Jump King

There’s a lot to be said for keeping it simple, and this game is a testament to that. Jump King only tries to do one thing, but it does it so incredibly well without compromising the challenge.

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"Jump King" is a challenging platformer where players must leap their way to the top of various stages. With only one button to jump, timing and precision are key as a single misstep can send you back to the beginning. The goal is to reach the coveted "Kiss Queen" at the top, but with spikes, gaps, and other obstacles in the way, it's easier said than done.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,490 reviews

gameplay36 positive mentions

grinding12 negative mentions

gameplay
131 mentions
27 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Jump King" is characterized by its simple yet challenging jumping mechanics that require precise timing and mastery, making it both addictive and frustrating. While some players appreciate the depth and satisfaction that comes from mastering these mechanics, others criticize the repetitive nature and punishing difficulty that can lead to significant setbacks. Overall, the game offers a unique experience for those who enjoy high-risk platforming, but its simplicity may not appeal to everyone.
- “With mechanics that are extremely simple, yet requiring surprising precision, 'Jump King' is executed perfectly for anyone looking for a challenging game that is easy to pick up but difficult to master.”
- “The gameplay is both challenging and addictive while still managing to be enjoyable.”
- “The player is constantly met with difficult jumps and newly introduced mechanics that keep gameplay fresh while encouraging experimentation to find the most reliable way to make it through difficult sections.”
- “This game has the worst jumping mechanic I've ever had the displeasure of enduring.”
- “The gameplay is so infuriating that I hit my desk approximately infinity times.”
- “Unfortunately, the gameplay of 'Jump King' leaves much to be desired.”
music
99 mentions
62 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ambient and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a mix of calming and uplifting tracks that complement the gameplay. While some players note the absence of a more energetic soundtrack, many appreciate the unique and immersive sound design that fits well with the game's aesthetic and level design. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant asset, contributing to the game's charm and emotional depth.
- “The music is great; each new screen you jump to is an award in itself, and absolutely nothing in your life will rival the feeling of reaching the top.”
- “The soundtrack is also fantastic and adds to the overall immersive experience.”
- “The art, music, platforms, and mechanics are actually very good.”
- “No new spoken dialogue or music.”
- “So I'll lead you into the criticism, I gotta say that the lack of music kinda is a turn off.”
- “There is no music during the game (only in menu) and the basic mechanic of the game is really simple.”
graphics
69 mentions
57 % positive mentions
39 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming retro style, vibrant colors, and detailed backgrounds that create an immersive atmosphere. While some reviews note that the visuals may not enhance storytelling significantly, many players appreciate the pixel art and overall aesthetic, which contribute to the game's appeal and nostalgic feel. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can be simplistic or mediocre, indicating a mixed reception in this aspect.
- “The graphics are top-notch, with vibrant colors and detailed backgrounds that transport you to a magical world.”
- “The art direction and aesthetic of this game is gorgeous.”
- “The retro graphics and vibrant colors give me the feeling of nostalgia.”
- “The visuals, although clear, do little to enhance the storytelling, often leaving the player feeling disconnected from the game world.”
- “There's no music really (which is probably for the best, to be honest), the visuals are just mediocre pixel art, and the level design amounts to arbitrarily placed platforms of a hair's width suspended above a long pit that leads back to the very beginning.”
- “Absolutely terrible, very simple, graphics are just bad, lazy writing, no gameplay mechanics.”
humor
39 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-5 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in "Jump King" is a standout feature, characterized by its comically exaggerated falls and the absurdity of the character's repeated failures, which elicits laughter even amidst frustration. Players appreciate the game's ability to turn challenging gameplay into a shared comedic experience, often likening it to a "rage game" that is particularly entertaining to watch others play. The quirky pixel art and cynical NPCs add to the overall humorous atmosphere, making it a memorable and funny adventure.
- “Jump King, developed by Nexile, is a side-splittingly hilarious game that combines precision platforming, soul-crushing frustration, and a whole lot of comically exaggerated falls.”
- “If you've ever wanted to experience the joy of climbing a towering vertical world while watching your character hilariously tumble down over and over again, then prepare for an adventure that will have you laughing through your tears!”
- “With its combination of precision platforming, exaggerated falls, and a quirky sense of humor, Jump King delivers a comedic experience that will keep you entertained and laughing, even when you feel like throwing your controller across the room.”
- “Not funny, didn't laugh.”
- “The jokes fell flat and lacked originality.”
- “I expected humor, but it was more cringeworthy than comedic.”
story
36 mentions
14 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in "Jump King" is often described as minimal and somewhat disconnected from the gameplay, focusing on a simple quest to reach the top of a tower for a "smoking hot babe." While some players appreciate the light-hearted narrative and the character of the environments, many feel that the lack of character development and engaging storytelling elements detracts from the overall experience. Despite its simplicity, the game manages to evoke themes of perseverance and hope, resonating with players who find the journey compelling, even if the plot itself is not deeply developed.
- “A masterpiece of storytelling.”
- “It tells a story like Dark Souls does, where you get bits and pieces of lore in each area, you find NPCs that tell their own tales and share their own experiences within the world you're desperately trying to traverse.”
- “It really captures the journey of a man on his quest to ascend from a lowly jump peasant to Jump King, with all the struggles and tribulations that come with it.”
- “The visuals, although clear, do little to enhance the storytelling, often leaving the player feeling disconnected from the game world.”
- “"Jump King" attempts to weave a narrative about reaching the top to find the "smoking hot babe." However, this storyline is thin and feels more like an afterthought than a genuine driving force for the player.”
- “However, I fear that I will die of old age long before I see the end of the main story.”
atmosphere
20 mentions
55 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its dense, serene quality that enhances the challenging gameplay, making it more bearable and engaging. Players appreciate the combination of minimalist art style, atmospheric soundtrack, and captivating pixel art, which together create a mysterious and zen-like experience. Overall, the atmosphere significantly contributes to the game's appeal, despite its punishing difficulty.
- “The art, music, and atmosphere are amazing and add a lot to the game.”
- “This game truthfully has some of the best pixel art I have ever seen, topped with an amazing soundtrack that gives each atmosphere its own story as you continually fall over and over. I think this game is truly captivating and heavily underappreciated.”
- “First of all, the atmosphere is much denser than what you would expect from a game like this.”
- “Besides those comparisons, the game has an easy-to-pick-up, hard-to-master style with an unforgiving atmosphere; one misplaced jump by just a few milliseconds could set you back a decent amount.”
- “So many things about this game are well designed, such as the pixel art and the atmosphere, but the developers kneecapped themselves with the ridiculously masochistic gameplay.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players overwhelmingly express that the game evokes deep emotional responses, often leading to tears and profound reflections on personal struggles and resilience. Many highlight its ability to convey a range of feelings, from despair to triumph, making it a powerful metaphor for life's challenges. Overall, the emotional impact of the game is a significant aspect of its appeal, resonating with players on multiple levels.
- “This game made me feel things I've never felt playing a game before.”
- “I have to say, in retrospect, I really value what this game did for me on an emotional level.”
- “For me, this game made me feel like I could do anything if I kept pushing, which is why I also think it's a great metaphor for life.”
grinding
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to progress. While some appreciate the satisfaction that comes from overcoming challenges through grinding, many feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to frustration rather than fun. Overall, the grinding is seen as a major hurdle that can make the gameplay experience feel repetitive and less engaging.
- “Everything about this game is good except actually playing it, which is tedious.”
- “Not fun and tedious after 30 minutes.”
- “That isn't making the game hard, that's making it tedious.”
stability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent visual freezes, significant frame rate drops, and overall buggy performance that detracts from the experience. While some players appreciate the challenge and decent sprite work, the technical issues make it largely unplayable for many.
- “The sprite work is decent, and I didn't encounter any glitches. The game presents a hefty challenge, which many players appreciate.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any noticeable issues, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
- “I experienced no crashes or bugs during my playthrough, which really enhances the overall stability of the game.”
- “Every time I restart, it goes for about 5 minutes and freezes only the visuals. Unless you're constantly checking to see if your video is frozen, which why would you, you're only going to be able to hear your attempts.”
- “The game is fun, but frequent FPS drops from 60 down to sub-40, along with screen freezes, make it unplayable for me, which is a surprise and a damn shame.”
- “Buggy garbage. Trash devs, learn to code.”
replayability
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players highlight "Jump King" for its high replayability, driven by the challenge it presents and the abundance of extra content. Many are motivated to replay the game to achieve 100% completion and unlock all achievements, enhancing its long-term appeal.
- “God bless you, Jump King! Not for my strange previous review on your aesthetic, but for your unending replayability and strength in making me suffer.”
- “With plenty of extra content to explore, the game offers great replayability.”
- “For me, it has a lot of replay value, especially because I want to unlock all of the achievements.”
- “God bless you, Jump King. Not for my strange previous review on your aesthetic, but for your unending replayability and strength in making me suffer.”
- “For me, it also has a lot of replay value, but that's only because I want to get all of the achievements.”
- “Loads of replayability.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that character development is minimal, leading to a reliance on repetitive gameplay rather than engaging storytelling to motivate players. While the main character design is appreciated, the overall lack of depth in character progression detracts from the experience.
- “The lack of character development or engaging storytelling elements means that the motivation to progress relies solely on the player's tolerance for repetition and failure.”
- “I like the look of the game along with the main character design, but after 1.3 hours, I've made about 1800 jumps and 200 falls, and I've only reached the third area.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game is heavily criticized for its hidden microtransactions, which users feel lead to significant real-life financial consequences, including addiction and mental health issues. Many view it as a cash grab benefiting both developers and streamers at the expense of players.
- “There are thousands of dollars worth of hidden microtransactions that will manifest in real life for decades after uninstalling, typically in the form of a nicotine addiction or therapy bills to fix the lasting mental distress this game puts you through.”
- “These are great cash grabs for streamers and developers alike.”
optimization
1 mentions
200 % positive mentions
-400 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players praise the game's optimization for its precision and lack of random elements, emphasizing that any failures are solely due to player skill rather than external factors. This level of control enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch; every decision you make has a direct impact on your success, making it incredibly rewarding to master.”
- “I love how the game encourages you to optimize your strategies. Every run feels like a chance to improve and refine your approach.”
- “This is my favorite part of the game, as not even Super Meat Boy is without its RNG, but this game is quite literally devoid of any outside factors influencing your performance (unless you count the wind in Stormwall, which I don't because even that isn't random). If you fall, it is your fault, literally 100% of the time.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking; I often find myself struggling with performance issues that detract from the overall experience.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the optimization feels rushed and incomplete, leading to frustrating gameplay moments that could have been easily avoided.”