You’ve Committed Tax Evasion (Not Really)

by Ileana Rea Martinez

This is the game I go to when I want to play something quick, cozy and rewarding. It’s my comfort game, the game that I would reset and replay over and over again. That game is “Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion.”

What is it about? Well, you are playing as Turnip Boy and you’ve committed tax evasion. Mayor Onion evicts you from your home and you have to repay your debt by being his assistant and helping him with his “work.” The game is also packed with puzzles, fun tools and boss fights. Yes, boss fights. These are not your typical hard-to-do boss fights like souls like games. Trust me, the boss fights are fun and satisfying when you beat them.

Why do I always go back to play? Well, it’s simple, it is easy to play and easy to get into. The pixel art style gives the game that retro and nostalgic comfort I felt when I played old Gameboy games in the early 2000s. The color palette also adds to that comforting tone. With all the vibrance, it’s warm and hits you with instant visual comfort. Except in the one boss fight where it gives us a backstory to the world of Turnip Boy, but it’s still a comfy game, trust me. There are also silly (maybe a bit cringy) puns, dad jokes and references to pop culture that for me, make me happy and motivated to continue playing. 

The gameplay is very easy, casual and cozy. You do have to do boss fights but they’re not your typical souls like boss fights. They’re quick and easy but still have their challenges to keep you thinking about ways to strategize and use your tools. The overall story is short, and you don't have to do every small thing the game asks you to do, you have the option to do so when you beat the game.

With the recent release of the sequel to “Turnip Boy Commits Tax Evasion,” I have high hopes that the creator Snoozy Kazoo makes the sequel as comfy, rewarding and easy to dive into as the first Turnip Boy game.