Howdy Jacob

About

Howdy Jacob is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by SeedBolt Studios and was released on December 17, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

In "Howdy Jacob," become Chandler, the showrunner of a provocative propaganda TV show, where you must train a new puppet actor following the death of the previous one. Navigate through egos, confusion, and fatigue of your puppet co-stars, while ensuring the show stays true to its dystopian narrative, supporting the state's agenda. This unique 'find the hidden pictures' game offers full-motion video of puppets, immersing you in a strange and intriguing world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

story6 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features charming artwork and a unique dystopian theme that combines humor and creativity, making it an enjoyable experience.
The puppetry and cut-scenes are well-executed, adding depth to the storytelling and enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
Despite its short length, the game offers a fun and quirky experience, with engaging world-building and witty writing that keeps players entertained.

The gameplay is overly simplistic, with easy puzzles that can be completed quickly, leading to a feeling of lack of challenge.
The game is quite short, typically taking less than an hour to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
There are design flaws, such as the object list covering parts of the play area and vague object descriptions, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
57%
14%
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a dystopian theme that explores dark and complex ideas, such as government control and aging, presented through colorful puppets and charming art. While some players appreciate the unique storytelling approach and the underlying sinister tone, others criticize the execution, noting that the narrative feels disjointed and poorly integrated with the gameplay. Overall, the potential for a compelling story is evident, but it often falls short of delivering a coherent and engaging experience.
- “I recommend this game because of the story and that the game itself is just well put together.”
- “And that story, while shared with colorful puppets and awesome backdrops, discusses government and relevancy as we age.”
- “Looks cute at first glance, the story beneath is a little more sinister regarding the Laughsail television show you are casting a new Jacob for.”
- “On top of that game they pasted a weird story delivered through a wall of text at the beginning, that doesn't make any sense, isn't interesting to read, and doesn't mix well with the hidden object game at all either.”
- “But the story is really bad and awkward.”
- “Hidden object puzzles are even less integrated with the story than usual for a hidden object game, which is saying a lot.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, blending dystopian themes with witty dialogue and quirky character interactions. Players appreciate the engaging writing and the layered jokes that provide both laughs and a deeper commentary on the game's dark setting. While some found the humor occasionally lacking, the overall consensus is that it significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it enjoyable and memorable.
- “I was not expecting it to be as lol funny as it was, so that was a welcomed surprise.”
- “Quite fun puppet voices/dialogue, and the amount of reading-between-the-lines like, world building jokes (both from the puppets and from the object descriptions) were funny, charming and quirky in the best kind of way!”
- “Majors kudos must be given to the writing as well; you'll want to take your time and read every description, they're packed with lore and humor.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay primarily consists of simple hidden object puzzles set in visually appealing, colorful scenes, with a total playtime of around 30 minutes. While the level design is praised for its artistic quality, the mechanics are straightforward and may not provide a compelling experience for all players, as the puppets featured in the game do not interact with the gameplay. Overall, the game offers a decent gameplay loop, but its appeal largely hinges on the engaging world it presents rather than the depth of its mechanics.
- “The level design is pretty, their artist is talented, and I enjoyed the actual gameplay that was there.”
- “The gameplay explanation is pretty simple: it's an hour-long hidden object game with some very colorful, vaguely surreal scenes.”
- “As for the gameplay, I'm not really one for hidden object games, but I found the puzzles challenging enough to be interesting.”
- “The gameplay explanation is pretty simple: it's an hour long hidden object game with some very colorful, vaguely surreal scenes.”
- “The entire gameplay revolves around finding objects in a dozen or so colorful scenes, with live action segments featuring puppets to introduce and end each scene.”
- “- primary gameplay is extremely simple hidden object hunting.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The music in the game is widely praised for being pleasant, relaxing, and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience with its beautiful melodies. Players often find themselves lingering in levels just to enjoy the soundtrack, with particular highlights noted for specific tracks. The combination of music and art creates an engaging and immersive world, although some users wish for more control over volume settings.
- “Music is very nice and relaxing, and the art is also good with a consistent style.”
- “Sometimes I would stay in a level for an extra minute or so just to listen to the soundtrack more.”
- “Between the beautifully illustrated backgrounds and the music, you'll be drawn into a bizarre and fun world.”
- “Separate toggles for sound and music, no volume sliders.”
- “The final location's song was amazing and I really need the mp3 for that so I can listen to it on repeat.”
- “Art and music were great, puppets damned annoying.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The graphics of the game are praised for their superb and surreal art style, which adds an interesting layer to the overall experience. While some users find the trippy visuals slightly overwhelming, the combination of exquisite artwork and engaging video sequences contributes to a visually appealing atmosphere.
- “The artwork is superb.”
- “The artwork is exquisite and eye-catching.”
- “But all in all it is a very simple hidden object game yet with a beautiful surreal art style.”
- “- The trippy art style is a bit headache-inducing.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report issues with the stability of the caption toggle, noting that it fails to function properly during cutscenes and requires reactivation at the start of levels. This indicates a lack of reliability in the game's settings.
- “There's a buggy toggle for captions; turning it on only showed them in the menu, not during cutscenes. I had to turn them on again during level 1.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced multiple glitches that caused the game to freeze, forcing me to restart my console.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique blend of cute and eerie elements, enhanced by detailed illustrations and a harmonious combination of art and music. The distinct personalities of the characters contribute to an intriguing ambiance that captivates players.
- “The characters have unique personalities, and the art and music work well together to create a captivating atmosphere.”
- “Each of the illustrations has its own atmosphere, and they're all brimming with detail. I liked that it's cute but eerie; the puppets have an adorable intrigue that's hard to pin down.”
- “The characters have some unique personalities, and the art and music work well together to create a more immersive atmosphere.”
- “Each of the illustrations has its own atmosphere, and they're each brimming with detail. I liked that it's cute but eerie; the puppets all have an adorable intrigue that's hard to pin down.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting improvements in performance, while others express concerns about specific gameplay elements that may not have been adequately addressed. Overall, the optimization appears to be a work in progress, with ongoing adjustments needed to enhance the player experience.