The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest
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Critics Recommend
The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest Media
Critic Reviews for The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest
The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest isn't a bad game, and the handful of hours you'll spend with it will certainly pass the time with a decent level of enjoyment, but there isn't really anything particularly memorable here. The procedural generation means that subsequent playthroughs will feature slightly different layouts, though this undercuts the intricate level design that good search adventure games need. Coupled with the sometimes questionable humour and you have a title that can offer a passing distraction but won't stay with you.
The Prisoning is an interesting and unique game and really goes a long way to justifying the return of Acclaim. It feels familiar enough, yet sprinkling in a host of flavor to make it stand out. I really enjoyed playing through the game. The boss fights are the highlight for sure, and I wish it was a bit more fleshed out, but this is a novel title that breaks the standard on several levels. Definitely worth checking out.
Boss battles are varied and there are some genuinely funny moments; however, the mission structure can feel repetitive, and some of the randomness lacks clear context and doesn’t always land. Despite its creativity and polish, it risks being overlooked in an already crowded genre.
Ultimately, The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a solid, compact experience that showcases strong fundamentals. Movement feels good, boss encounters are engaging, and the writing has a distinct voice. At the same time, its most promising mechanics are not explored deeply enough, and its metroidvania elements remain surface level. The procedural component adds replay value in theory, but does not meaningfully expand the scope. For anyone seeking a brief, well controlled action platformer with personality, it delivers. For those expecting a robust, sprawling metroidvania, it may feel underdeveloped. It is a good game that hints at something greater, even if it never fully reaches that potential.
The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest on Nintendo Switch is a meticulously built yet curiously lifeless micro-metroidvania, where, despite the controls being super-sharp and its pixel art vibrant, the adventure feels boxed in. Repetitive rooms, shallow exploration, and a brief runtime make it resemble a neat demo instead of the real deal. As for its constant meta commentary, it’s very amusing for about 30 minutes, but ultimately drains the world of its potential to immerse.
When Elden Pixels tees up a gameplay surprise, it's pure joy. When you get to that next boss, you're going to feel good about dispatching them. The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest is a game whose highs are in the atmosphere, and is short enough where the flaws aren't felt for long.
I enjoyed playing The Prisoning: Fletcher's Quest and had some laughs but its basic gameplay and small scope certainly make it feel limited. 🤠
