s whimsical charm. With 20 hours invested, I still have multiple supervisors to unlock and various challenges to conquer, and I doubt I will reduce my work hours in this factory anytime soon. I am keen to advocate for the magic of Nubby’s Number Factory to anyone who will listen, as I genuinely believe it possesses the potential to become the next major indie roguelike hit.
Nubby’s Number Factory is currently available for PC on Steam.
Source: localthunk/X, mogdogblog/YouTube, Northernlion/YouTube, Nubby’s Number Factory/Steam