Review by: Danielle Riendeau

Short, sweet, and pretty much flawless, Grubbins on Ice successfully expands upon the pint-sized universe of Costume Quest. With new costumes, a snowy new area to explore, and a bucket full of Double Fine humor, it’s another perfect seasonal confection.

The latest chapter starts off shortly after the events of CQ. Lucy is looking for “scientific” evidence of the monsters’ presence in Auburn Pines, and she stumbles upon a portal to Repugia (the monster world, naturally). It’s up to Everett and twins Wren and Reynold (once again, you’ll pick a “leader” between the siblings) to run off and save her.

But not all is as you’d expect in monster-land. Most of your former enemies are on your side now, as NPCs who are totally not into the new monster regime. So, it’s your job to go door-to-door “recruiting” for the rebel cause (in a clever take on the original’s trick or treating mechanic), where you’ll get candy (currency) from supporters and do battle with baddies staked out in random houses.

This clever conceit lies at the surface of a super-streamlined JRPG that never fails to amuse. Like trick-or-treating, this is an extremely clever way of making encounters somewhat random (you never know if you’ll find a friend or foe behind any given door), while also allowing you to prepare for your fights. You’ll level up without ever having to grind through countless enemies (the number of encounters is pretty much set), and your progression always feels fast and steady.

In addition to a steady dose of sugary Costume Quest combat, you’ll also complete simple quests for other characters, including reuniting a goblin with his chubby girlfriend, finding an ancient joke book, and making a special appearance at “Yeti Fest”. You’ll also trade “creepy treat” cards and buy battle stamps, good for customizing your abilities in combat.

There are three new costumes on offer, and each is a killer. The pirate outfit is adorable, and grants you the “exploration ability” required to jump on ziplines, while the eyeball lets you zoom way out on the map to seek out hidden treasures. The Yeti costume may be the cutest of all, and it packs a heavy punch during fights, with the most useful defensive ability of any CQ character.