Duck Souls

About

Duck Souls is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by Viridino Studios and was released on September 6, 2018. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Duck Souls" is a fast-paced game where players control a frantic duck on a mission to retrieve magic eggs. With challenging levels and permadeath, players must dash, dive, and flap their way through increasingly difficult obstacles. Collecting power-ups and learning from past runs adds depth to this addictive and replayable game. Note: This summary is based on general gameplay information as no official description was provided during the lookup process.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

gameplay17 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

Duck Souls features tight, responsive controls and a charming pixel art style, making it an enjoyable experience for both newcomers and veteran platformer fans.
The game offers a variety of unique levels and mechanics, gradually increasing in difficulty while maintaining a sense of fun and accomplishment with instant respawns.
With its low price point and engaging gameplay, Duck Souls provides great value, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of precision platformers.

The game is relatively short, with most players completing it in under two hours, which may leave some looking for a more substantial experience.
While the level design is solid, the core mechanics do not evolve significantly over time, leading to a lack of depth for players seeking more complexity.
Some players may find the difficulty spikes frustrating, particularly in later levels, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
Duck Souls delivers a compact and energetic precision platforming experience, characterized by tight controls and a charming pixel art style. The gameplay is engaging, with a steady introduction of new mechanics and obstacles that keep levels fresh, although some players may find the overall depth lacking as core mechanics do not evolve significantly. While the game offers a fun and challenging hour or two of play, it may not appeal to those seeking a more expansive or complex platforming experience.
- “Duck Souls is a compact but energetic precision platformer that blends cute pixel art with demanding, reflex-driven gameplay.”
- “The game does a good job at providing increasingly complex mechanics in an intuitive and engaging way while never getting too hard to play.”
- “It routinely introduces new ideas and mechanics to keep the 100 levels feeling fresh and fun.”
- “While the level variety is solid, the core mechanics do not evolve much over time.”
- “As a result, players who expect major mechanical twists or expansive depth similar to genre leaders may find the experience relatively simple.”
- “Nothing feels very fluid mechanically; it feels like you have to plan ahead for everything, limiting maneuverability.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
25%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchiness and ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the fast-paced gameplay and charming graphics. While most players enjoy the variety and upbeat nature of the soundtrack, some have noted issues with certain sound effects clashing with the music, suggesting a need for better audio balancing. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's light-hearted and engaging atmosphere.
- “The music complements the pace well, keeping energy high without becoming intrusive.”
- “Sweet and short experience with a great sense of humor and a very catchy soundtrack!”
- “The design, music, and sound effects are very immersive and organic; it feels like you're inside the universe of the game.”
- “The few gripes I have revolve around a lack of polish on some mechanics and sound design, as well as some odd choices as far as music.”
- “The jingle that plays when you collect an egg plays over the music, which can sound jarring. I would recommend that the music volume dip to 20% or something while the egg jingle is playing to correct this.”
- “The references are just the tip of its charm though, as the graphics and music give the game a very light-hearted and upbeat feel reminiscent of the 2D Mario games.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their charming and clean pixel art style, which enhances the light-hearted atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the curated visuals and cute character designs, others find the retro graphics with large pixels can hinder visibility. Overall, the art style is considered a strong point, contributing positively to the game's appeal.
- “The graphics are cute and clean, and the movement feels great despite some odd dash directional inputs.”
- “The pixel graphics suit really well, and the music creates a nice atmosphere... and the quotes!!”
- “The references are just the tip of its charm though, as the graphics and music give the game a very light-hearted and upbeat feel reminiscent of the 2D Mario games.”
- “What I liked less about Duck Souls was the retro graphics art style with humongously sized pixels, making it actually hard to see where you are when a new level starts.”
- “What I liked less about Duck Souls was the retro graphics art style with humongously sized pixels, making it actually hard to see where you are when a new level starts.”
- “The visuals are simple but charming; there's signs in each level with little video game references, the whole concept is a bit silly, and it's over in a few hours.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's story revolves around a determined duck on a quest to recover scattered eggs, serving as a simple backdrop to its engaging gameplay and level design. While the narrative is minimal and straightforward, it features charming elements, such as the protagonist being the last duck visited by the souls of deceased ducks, adding a touch of depth to the experience. Overall, the focus remains on tight controls and enjoyable gameplay rather than an intricate storyline.
- “You play as a determined little duck on a mission to recover scattered eggs, a simple premise that serves mainly as a backdrop for a gauntlet of tightly designed stages.”
- “Once I started, I couldn't stop; tight controls and a deep story.”
- “It does not have an in-depth story or the complicated mechanics, but it is still a tough game with a charming art style and lots of fun to be had.”
- “The story is you are the last remaining duck and are visited by the souls of some dead ducks (hence the title). In order to save the duck species from extinction, you have to play through 100 levels and rescue the duck egg at the end of each level.”
- “Tight controls, minimal story getting in the way of gameplay and interesting level design.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of clever references to popular culture, including titles like Kung Fu Panda and Star Wars, as well as amusing proverbs and quotes found throughout the levels. While some players find the humor to be somewhat dated, others appreciate its comedic elements in the context of a well-crafted 2D platformer. Overall, the game offers a lighthearted experience that complements its challenging gameplay.
- “Also, there are hilarious references to things such as Kung Fu Panda, Celeste, and Star Wars, to name a few.”
- “A funny 2D platformer with simple but curated graphics and gameplay.”
- “Each level has a sign near the starting point with a proverb, quote, or saying that is really funny.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's replayability is primarily driven by personal enjoyment of the platforming mechanics, with a harder mode available for added challenge. However, the lack of additional systems or long-term progression limits its replay value, leaving players wishing for more incentives to return beyond the initial experience. Overall, while it offers a fun time, the replayability is somewhat constrained.
- “There is a harder mode for those who want more challenge, but beyond this, the replay value hinges mostly on personal enjoyment of the platforming itself rather than additional systems or long-term progression.”
- “Overall, a solid fun time; not long, but it's a fun and replayable experience!”
- “I wish there was more replayability to it other than a hard mode; otherwise, I would be back in the game pretty much every day.”
- “The game has a death counter and an in-game timer, but unfortunately, it doesn't have any kind of in-game progression or goals tied to these two features, so there isn't really any replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its heartwarming and wholesome qualities, reflecting the developers' passion and intent to create a fun experience. Players find the emotional aspect engaging, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the short yet somewhat challenging platformer.
- “It's really heartwarming to see that kind of stuff, and it really shows that they made this game out of passion and just to have fun.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The pixel graphics effectively enhance the game's atmosphere, complemented by a fitting musical score that enriches the overall experience. Additionally, the inclusion of memorable quotes adds to the immersive ambiance.
- “The pixel graphics fit perfectly, and the music creates a captivating atmosphere... and the quotes add to the experience!”
- “The immersive sound design and stunning visuals transport you to another world, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The combination of haunting melodies and beautifully crafted environments creates an unforgettable atmosphere that draws you in.”