Game Review: The Plucky Squire
Game Review: The Plucky Squire
The Plucky Squire is an action-adventure platform game. It follows the magical adventures of Jot, who finds out he’s a character in a children’s storybook when the evil wizard Humgrump literally shoves him out of the book and into a three-dimensional world. Available on multiple platforms including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Switch,
What I Liked:
– The story itself: As an author with a soft spot for good tales (especially the kind with clever heroes and wicked villains), I absolutely loved how the game is told like a children’s book read aloud by a slightly snarky narrator. There’s just the right mix of whimsy and wit, and I was all for it.
– The minigames: Scattered throughout The Plucky Squire are puzzles and minigames. My personal favorites were the rhythm-based ones. One had me jamming as Thrash, the heavy-metal-loving mountain troll (yes, really), in a rhythm battle straight from the pages of Rhythm Heaven. The other had me sneaking around as Pip, a mouse friend, tiptoeing to the beat like a tiny musical ninja.
– The Easter eggs: The game is packed with references that made me grin like I’d discovered a secret. There were nods to Magic: The Gathering, Punch-Out!!, and Rhythm Heaven. There were also cinematic winks to Jurassic Park and Lord of the Rings. The city of Artia is a highlight: its citizens are all inspired by famous artists and iconic paintings. It’s like wandering through a museum that got enchanted and threw a block party.
What I Didn’t Like:
– The 3D world: The three-dimensional world is styled like a kid’s messy bedroom (which we all know I have firsthand experience with), but the lack of camera control made it tricky. You can’t swivel the view, so finding hidden items in the shadows often turned into a pixel hunt. It was also tough to tell what Jot could jump on versus what was purely decorative, since we can’t tilt the camera to get a better angle. I spent more time squinting than I’d like to admit.
– The final battle: Right at the end, we’re thrown into a string of back-to-back minigames with no saves in between. As someone who occasionally has to pause adventures to be a responsible adult and parent (rude), I found myself stuck playing through the whole finale in one go. And while the boss fight had some fun moments, it did drag on longer than I felt necessary. But maybe that was just the “please let me go make supper” part of me talking.
Overall Experience:
The Plucky Squire is whimsical, clever, and full of heart. Between its charm, quirky characters, and ever-changing gameplay, it’s a game that feels tailor-made for people who love stories—not just reading them, but living them. If you’re someone who loves stories and a good dose of playful mischief, this one’s worth jumping into.
Have you played the game before? Let me know in the comments!
Raine