When I first picked up the controller for PG-Wild Bandito, I didn’t expect to be so thoroughly charmed in such a short span of time. Let’s be real—four hours to finish the main campaign? That’s what I call a tight, polished experience. Some might worry about the playtime, but honestly, I think it’s one of the game’s biggest strengths. In an era where games often overstay their welcome, Pepper Grinder cuts straight to the fun and doesn’t bog you down with filler. Every stage feels purposeful, and the pacing is so sharp that before you know it, you’re already thinking about replaying levels for those tricky Skull Coins.
Speaking of Skull Coins, these little golden treasures are absolutely central to mastering PG-Wild Bandito. Each stage hides five of them—yes, exactly five, no more, no less—and collecting them isn’t just for bragging rights. They unlock special bonus stages in each of the four worlds, and let me tell you, these bonus levels are where the game truly flexes its creative muscles. I remember grinding through the first world, scraping together every Skull Coin I could find, just to see what lay beyond the main path. And wow, was it worth it. That first bonus stage, built entirely around cannon-hopping, felt like a love letter to Donkey Kong Country’s barrel blasts. The way you ping-pong from one cannon to the next, timing each launch perfectly—it’s pure, unadulterated platforming joy.
Now, if you’re like me and thrive on competition, the time-trial mode is where you’ll lose hours upon hours. I’ve replayed the early stages maybe a dozen times, shaving seconds off my best runs, and it never gets old. The mechanics are so responsive that once you get into the rhythm, it’s almost meditative. But don’t overlook the other collectibles either. Stickers, hairstyles, and other cosmetics might seem trivial at first, but they add a surprising amount of replay value. I spent a good hour just mixing and matching hairstyles for my character—it’s silly, sure, but it’s these small touches that make the world feel alive and personal.
What really stands out to me, though, is how Pepper Grinder introduces a gameplay idea in the main stages and then takes it to its logical extreme in the bonus content. That cannon stage I mentioned earlier? It’s just one example. Later worlds introduce drilling mechanics, underwater navigation, and even some light puzzle-solving, and each time, the bonus stages expand on those concepts in ways that feel both challenging and refreshing. I’ve played a lot of indie platformers, but few manage to explore their mechanics so thoroughly without overcomplicating things.
Of course, no game is perfect. I did find myself wishing there were a few more main stages—maybe six or seven per world instead of four. And while the difficulty curve is generally smooth, some of those Skull Coins are devilishly well-hidden. I must have spent twenty minutes on one stage in World 3, trying to nail a sequence of drills and jumps to reach a coin tucked behind a waterfall. Was it frustrating? A bit. But the satisfaction when I finally got it? Unbeatable.
If you’re looking to dominate PG-Wild Bandito, my advice is simple: embrace repetition. Don’t just play through the campaign once and call it done. Go back, beat your time trials, hunt every last Skull Coin, and lose yourself in those bonus stages. They’re not just extras—they’re essential to understanding the full depth of the game’s design. And honestly, that’s where the real magic happens. Four hours might seem short, but with everything there is to unlock and master, you’re easily looking at double or triple that if you want to see it all.
In the end, Pepper Grinder is a masterclass in focused, inventive game design. It knows what it does well, and it doesn’t waste your time. Whether you’re here for the speedrunning, the collection hunt, or just the sheer pleasure of its mechanics, there’s something here to love. I, for one, am already hoping for DLC or a sequel—because once you’ve tasted something this sharp and satisfying, it’s hard to go back.