The Plucky Squire Reviews
Although The Plucky Squire has become better at trusting players to figure things out, it remains a disappointingly simple trek wrapped in a killer presentational wrapper. It’s one of the coolest-looking games of 2024 and has inventive ideas I wish were more substantially fleshed out. Jot’s big adventure is presented as a children’s story, and it’s hard not to feel like a kid playing it in the best and worst ways.
The Plucky Squire, or The Valiant Little Page, is indeed the sweet candy it claimed to be at each of its presentations. It feels good to return to childhood, to have a monster foot without having your retina exploded by effects in all directions.
Review in French | Read full review
One of the gaming highlights of the year (2024), and an absolute delight of a family experience. Sebastian would approve.
...its unique puzzle design, gorgeous art style, and thematic depth make it a standout platforming experience.
Whether you’re a lifelong gamer or just starting your adventure, The Plucky Squire inspires us all to be more than we are. It’s a beautiful, nostalgic, and innovative journey that captures the spirit of gaming’s past while paving the way for the future.
Developer All Possible Futures has done enough to prove they can really create something visually stunning while also weaving together a whimsical fairy tale story. On the other hand, it also feels like they had something to prove, with too many ideas, and instead of honing in on any one or two, decided to shove them all in at once. Even with all my complaints, it never took away from the fun that’s inherent within the simplistic gameplay and story. With all the mini games and mechanics being so slight, any grievances were short lived as I progressed further into the games 8 hour run time. The game really moves at a pretty brisk pace, with a slight drag at the finish line. Outside of that, I would definitely recommend The Plucky Squire, if anything for that visual 2D hand drawn art transition to 3D. It’s a neat trick and one I’ll remember for some time to come. This is a case for games as an artform, even if it’s technically shallow.
The Plucky Squire's misused potential and diminished challenge keep it from scoring a Newberry Medal, but it still remains a charming children's page-turner that's tough to put down.
The Plucky Squire is a breath of fresh air. It takes a storybook setting and tips everything on its head, with lush environments, fun puzzles, and humorous dialogue. Apart from a few technical glitches, this is a game that captures the imagination and is worth checking out.
The Plucky Squire combines a wide variety of genres in an innovative narrative. The story is deliberately based on classic plot threads, but not without changing them again and again in surprising ways. Unfortunately, some passages drag on for too long, in which the same sequence of events is repeated over and over again. Sometimes it seems as if Plucky Squire wants to depict too much in order to fulfill everything “perfectly”, which leads to minor flaws in some of the mechanics. Overall, however, these are so minor that they don't really detract from the enjoyment of the game. Anyone looking for an unusual title that surprises more than once will be well served by The Plucky Squire.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite some peaks and valleys, The Plucky Squire is a book worth getting lost in. I would certainly recommend the game, especially to families and those with little kids who might enjoy playing in the passenger seat. Even for those out there who are kids at heart, there’s plenty to enjoy—just be sure to stick it out until the end.
The Plucky Squire is a family friendly experience for literally all members of the family, a tale that stands out artistically like few games out there.
Review in Greek | Read full review
I wish that The Plucky Squire was a smoother and more challenging experience because it certainly has a clever premise and game world.
The Plucky Squire is a game that is more than cute and recommended for all ages. The use of creativity and nostalgia will certainly win you over. The fact that the game is translated and dubbed into Brazilian Portuguese is already a reason to recommend it. It's worth checking out!
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The Plucky Squire might just be the cutest game of the year. Maybe a little too cute, because everything is done to be as accessible as possible. The puzzles never get too difficult and battles remain simple in execution. You can even skip the mini-games completely if they are too difficult for you. Oddly enough, that doesn't make The Plucky Squire any less. It's not brilliant, but above all just very fun and just long enough to end on a high note.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
The Plucky Squire entertains and teaches. It can charm with its setting and surprise with its exquisite handling of convention.
Review in Polish | Read full review
The Plucky Squire represents a great little success for All Possible Futures, achieving exactly what was hoped for. It is a unique and fresh experience, within everyone's reach, filled with joy and inspiration. Perhaps because of this, some may be disappointed by the actual playful scope of the project, much more to the parts of a simple action adventure with puzzles than a wide-ranging odyssey with complex mechanics. For all those, however, who will embrace its originality by welcoming its merits and flaws, the experience may prove to be among the most special of the generation. Devolver Digital once again confirms itself as the queen among the scouts of the indie world.
Review in Italian | Read full review
There’s a lot to enjoy about The Plucky Squire. It really is a gorgeous game, the art design is stellar, the voiceover work for the narrator is well done, and again it just nails the storybook presentation so well. While the puzzles aren’t particularly hard, they are inventive, making use of the 2D to 3D space extremely well. There’s certainly room for improvement in The Plucky Squire, but at the same time I think it’s a game worth checking out when you get the chance.
The Plucky Squire is, ultimately, an indie game that hearkens a lot of nostalgic feelings from previous generations. The blend of The Legend of Zelda's classic gameplay with the Paper Mario style of storytelling and characters is a pitch-perfect combo. Then, to pay homage to more modern 3D platforming, Jot going outside the book to traverse the desk makes for a great set piece. It's a testament to this game's fun and ingenuity that a few minor bumps along the way barely affect its overall quality and lasting impact. If any gamer is still on the fence about The Plucky Squire, ditch the hesitation and play this game right now.
Overall, The Plucky Squire is a great game because of its bright and colorful animation, relaxing music, and clever gameplay. Even though the game is aimed at children, some teens and young adults looking for a comfort game will enjoy it as well.
The Plucky Squire is an interesting title, with a striking aesthetic, and imaginative developers who try to mix many styles and ideas that mostly work, but that with their excess of clues make adventure never a challenge.
Review in Spanish | Read full review