The Plucky Squire Review

The Plucky Squire is an action-adventure title by All Possible Futures and Devolver Digital; in it, we step into the shoes of Jot, who is the protagonist of a storybook for kids... the very same one we're trying to save.

As someone who has a bird brain, it's very surprising when I can remember anything for longer than a day or two, so to say I've been excited for The Plucky Squire ever since it was announced during the Devolver Digital back in 2022 is nothing short of a compliment! I get absurdly eager for any game that lets me travel between different dimensions, and that was somehow not even the most significant selling point when I first saw the game. For those who haven't ever seen a trailer or the Steam page, The Plucky Squire is an adventure title that will have us jumping from 2D to 3D, solving puzzles, and trying to save the storybook's future. Enough introductions, however. Let's talk about my experience of finally getting to play it after two years of hype and excitement.

The game starts by introducing Jot, the book's protagonist, beloved writer, and hero. He and his two best friends — Violet and Thrash — end up going on an adventure to try to stop Humgrump, the wicked antagonist, from trying to take over the book and change the ending. This isn't just for the people inside the story, either, as other characters mention a child named Sam, the owner of the books.

Throughout the journey, there are a myriad of interesting puzzles to solve and just as many unique features to play with in order to advance the story; All Possible Futures really showed off their creativity with the different mini-games and mechanics spread throughout the chapters. I was particularly smitten by the fantastic approach to the boss fights, as instead of combat, each battle consisted of a new mini-game. This made them feel exciting and unique, and it made it impossible to tell what the next match would be like!

Whenever you're not going toe-to-toe with a boss, you're likely trying to solve puzzles and exploring the world for collectibles. While there's usually something to look for throughout the areas "just because" in games , in The Plucky Squire, I was excited to find them because they give a glimpse into the game's development journey! From early sketches to character designs, it felt like I was able to get a more intimate perspective than I typically do, which is great for someone who loves interviewing others. There are also Glitch Birds that you can find scattered across the pages, and although they don't offer anything like that, it was fun to look around for them!

In addition to the collectibles, you're encouraged to get as many Lightbulbs (the in-game currency) as you can upgrade Jot's abilities. While there are only two (plus an upgrade to damage), you won't really need much more, especially since you'll only ever battle Humgrump's minions with them. At first, it felt like the abilities weren't as useful as just slashing like a maniac, but the more upgrades I got for them, the smoother the experience felt.

Unfortunately, my initial impression of The Plucky Squire wasn't great; the first four chapters felt like a very long, hand-holding tutorial that constantly reminded me what I had to do and how to do it. As someone who spends an egregious amount of time playing videogames, I don't often need a lot of explanation to understand what I have to do next, so I do get this won't be a problem for everyone, especially if it's a child who is playing. But it did take the fun from the experience to be forced to still listen to advice when there's a way to get hints if you get lost, especially since the game is already very A-to-B and simple. There's not that much room for exploration or playing around, and while I don't mind a linear experience, it isn't what I had originally expected. Having Moonbeard (the Merlin-esque wizard who helps us throughout the journey) stop to tell me what I have to do every few minutes made me feel almost claustrophobic, as I just wanted to run and explore the world or collect more stuff.

Thankfully, as far as complaints go, that's pretty much it. The Plucky Squire is the type of game that really picks up the more you play it, and by the time the credits were rolling, I had forgotten all about the repetitive tutorials and the continuous comments from the characters about the simplest of things. What the dialogue and tutorials bring down, the gameplay, uniqueness, and gorgeous art style skyrocket back up! Not only that, but the dialogue does pick up towards the end, where the tutorials are replaced by funny interactions and comments I thoroughly enjoyed (and were the very things I was missing from the beginning).

While I didn't personally notice the music all that often, I did love the narration and sound effects; particularly towards the end, it feels like the former becomes a highlight of the experience! I was very pleased to see that there was a lot of thought behind the controls for anyone who might struggle, as you can just hold the buttons down instead of spamming them, and there are some options you can tweak in the menu; you can learn more about that in an upcoming accessibility article.

Overall, I highly recommend The Plucky Squire! The only thing I'd say is important to keep in mind before jumping in is that the game is family-friendly, so if you don't enjoy wholesome, silly, and easy content, this might not be the title for you. Otherwise, buckle up for a whimsical, charming adventure!

The Plucky Squire is available now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.