Once Upon a Jester

About

In "Once Upon a Jester," best friends Sok and Jester set out to steal the Royal Diamond by becoming the best act in the kingdom's Royal Theatrical Spectacle. They'll meet quirky characters, put on improvised shows, and sing their hearts out on this musical adventure. The game encourages creativity with multiple choices for each performance, allowing for unique shows every time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 156 reviews

music38 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Once Upon a Jester is a charming and whimsical game filled with lovable characters, hilarious dialogue, and catchy music that creates a heartwarming experience.
The gameplay features engaging improv theater mechanics, allowing players to make choices that affect the outcome of performances, adding replayability and variety.
The voice acting and overall presentation are delightful, with a unique style that captures the fun and spontaneity of live theater.

The game can feel short, with only three towns and a limited number of performances, which may leave players wanting more content.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the poster creation and certain interactions, can feel basic and repetitive over time.
There are minor technical issues, such as unskippable cutscenes and occasional glitches, which can detract from the overall experience.

music
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
4%
The music in "Once Upon a Jester" has received widespread acclaim for its catchy, whimsical tunes that resonate with players long after gameplay. Reviewers highlight the delightful variety of songs, from karaoke numbers to heartfelt melodies, all contributing to the game's charm and humor. Many players find themselves with the songs stuck in their heads, praising the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience.
- “Once upon a jester is a delightful adventure with lovable characters, great music, and tons of charm.”
- “The music is also really good, and it's fun that you can play some yourself during the improv.”
- “The soundtrack was amazing, as expected, and I was so pleasantly surprised by Karl Jacobs, Foolish, and Corpse's characters.”
- “Let's be honest, it never was about the music.”
- “The music was merely the vehicle that took you... there.”
- “When I started to play this game I was in a very depressing mood... the ferris wheel song hit and I cried a lot, it made me feel less stupid for believing in people and that yes there is good out there.”
humor
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Once Upon a Jester" is widely praised for its whimsical, absurd, and heartfelt nature, often eliciting genuine laughter and warmth from players. Reviewers highlight the game's charming characters, witty dialogue, and catchy songs, which contribute to its lighthearted and uplifting atmosphere. Overall, the humor is described as a delightful blend of silliness and touching moments, making it a must-play for fans of quirky and creative storytelling.
- “The hardest challenge you'll face is having to remember to breathe while laughing at all the silly nonsense this game is throwing at you 24/7.”
- “I absolutely adore the humor of this game.”
- “Once upon a jester is a hilarious, heartfelt experience with improvisational gameplay, excellent voice acting, and replayability.”
story
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
57%
8%
The story of "Once Upon a Jester" is a whimsical and heartwarming adventure filled with quirky characters, humor, and positive messages, making it suitable for all ages. Players can influence the narrative through their choices, although the gameplay can feel linear at times. Overall, the narrative is praised for its charm, creativity, and engaging voice acting, with many finding it both funny and meaningful.
- “The overall story is good and sometimes a bit silly, but funny silly in my opinion. Mostly, the story is pretty wholesome and carries positive messages. I really feel warm after finishing the game!”
- “This is a cute, character-driven story about finding yourself.”
- “The music is all top notch, the humor is laugh-out-loud funny, and there's so much genuine heart in the story.”
- “The unskippable plot was so annoying.”
- “It's nice that there are a few different locations to explore, yet the game was very linear about moving through them; I couldn't choose the place to go because the plot fluency depends on the chronology of visiting places.”
- “There are only three plays to perform, and it is only the options that send the story down different routes.”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartwarming and wholesome narrative, blending humor with touching moments that resonate deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight the uplifting themes of friendship, self-discovery, and positivity, often noting how the game can evoke laughter and even tears, making it a delightful experience for players of all ages. Overall, it is praised for its charming storytelling, memorable characters, and a soundtrack that enhances the emotional journey.
- “A journey that started with greedy plans of theft transformed into a wholesome one of self-discovery and friendship.”
- “When I started to play this game, I was in a very depressing mood... this game knocked me to tears with the ferris wheel song... it made me feel less stupid for believing in people and that yes, there is good out there, it's alright to hope even if there's a lot of negativity.”
- “There are plenty of touching moments mixed in with the humor, which I wasn’t expecting.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
The gameplay in "Once Upon a Jester" is characterized by its quirky mechanics and engaging, humorous narrative, though some players find it a bit repetitive towards the end. Despite this, the game offers a delightful and original experience with charming characters and catchy music, making it a fun adventure that rewards exploration and creativity. Overall, it combines simple yet effective gameplay with a heartwarming and comedic atmosphere, appealing to those who appreciate a lighthearted approach to gaming.
- “Quirky mechanics, odd story, and ridiculous characters make this a super fun game.”
- “It is a delightful game that offers an original premise, engaging gameplay, and a charming silliness that runs through all aspects of the experience.”
- “Once Upon a Jester is a hilarious, heartfelt experience with improvisational gameplay, excellent voice acting, and replayability.”
- “Gameplay can feel a bit repetitive at times, but the story, jokes, and sometimes real-talk definitely make up for it :)!”
- “Once upon a jester is very original in its concept, and although the mechanics get a little tired towards the end, it was an inspirational, and often very amusing adventure based around the theater.”
- “The gameplay is fairly novel if somewhat bare-bones.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
Overall, the optimization of the game is praised, with users reporting no significant bugs or performance issues. The gameplay runs smoothly, allowing players to enjoy the various performances without any noticeable stability concerns. However, some players noted a lack of variety in events over time, which may affect long-term engagement.
- “I haven't seen any bugs, performance, or stability issues.”
- “The performances are not complex and you unlock more as you go along.”
- “It didn’t seem to affect the number of attendees, the choices you received in performance, or the number of bouquets received.”
- “I did actually get quite nervous before a performance, so there definitely felt like there was some jeopardy involved, with the audience marking your efforts, but I suspect that it doesn’t really matter.”
- “The performances are also short.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
22%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, cartoony art style, which is reminiscent of titles like "Night in the Woods." Reviewers appreciate the colorful visuals and unique aesthetics that enhance the overall experience, complementing the engaging narrative and lively audio elements. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's cozy and fun atmosphere.
- “Once Upon a Jester is such a unique, cozy, and fun game to play through. The art style is so cute, the songs are all bops, and the characters are all so funny!”
- “The narrative is cute and intriguing and works well with the colorful collage visuals and enthusiastic audio elements.”
- “I adored its crazy plot, excellent aesthetics, and original approach.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its diverse choices and unique outcomes, with many players enjoying the quick, witty writing and engaging gameplay. While it typically takes 3-5 hours to complete, the experience remains fresh with each playthrough. However, some users noted concerns about its long-term replay value.
- “Plenty of replayability with all the different choices and outcomes for the plays, and the writing is quick and witty; I was definitely laughing the whole way through!”
- “Once Upon a Jester is a hilarious, heartfelt experience with improvisational gameplay, excellent voice acting, and replayability.”
- “My only complaint is its lack of longevity and replay value.”
- “The game will take around 3-5 hours to complete, but since each play is unique, there is plenty of replayability on offer.”
- “And definite replay value.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game demonstrates excellent stability on the Steam Deck, with users reporting smooth performance and minimal issues.
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action sequences.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or bugs, which makes for a smooth gaming experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a decent story and strong character development, enhancing the overall adventure experience, although some players find the gameplay can become repetitive over time.
- “As an adventure, it works well, with a decent story and good character development.”