Papo & Yo

About

"Papo & Yo" is a 3D puzzle platformer following Quico, a boy who escapes his abusive home into a dreamlike favela. He leads his companion, Monster, through the world while avoiding Monster's fits triggered by poison frogs. Aided by his sister and a robotic doll, Quico must protect himself and his friends in this semi-autobiographical tale.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,583 reviews

story468 positive mentions

replayability11 negative mentions

Papo & Yo features a beautiful and imaginative world that captivates players with its vibrant visuals and unique art style.
The game tells a poignant and emotional story about a child's experience with an abusive alcoholic father, using clever metaphors and symbolism.
The soundtrack complements the atmosphere perfectly, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative.

The puzzles are often too simple and repetitive, lacking the challenge that many players might expect from a puzzle-platformer.
The game is relatively short, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more.
There are occasional technical issues, such as camera glitches and minor bugs, that can detract from the overall experience.

story
1,259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
2%
The story of *Papo & Yo* is a deeply personal and emotional narrative that explores themes of childhood trauma, particularly the relationship between a boy named Quico and his abusive, alcoholic father, represented by a monster. While the gameplay is relatively simple and the puzzles are not overly challenging, the game excels in its storytelling, using metaphor and symbolism to convey its poignant message, which resonates differently with players based on their own experiences. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, haunting soundtrack, and the impactful way it presents a serious subject matter through an imaginative lens.
- “Papo & Yo is an emotionally charged puzzle-adventure game that beautifully blends a magical, surreal world with a deeply personal story.”
- “The story is touching, the music is good, and the visuals are stunning.”
- “Papo & Yo tells a very sad (and very real) story through a compelling narrative and clever gameplay.”
- “The story is solid but it personally didn't mean much to me.”
- “There are various story points that also expect you to feel some emotion about what is happening to these characters, but they genuinely just made me feel nothing.”
- “The story is completely lacking and isn't worth a second thought.”
gameplay
572 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
8%
The gameplay in *Papo & Yo* is primarily a puzzle-platformer that emphasizes imaginative mechanics to manipulate the environment, often intertwining gameplay with a deeply emotional narrative. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and artistic visuals, many find the gameplay to be repetitive and lacking in challenge, with simple puzzles that do not significantly engage or challenge the player. Overall, the game is more focused on storytelling and emotional impact than on delivering complex gameplay, making it a mixed experience for those seeking traditional gaming challenges.
- “The gameplay focuses on using imaginative mechanics to manipulate the environment.”
- “What makes Papo & Yo stand out is how it intertwines gameplay with narrative.”
- “The gameplay mechanics are simple and non-frustrating.”
- “Very short, boring puzzles where 80% of the solution is given to you in a (albeit, adorably conceived) hint box, tedious platforming sequences and frustrating chasing system from the monster... there is not much here that redeems the gameplay.”
- “Unfortunately, what lets the game down somewhat is the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple, the mechanics are easy and it is no challenge to beat the game.”
music
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The music in "Papo & Yo" has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere. Many reviewers praised the soundtrack as beautifully composed, with a unique blend of traditional and orchestral sounds that perfectly complements the narrative and visuals. While some noted that the music may not be memorable outside of the game, it significantly contributes to the overall immersive experience, making it a standout feature of the title.
- “The music complements the atmosphere, adding emotional depth to the story’s highs and lows.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful as well.”
- “The music is stunning, the art is genuinely impressive.”
- “The soundtrack is not good and gets quite annoying at one point when you're in an oversized field running around repeating the same exact thing 3 times in a row.”
- “And the soundtrack is almost equally nonexistent, most of the time there is no background music playing at all and the rest of the time it's only sometimes interesting.”
- “The story is really touching if you can get through the crappy puzzles and the music is some of the best, especially for the style of the game as a whole.”
graphics
359 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The graphics of "Papo & Yo" are generally praised for their vibrant and imaginative art style, effectively capturing the essence of Brazilian favelas and enhancing the game's emotional narrative. While some reviews note technical limitations and occasional roughness, the overall aesthetic and environmental design are considered beautiful and engaging, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling. Despite some graphical glitches and a lack of polish in certain areas, the visuals are often described as stunning and memorable, making the game a worthwhile experience for players.
- “The graphics are visually impressive, great texturing, modeling, lighting, the favelas of Brazil are a great sight and I wish I could have seen more.”
- “The visuals are stunning when using the highest graphical settings.”
- “Beautiful graphics and a touching storyline make this game a real treat to play.”
- “I didn't like the story, the graphics, or the soundtrack.”
- “The visuals are not good if you look at them closely.”
- “The graphics aren't exactly mind-blowing, but if you're looking for graphics you're in the wrong place - Papo & Yo is about story and, more importantly, emotion.”
emotional
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Papo & Yo" is widely praised for its deeply personal and touching narrative, which explores themes of childhood trauma, particularly the impact of an abusive, alcoholic parent. Players describe the game as an emotional rollercoaster, with many expressing that it moved them to tears through its poignant storytelling, evocative music, and imaginative visuals. While some found the gameplay mechanics lacking, the emotional weight and heartfelt message of the story resonate strongly, making it a memorable experience for those who engage with its themes.
- “Papo & Yo is one of those games that sneaks up on you like an emotional ninja, wrapped in the most disarming, childhood-like packaging you can imagine.”
- “The music complements the atmosphere, adding emotional depth to the story’s highs and lows.”
- “Papo & Yo is a heartfelt and deep experience that you shouldn't go without.”
atmosphere
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
35%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth, stunning visuals, and enchanting soundtrack, which together create a surreal and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight how the atmosphere enhances the storytelling, making it a memorable journey despite some criticisms of simplistic puzzles. Overall, the game is recognized for its artistic vision and ability to evoke strong feelings, drawing comparisons to other atmospheric titles like *Journey* and *ICO*.
- “The music complements the atmosphere, adding emotional depth to the story’s highs and lows.”
- “Breathtaking atmosphere and amazing soundtrack!”
- “The atmosphere is brilliantly crafted, surreal, and organic.”
- “It is obvious the atmosphere was most important to the devs and not the gameplay.”
- “The game does have an enchanting, magical atmosphere – I especially liked the 'cable car'-like scenes and music which appear towards the end of the game – but the gameplay itself is weak and routine.”
- “However, despite all its faults, the game had me mildly entertained throughout; the atmosphere it tried to create was enough for me to finish the game.”
replayability
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
62%
32%
Overall, the game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting its linearity and short playtime (around 2-4 hours) as significant drawbacks. While some mention minor incentives like achievements for collecting items, the consensus is that there is little to no substantial replay value, making it more of a one-time experience rather than a game to revisit.
- “Fun little puzzle platformer, good replay value (2nd run achievements), not too long, not too short.”
- “The only detraction is that there is no real replayability, but what there is definitely worth the time and money investment.”
- “This 'game' has no replay value whatsoever.”
- “I would only buy this on a sale, not because it's not a great game, but it ain't worth 15 euro for 3 hours of gameplay and zero replayability just because of the story.”
- “The game is short, only about 2-3 hours, and has limited replayability (two times), but nonetheless is a must play for just about anybody who enjoys indie games.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, particularly in the puzzle-solving and platforming sequences. Many reviews highlight that the puzzles often lack challenge and involve unnecessary backtracking, leading to a dull gameplay experience. While some elements are creatively designed, the overall execution leaves players feeling frustrated and disengaged.
- “Tediously repetitive, the fun is already long gone before you can enjoy what 'story' there is here.”
- “It may get tedious trying to resolve a puzzle when you go from point A to point B to pick something, return to A only to discover that whatever you picked was useless, go to C, return to A, and then go to B to continue to the next puzzle.”
- “However, Papo & Yo is also one of the most tedious games I've played, and although it's a mere three hours long, I still found myself bored with the gameplay.”
stability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
9%
82%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and no major game-breaking bugs, there are frequent mentions of minor glitches and occasional frustrating issues that require restarting levels or replaying sections. Some users experienced significant problems on specific platforms, like the Mac build, which crashes early in the game. Overall, while the game runs well for most, the presence of various bugs and awkward puzzle layouts detracts from the experience.
- “The game runs great on PC; there is no lag and it is always smooth with max settings.”
- “Papo & Yo gets on my good side for being a short, easy to finish game with a good art style, world design, and an overall solid game. It fits my ultra-wide monitor resolution and I had no glitches besides a few graphical glitches early in the game.”
- “Can be a bit buggy sometimes, required me to restart a level because something wasn't triggered right (and I could not know), some save points are awkwardly placed.”
- “Mac build is buggy and crashes early into the game.”
- “There are a couple of annoying glitches though - I got stuck twice between a bridge and a wall and couldn't move and so had to play the whole level 3 times as a result.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as delightful and unexpected, with players often laughing out loud at various elements, such as quirky level designs and amusing character interactions. The game combines funny visuals, like moving houses and anthropomorphized fruits, with a mix of lighthearted and avant-garde storytelling, creating a charming experience that resonates emotionally. Overall, it is characterized as a funny indie title that successfully blends humor with engaging gameplay and narrative.
- “It was a nice game, I loved the physics and it's fun to jump around. The level design is alright, quite funny sometimes; I laughed out loud because I didn't expect something to happen.”
- “Houses that move make funny sounds as they scuttle around, and fruits are portrayed with little smiling or frowning faces.”
- “Papo & Yo is a funny and very innovative game.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with solid graphics performance and good frame rates even on older hardware. However, some users report occasional performance hitches, lighting issues, and aliasing and stuttering problems, suggesting that further optimization could enhance the experience. Lowering settings can mitigate some of these issues, but they remain a concern for certain players.
- “From a performance point of view, things run mostly okay on *nix. It does hitch pretty badly at times, and the lighting effects can look a bit iffy, but overall nothing game-breaking.”
- “In fact, the only thing wrong with it might be some PC optimization, but lowering the settings a bit fixes that.”
- “Unlike most indie games that run on Unreal Engine 3, this game is actually extremely well optimized, and my GT 440 (which is somewhat old and outdated by now) usually got around 40 fps on max settings.”
- “Could have used some optimization.”
- “From a performance point of view, things run mostly okay on *nix, but it does hitch pretty badly at times and the lighting effects can look a bit iffy at times. Overall, nothing game-breaking.”
- “Too bad aliasing and stuttering issues remain.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for being lacking, with characters described as having minimal personality and purpose. Despite this, the artistic world and vibrant design are praised, suggesting that the game's visual and auditory elements may compensate for its shortcomings in character depth.
- “Artistic world and character design, vivid colors, poetic soundtrack, this is a game everyone should play!”
- “Nothing is given a purpose here; there is no character development to talk about, and they have less personality than a cardboard box.”
- “But the character design is confusing.”
- “”