The Plucky Squire is one of the most unique games I’ve ever played.
Since The Plucky Squire was first unveiled in June 2022, I needed to get my hands on it – now it’s finally here. The adorable world brims with colour and character, blending 2D and 3D environments in visually stunning ways. While it has so much going for it, unfortunately, the gameplay doesn’t fully live up to the promise of its charming presentation.
Developed by the Australian studio All Possible Futures and published by Devolver Digital, The Plucky Squire places you in the shoes of Jot, a storybook character thrust into a three-dimensional world when the villain Humgrump decides to rewrite the story.
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The plot unfolds with a sense of wonder, as Jot leaps between 2D storybook pages and a 3D world, solving puzzles and engaging in a variety of quirky adventures. The seamless transition from 2D to 3D is no gimmick; it’s integral to the game, offering a fresh and imaginative take on platforming.
Exploring the Pages
Visually, The Plucky Squire is one of the most unique games I’ve ever played. The vibrant colors and clever mix of 2D and 3D elements create a storybook world that feels alive. From helping theatrical snails restore peace to a kingdom to visiting cities filled with famous faces from the art world – the game overflows with personality. There are even moments of fourth-wall breaking that left me smiling.
Adding to the charm is the whimsical narration, which offers a childlike, Peppa Pig feel to the game. The lighthearted tone matches the aesthetic perfectly, enhancing the sense of stepping into a living storybook.
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Unfortunately, while the game looks incredible, the gameplay doesn’t always hit the same mark. There are short combat sequences where you’ll face off against multiple enemies, but they end too quickly to leave much impact. Then when it comes to boss battles, they are simply minigames that lack depth or challenge. Overall, it does lots of little things fine but offers nothing extraordinary.
Similarly, while some puzzles add a kick of excitement — like manipulating the pages of the book to move objects — others feel slow and tedious. Repetition and backtracking often slow the pace, which can become frustrating.
Late game puzzles and fight sequences are where the game shines brightest. If you can hold on, the payoff is worth it.
Bugs Galore – Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover
I can’t praise the game’s originality enough, but its technical issues dampen the experience. During my playthrough, I encountered about a dozen or so bugs that forced me to shut down and restart the game. Thankfully, the frequent autosaves kept me from losing progress, but these bugs broke the immersion in a game that thrives on its charm.
Quest Daily’s Shaun Fullard has also been playing The Plucky Squire, taking the reigns of the PlayStation 5 version. He says he’s also come across several bugs and visual glitches. I really hope All Possible Futures can squash these issues asap.
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Storybook Magic
Despite these flaws, The Plucky Squire has moments of pure magic. Jumping between the pages for the first time feels exhilarating, as does solving puzzles that require leaping between the 2D and 3D realms. And the game doesn’t shy away from surprises.
In one unexpected sequence, the game shifts into a more horror-like tone as Jot sneaks past massive beetles in the 3D world — a terrifying and thrilling experience. Another moment sees Jot enter a 2D side scrolling shooter experience. And my personal favourite sees Jot taking a step back in time to prehistoric times, running from hungry dinosaurs.
Collectibles
The game includes collectible concept art scattered around the world, which offers glimpses of upcoming enemies, characters and locations. While these are interesting, there are a few that spoil parts of the adventure. I’d appreciate an option to view them later, rather than be forced to view them as collected. Another thing to look out for is Glitchbirds, cute little birds scattered throughout the world in need of rescuing.
If you particularly enjoyed a moment in the game, after completing a level, you’re given the option to replay it. I rarely felt the urge to revisit these moments, only going back to capture screenshots and clips.
Should I buy The Plucky Squire?
The Plucky Squire shines when it leans into its unique storytelling and whimsical world, offering a creative adventure that will appeal to both newcomers and veteran gamers. However, pacing issues, repetitive puzzles, and technical bugs hold it back from reaching its full potential.
While it may not be perfect, The Plucky Squire still offers a delightful experience filled with creativity, lovable characters, and a world that begs to be explored. For an 8-10 hour experience, you’ll more than get your money’s worth.
Do I love it? I think I could learn to. But as of now, I just like it a bit.
The Plucky Squire is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. You can also pick it up on PlayStation Plus Extra.
Quest Daily scores The Plucky Squire:
7.5/10
An early access copy for The Plucky Squire was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
