Trash Day, a physics co-op game where a squad of raccoons hauls a wagon of garbage home, launched on Steam on October 13, 2026. It is the first game from Off by One Games, a small indie studio whose founders previously worked on Rocket League (Simulation Daily). Its Steam page shows a Very Positive rating, with 96 percent of 236 reviews positive when we checked on October 16 (Steam).
For a co-op game with a one-line pitch, that is a strong first week. This post covers what Trash Day actually is, what we know and do not know about its price and player cap, and where it sits in the friendslop wave we have tracked all year. If you want the wider genre context first, start with our top 10 friendslop games of 2026.
Trash Day at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A physics-based co-op adventure about raccoons pushing a trash-loaded wagon home |
| Who made it? | Off by One Games, a debut indie studio co-founded by Corey Davis, with Rocket League alumni on the team |
| When did it launch? | October 13, 2026, on Steam (Windows) |
| How many players? | Up to 6 online, per the Steam page; solo play also works |
| What does it cost? | Reported at $7.99 with a 10 percent launch discount through October 27 (US price unverified by us) |
| How are the reviews? | Very Positive, 96 percent of 236 reviews, as of October 16 |
| Is there a demo? | Yes, a free demo is on Steam |
What is Trash Day, exactly?
The premise is simple. A group of raccoons has to get home, and the only way to carry the loot is a wagon that handles badly. Players push, pull and steer it together over rough terrain, using improvised tools such as bungee cords and planks to get past obstacles (Simulation Daily).
Along the way you can knock over trash cans, search dumpsters for items and eat discarded food. Other animals and humans try to grab your haul, so the team has to distract threats and clear paths while someone else keeps the wagon from tipping (COG Connected). The Steam page sums up the gameplay in four words: "Good plan. Terrible execution."
That line matters because it names the whole genre bargain. Nobody expects the plan to work. The fun is watching a sensible-sounding idea fall apart in physics, and then telling the story afterward.
Why does a Rocket League pedigree matter here?
Studio co-founder Corey Davis summed up the pitch at the March 2026 reveal: "We knew it would be impossible to follow up Rocket League, so we made a game about raccoons collecting garbage" (COG Connected).
The joke hides a real point. Rocket League is a game built on physics-driven moments that players love to clip and share. Trash Day uses the same instinct in a cooperative frame. Instead of a ball that goes where you did not mean it to, you get a wagon that goes where nobody meant it to.
Our read, not a studio claim: team experience with physics tuning is probably why the early reviews describe the chaos as funny rather than broken. Physics co-op lives or dies on that line. A wagon that is unpredictable but readable creates laughter. A wagon that is simply buggy creates refunds. We have not played enough hours to rate the tuning ourselves, so treat this as a reason to try the demo, not a verdict.
How many players can join, and why do the reports differ?
The Steam page says online co-op for up to 6 players, and also lists single-player. Launch coverage repeats the six-player cap. But the March reveal coverage said up to four players online.
We read that as the cap growing between reveal and launch, which is common during development. We have not seen a developer statement confirming the change, so that part is our inference. If you plan a night around a specific head count, check the Steam page on the day.
Six is a useful number for groups. It is big enough for a full friend call, and small enough that everyone still has a job on the wagon. Compare that with many co-op games capped at four, where a fifth friend has to sit out. Our guide to cooperative games for team building explains why room size shapes whether a game works for a group at all.
What does it cost, and what is the catch?
A launch report puts Trash Day at $7.99 on Steam, discounted 10 percent to $7.19 through October 27, 2026. The Steam page we fetched showed the same discount structure in Indian rupees, with the offer ending October 27, and also listed a Supporter Edition bundle, a Complete Edition bundle, a Stinky Rich Supporter Pack DLC and an official soundtrack. We did not verify the US dollar price directly on Steam, so check your region.
The low price is a feature of this genre. Our How to Fish coverage showed how a cheap co-op game can reach a million players in days when the price removes the decision. At around eight dollars, a friend will say yes to a Discord ping without a debate.
There are catches:
- Windows only. The Steam page lists only Windows 10 and 11 64-bit.
- Length. Launch reviews we saw describe the campaign as short. We have not verified the exact hours, and one outlet's description is not a consensus.
- Optional extras. Supporter and soundtrack bundles exist. None are required to play, but they raise the entry price if you click the wrong button.
Is Trash Day part of the friendslop wave?
Yes, and it is a clean example. Friendslop is a loose label for cheap, rough-edged co-op games where shared chaos matters more than polish. In 2026 the label has covered hits such as Meccha Chameleon and How to Fish. Trash Day shares the same traits: a low price, a premise you can explain in one sentence, and physics that create stories.
The business logic is worth spelling out, because it explains why these launches keep happening:
- Streamer-friendly. A wagon falling off a cliff is a clip. Clips are free marketing.
- Friend-driven sales. One person buys it and pings five others. Co-op games sell in groups, not singly.
- Cheap to try. A low price and a free demo remove risk.
- Small teams can ship it. The art does not need to be expensive. A raccoon and a wagon are enough.
This is also why the genre is fragile. When many studios copy the pattern, players tire of it, and the games that break through need a strong hook. Trash Day has one: it is a clear, funny image. But a single Very Positive week does not predict a long tail. Our earlier piece on games like PEAK shows how quickly attention moves between co-op hits, and the Steam record post shows the audience is still growing overall.
How does it compare with other recent co-op launches?
Trash Day is not alone in the physics co-op slot. Here is how our recent coverage lines up, using only facts from those posts.
| Game | Hook | Where we covered it |
|---|---|---|
| How to Fish | Chaotic physics fishing co-op | How to Fish |
| Call It a Day | Renovation crew co-op | Call It a Day |
| Trash Day | Raccoons hauling a trash wagon | This post |
The shared pattern is a physical task that goes wrong with friends watching. Where Trash Day differs is the team job: the wagon needs steering and pushing at the same time, so people must talk. That makes it a better test of communication than games where each player works alone on a side of a task.
Who should buy Trash Day, and who should skip it?
Buy it if:
- You have a regular group of three to six friends on voice chat.
- You like laughing at failure more than winning.
- You want a short, cheap evening rather than a 100-hour commitment.
Skip it, or try the demo first, if:
- You mainly play alone. Solo mode exists, but the pitch is group chaos.
- You want long-term progression. Launch reviews we saw call the campaign short.
- You play on Mac or console. Only Windows is listed.
Can a work team play it?
Possibly, with limits. Physics co-op can be a good icebreaker because failure is shared and nobody is the star. But the game needs a PC install and a Steam purchase for each person, which is a real barrier for a company call. Our no-download team building games guide covers the setup checks to make before any group session, and the team building games for small groups guide helps match a game to a head count.
If the install is the problem, bunpav's own free browser games skip it. Open the play page and try Bonk Club, Hexfall or Road Riot with your group. They are different games, not Trash Day substitutes, but they give the same shared-chaos feeling in one click. For the browser side of the genre, see friendslop browser games.
What should you do now?
- Play the free demo. It is the cheapest way to see whether the physics fits your group.
- Check your regional price. The reported $7.99 and the October 27 discount end date may not match your store.
- Confirm the player count. Look at the Steam page for the 6-player cap before inviting people.
- Wait two weeks if you are unsure. Early reviews are strong, but the real test is whether players still recommend it after the launch rush.
- Do not buy bundles by accident. The base game is the product; the supporter packs are extras.
What we do not know yet
- Concurrent player numbers. We did not find a verified peak figure, and we will not guess one.
- Sales figures. The studio has not published a sales milestone that we could find.
- Content length. Reports say short, but no hard hour count has been confirmed.
- Post-launch plans. We found no official roadmap.
If any of these change, we will update this page.
Related reading
- Top 10 friendslop games of 2026
- How to Fish: the physics co-op hit on Steam
- Call It a Day: renovation crew co-op
- Games like PEAK: co-op climbing picks
- Cooperative games for team building
- Friendslop browser games
- No-download team building games
- Steam hits 43.5 million concurrent users
- Trash Day on Steam
- Simulation Daily: Trash Day release announcement
Facts in this post are accurate as of October 16, 2026. Prices, review scores and player caps can change; check the Steam page before you buy.