Costume Quest

About

Costume Quest is a lighthearted RPG set in a charming Halloween world, where collecting costumes allows you to transform and battle enemies to save the day. The game is filled with Double Fine humor and includes the free Grubbins on Ice DLC, with additional quests, costumes, and battles. The PC system requirements are fairly minimal, making it accessible for a wide range of players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+12

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,470 reviews

story506 positive mentions

grinding76 negative mentions

Charming and whimsical art style that captures the spirit of Halloween.
Fun and light-hearted story with humorous dialogue that appeals to both kids and adults.
Simple turn-based combat system with unique costume abilities that keeps gameplay engaging.

Combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, making battles feel monotonous over time.
The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-8 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some players may find the lack of voice acting and fast-paced dialogue frustrating.

story
1,593 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The story of *Costume Quest* is a whimsical and lighthearted adventure centered around two siblings who embark on a quest to rescue one another from candy-stealing monsters on Halloween night. Players navigate through charming neighborhoods, engaging in trick-or-treating and completing various quests, all while utilizing the unique powers of their costumes. The narrative is filled with humor and nostalgia, making it an enjoyable experience for players of all ages, despite its simplicity and occasional repetitiveness in quests.
- “The plot is hilarious, and I found dozens of jokes that I never picked up on as a child that made me grin and laugh like a loon because this game is really quite perfect.”
- “It's colorful, adorable, has consistently nice designs, the dialogue is both funny and easy to parse, and the story is about a group of trick-or-treaters saving the main character's twin from candy-stealing monsters.”
- “The story is heartfelt and endearing, never taking itself too seriously but always managing to tug at the heartstrings.”
- “The story was boring and it seems like the story is the game.”
- “The story is rather predictable, and the quests are more or less repeated in each location, but it didn't seem to be that much of a turn-off as it should have been.”
- “The story is really basic, and explanations are few and far between.”
gameplay
619 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The gameplay of *Costume Quest* is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, making it suitable for younger players or those new to RPGs. While the turn-based combat and exploration mechanics can become repetitive, the charming art style, lighthearted narrative, and costume-based abilities provide enough variety to keep the experience enjoyable for a short playtime. Overall, the game is praised for its whimsical atmosphere and humor, though it lacks depth and complexity in its mechanics.
- “With its vibrant art style, lighthearted narrative, and clever mechanics, Costume Quest delivers an enjoyable experience for players of all ages.”
- “The gameplay in Costume Quest is simple yet engaging, requiring players to explore different neighborhoods and collect costumes in order to progress.”
- “A charming Halloween adventure, filled with humor, casual yet fun gameplay, and characters for all to enjoy.”
- “The gameplay in Costume Quest is pretty dreadful.”
- “The cute visuals are nowhere near enough to make up for the utterly dreadful and repetitive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is slow, and fighting is annoying and confusing, and after 11 minutes of playing it, I got my first costume, and the game crashed.”
humor
556 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Costume Quest" is widely praised for its whimsical charm and clever writing, characteristic of Double Fine Productions. Players appreciate the light-hearted, kid-friendly jokes, witty dialogue, and amusing character interactions, which create a fun and engaging atmosphere, especially suitable for Halloween. While some find the humor a bit simplistic or repetitive, the overall consensus is that it effectively captures a nostalgic and playful spirit, making it enjoyable for both children and adults.
- “The plot is hilarious, and I found dozens of jokes that I never picked up on as a child that made me grin and laugh like a loon because this game is really quite perfect.”
- “The writing is so funny and charming, and the gameplay is very easy to pick up.”
- “The story is funny and the characters are charming; I love this game.”
graphics
390 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
48%
4%
The graphics of "Costume Quest" are widely praised for their charming, cartoonish art style that effectively captures the Halloween theme, making it visually appealing and suitable for players of all ages. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be groundbreaking or highly detailed, they still hold up well for a game released in 2010, contributing significantly to the game's overall charm and enjoyment. Despite some performance issues and repetitive gameplay, the vibrant visuals and unique character designs enhance the lighthearted narrative and humor, making it a delightful experience.
- “With its vibrant art style, lighthearted narrative, and clever mechanics, Costume Quest delivers an enjoyable experience for players of all ages.”
- “The game's colorful, whimsical world and cast of characters are brought to life with charming graphics and an infectious soundtrack.”
- “One of my favorite Halloween games of all time, beautiful graphics, cute costumes, spunky main characters, and stupidly cute enemies.”
- “The graphics and character designs are ugly, and it lags way too much for what it is.”
- “No, a game like this isn’t meant to be a graphical showcase, but there could have been some nicer details and textures throughout.”
- “The quest route is basically linear, the graphics were adequate (for their age), but certainly won't be winning any awards.”
music
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The music in the game is generally described as whimsical and fitting for its Halloween theme, effectively enhancing the atmosphere and charm of the colorful environments. However, many reviewers noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive, with limited variety across different zones and sparse ambient music in some areas. While some tracks are catchy and enjoyable, others are considered dull or forgettable, leading to mixed feelings about the overall musical experience.
- “The game's colorful, whimsical world and cast of characters are brought to life with charming graphics and an infectious soundtrack.”
- “There were definitely moments where the music was just spot on and really amplified the experience.”
- “The sound is that perfectly child-like gaming music, that just fits so well to this game.”
- “The soundtrack was kind of dull.”
- “Large expanses of the game didn't have music at all.”
- “The music and soundtrack is kinda meh (but I'm rather picky about this stuff so it may just be me).”
grinding
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
2%
88%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience. While some describe the combat as occasionally tedious and repetitive, many appreciate that the game is relatively short, which mitigates the grind. Notably, several reviews highlight that grinding is minimal or non-existent, especially compared to traditional RPGs, allowing for a more enjoyable and streamlined gameplay experience.
- “Can sink hours into it at a time and not realize because everything you do is related to a quest, main or side quest. There's no grinding outside of main and side quests.”
- “A pro is that there is no grinding (except for the achievements), which is a plus.”
- “No grinding required (unless you want to 100% the game, and even then very little grinding is required).”
- “It's grindy to a fault.”
- “As you progress, it just feels more tedious than it is fun.”
- “Fighting a limited variety of enemies in the same environment over and over can become tedious.”
atmosphere
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
36%
3%
The atmosphere of "Costume Quest" is widely praised for its charming, whimsical, and cozy design, effectively capturing the spirit of Halloween and evoking nostalgia. Players appreciate the unique character of each environment, the delightful animation style, and the engaging sound design that enhances the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay repetition, the game's strong atmospheric foundation and humor make it a memorable and enjoyable adventure.
- “Costume Quest establishes a warm, cozy atmosphere and successfully makes the player experience the holiday in a more charming light.”
- “The storyline, atmospheres, and costumes were creative and well-executed, and the overall relaxing, seasonal feel is a perfect escape for an autumn afternoon.”
- “While the graphics and atmosphere are inviting, the game is very repetitive.”
- “I also continued to play this game for its atmosphere, despite the repetition and the boredom that may occur after the too many similar moments of gameplay: the combat system barely evolves throughout the short story and the item hunts sometimes break the rhythm.”
- “It's got a charming and whimsical atmosphere that makes you feel like a kid again, and while the barrage of timed hits can sort of be annoying, the game's forgiving enough that it rarely becomes problematic.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
54%
36%
Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to players seeking achievements or nostalgia after some time has passed. While it offers a charming experience and enjoyable combat, most reviewers note that once completed, there is little incentive to replay, especially given its short playtime of around 7 hours. Recommendations suggest purchasing it on sale, as the lack of substantial replay value makes it less appealing at full price.
- “The humor is a bit cliché, but if you don't take things too seriously, the warmth of Costume Quest gives it definite replay value, especially around the later parts of the year.”
- “Plus it's replayable (after your mind has forgotten the simple plot) and you unlock a mini game afterwards :)”
- “It is a replayable game but mainly for the achievements.”
- “The only bad thing is the replay value is nonexistent unless you want to play all over again; it's cute and very fun, but after you beat it, not much is new.”
- “The maximum level is 10 (main game) and 14 (Grubbins on Ice expansion), and the game is a bit short as I beat the game 100% in just 7 hours (5 in main game, 2 in Grubbins on Ice expansion) with no replay value.”
- “Sadly, it does not have any replay value, and I cannot recommend it at more than $5.”
emotional
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, offering a cute and wholesome experience that evokes nostalgia for childhood and the magic of Halloween. Players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and charming gameplay, which together create a warm and endearing atmosphere that resonates with their fond memories of the holiday. Overall, it successfully combines humor and sentimentality, making it a memorable and heartwarming experience.
- “It's a nostalgic celebration of childhood and the magic of Halloween, creating a memorable and heartwarming gaming experience.”
- “The story is heartfelt and endearing, never taking itself too seriously but always managing to tug at the heartstrings.”
- “Bobbing for apples brought back childhood memories and running around on Halloween night with your friends made me feel warm inside.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
Character development in the game is generally perceived as lacking depth, with some players noting that the dialogue remains unchanged regardless of character choice, making it feel almost pointless. However, the character designs are praised for their uniqueness and appeal, particularly in combat, where costumes are described as both cute and badass. Overall, while the visuals and character aesthetics are well-received, the narrative and character growth aspects leave much to be desired.
- “The story is simple but engaging, there are some truly funny moments and the character design is really good.”
- “All the character designs were really adorable, but the costumes turned honestly badass during combat.”
- “There were bits of animation and character design that just really stood out for me and made the game addicting to play.”
- “If you're wanting a mature in-depth game with vast arrays of landscapes, character development and difficulty, this is not the game for you.”
- “The dialogue is the same and doesn't matter which kid you chose; this almost made the character development feel pointless.”
- “The graphics and character designs are ugly, and it lags way too much for what it is.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
65%
20%
The game exhibits notable charm and humor, but suffers from significant performance issues, including frequent framerate drops and stuttering, which can detract from the overall experience. While some players managed to enjoy the game despite these technical shortcomings, many recommend approaching it with caution, especially for those sensitive to optimization problems. Overall, the game's cute visuals and engaging content are overshadowed by its optimization challenges.
- “I still recommend it but with a heavy pinch of salt, especially if you don't have any patience regarding optimization/performance issues.”
- “Performance got me around 5 hours of playtime; my longest session was about 1 hour and I only lost about 15% battery, so you could probably play the whole game in one long session.”
- “And last, but not least, you can augment your costumes to enhance your performance in battle or cause status effects to your enemies by battle stamps, which you can purchase.”
- “Has the classic Double Fine charm; some of the dialogue is pretty funny and the visual gags are top-notch with great timing. However, it ends up a bit repetitive and performance issues are a-plenty.”
- “I still recommend it, but with a heavy pinch of salt, especially if you don't have any patience regarding optimization and performance issues.”
- “There are some technical issues with framerate drops and stuttering, but they seem to pass.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
50%
The game is noted for its stability, with users reporting it to be relatively bug-free compared to many newer titles. Overall, players found the experience to be smooth and free of significant glitches.
- “Actually, this game was more bug-free than some newer games I have played recently.”
- “Overall, the game was reasonably bug-free.”
- “The game is plagued with bugs and glitches that ruin the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs and glitches that made it nearly unplayable.”
- “The stability issues, including constant crashes and glitches, are incredibly frustrating.”