Papo & Yo

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 596 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Papo & Yo Game Cover
This South-American puzzle-platformer about a boy and a Monster drives home heartfelt themes that are bound to evoke emotion and consequential thought, even if the gameplay isn’t stellar.
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"Papo & Yo" is a narrative-driven puzzle game where you play as Quico, caring for your best friend, Monster, who has a dangerous addiction to poisonous frogs. Together, you'll explore a magical, surrealist world inspired by South American favelas, solving puzzles and managing Monster's emotions to progress. The game delves into complex relationships, showcasing the bond between Quico, Monster, and other characters.

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Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 596 reviews
story164 positive mentions
replayability4 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully crafted world with vibrant visuals and a unique art style that captures the essence of a child's imagination.
  • The music is exceptional, enhancing the emotional depth of the story and creating a captivating atmosphere throughout the gameplay.
  • Papo & Yo tackles serious themes such as addiction and abuse in a sensitive and poignant manner, making it a powerful narrative experience.
  • The puzzles are often too simple and lack challenge, which may disappoint players looking for a more engaging gameplay experience.
  • The game is relatively short, taking only about 3-4 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.
  • There are occasional technical issues, such as glitches and camera problems, that can detract from the overall experience.
  • story438 mentions

    The story of "Papo & Yo" is a deeply personal and emotional narrative that explores themes of childhood trauma, particularly focusing on a boy's relationship with his abusive, alcoholic father, represented metaphorically as a monster. While the gameplay is relatively simple and the puzzles are not overly challenging, the game's strength lies in its poignant storytelling, unique art design, and the way it engages players in a reflective experience about coping with difficult realities. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to convey profound emotions and messages through minimal dialogue, making it a standout example of interactive storytelling in video games.

    • “The story is touching, the music is good.”
    • “A masterpiece that uses the language of games to tell a profound story.”
    • “Papo & Yo tells this story in a metaphorical but profound way, sometimes you just need to turn off the game and think about what just happened.”
    • “The story is really dull and done to death.”
    • “The ending was very story-heavy, and I'd prefer it to be more balanced throughout the game, so it would feel more natural.”
    • “The story isn't that deep either; when the credits started rolling, I was like really, this is it.”
  • gameplay218 mentions

    The gameplay in "Papo & Yo" is characterized by simple puzzle-platforming mechanics that often lack challenge and can feel repetitive, with many players noting that the puzzles are straightforward and the platforming sequences are tedious. However, the game excels in integrating its gameplay with a deeply emotional narrative, using unique mechanics and artistic design to convey themes of childhood and abuse, which some players found engaging and innovative. While the gameplay may not be the main draw, it serves as a vehicle for the story, creating a visually striking and emotionally resonant experience.

    • “Gameplay is incredibly creative and fanciful.”
    • “The gameplay itself is elegant, and the mechanics reinforce the narrative of the game.”
    • “Papo & Yo utilizes gameplay and storytelling to craft a moving tale about struggle, abuse, and acceptance.”
    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, the mechanics are easy and it is no challenge to beat the game.”
    • “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.”
  • music143 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience and storytelling. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautifully composed, immersive, and fitting perfectly with the game's themes and visuals. While some players noted moments of repetitiveness, the majority agree that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional impact.

    • “The music throughout the game is great and adds layers to the emotion that the game is trying to express.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautiful, wonderfully blending traditional and orchestral sounds.”
    • “The imaginative and magical take on the already colorful environments, including some awesome artwork on the buildings and walls, are fantastic, and the soundtrack really adds to the whole experience.”
    • “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.”
    • “There were also moments, like at the temple when you make the monster angry, a short music piece plays over the normal music and it doesn't sound good.”
    • “Just you sitting there on a conveyor belt seeing the plot unfold, literally it was only as long as it was so that the song ended at the exact moment the conveyor belt stopped.”
  • graphics139 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and imaginative art style, effectively capturing the essence of Brazilian favelas and enhancing the overall narrative experience. While some reviews note technical limitations and occasional unpolished elements, the stunning visuals and attention to detail, particularly in the use of graffiti art, contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point, complementing the game's heartfelt story and engaging gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Astounding environmental graphics set in a fantasy favela with street art and fantastic music.”
    • “The graphics, and the concept of this game, are excellent; however, it just didn't grab me.”
    • “Sure it's a bit unpolished, and the graphics wouldn't win awards in 2013 either, but to let either of those things ward you off from this title would be a shame.”
    • “Despite the limited graphical fidelity, the game still manages to pull off visually striking settings, and the gameplay is unpolished because of how much the team wants to impress you with memorable setpieces.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional137 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its deeply touching narrative that explores themes of childhood trauma, particularly the impact of an alcoholic parent. Players describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, often leading to tears and a profound sense of connection to the characters and their struggles. The integration of gameplay mechanics with the emotional storyline, complemented by a beautiful soundtrack, enhances the overall experience, making it a standout example of video games as a powerful medium for emotional storytelling.

    • “This game proves that video games can be a powerful form of emotional expression 💪”
    • “A heartfelt game that moved me to tears.”
    • “Papo & Yo is an emotional experience about a young boy's escape from the reality of his abusive drunk father via the power of imagination.”
  • atmosphere24 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting and immersive qualities, enhanced by a beautiful soundtrack and vibrant visuals. Many reviewers note that the atmosphere is a central focus of the game, often overshadowing gameplay mechanics, and contributes significantly to the overall experience. The combination of relaxed ambiance, engaging story, and artistic design creates a nostalgic and magical environment that resonates with players.

    • “The atmosphere is relaxed.”
    • “Beautiful music, fantastic atmosphere, interesting characters and intriguing puzzles.”
    • “This game is a pure visual work of art, filled with a nostalgic and magical atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “Different people will experience this game differently; if you want a game that is just about the action or puzzles, this might disappoint, but I found it to be an incredibly chilled-out game, you can't die and the music is very well done, fitting the atmosphere without becoming repetitive.”
  • replayability19 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear story progression and short playtime of around three hours. While some mention minor incentives like achievement hunting, the consensus is that the game is best enjoyed as a one-time experience rather than for repeated playthroughs.

    • “The only downside to it is that I don't see a lot of replayability, since the game is so very story-driven.”
    • “Fantastic game despite the slightly dated graphics, but definitely worth a playthrough -- but there is not much in the way of replay value.”
    • “Tl;dr: Don't expect a lot of replay value out of this one, but if you're looking for a stylish platformer/puzzler, it's worth the buy.”
    • “This 'game' has no replay value whatsoever.”
    • “It is completely linear with no player 'choices' in terms of story progression, so replay value is limited.”
    • “At around 3 hours of game time with little to no replayability, Papo & Yo is more of a literary vignette.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by repetitive and tedious puzzles that often lack challenge, leading to a dull gameplay experience. While some puzzles are enjoyable, many players find them overly drawn out and frustrating, detracting from the overall narrative and engagement. The combination of easy puzzles and finicky mechanics contributes to a sense of monotony that diminishes the game's potential.

    • “Tediously repetitive, the fun is already long gone before you can enjoy what 'story' there is here.”
    • “As the game progresses, the puzzles don’t become more difficult—just more tedious.”
    • “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.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by a range of minor technical glitches and frustrating puzzle layouts, which detract from the overall experience but do not result in game-breaking issues. While players report some need to replay sections due to these glitches, the overall impression is one of an unpolished product rather than a fundamentally unstable one.

    • “There is lots of frustration with technical glitches and certain bad puzzle layout to the point where it got me angry (which isn't common for me), when it should have only been the story evoking my emotions.”
    • “It also hosts a selection of glitches that aren't that big of a deal, but do leave an unpolished impression.”
    • “There are a few glitches that might require you to replay a section, but nothing major.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is noted for its delightful and cartoonish elements, such as characters bouncing in amusing ways, while also incorporating a darker undertone related to themes of drunkenness. Reviewers appreciate the blend of humor with emotional depth, highlighting the game's ability to evoke both laughter and tears. Additionally, there's a humorous contrast between the main creator's long absence from game design and the composer's successful career in notable franchises.

    • “Cartoonishly bouncing on his tummy is delightful and funny, but each dawning of his fiery drunkenness makes my stomach sink.”
    • “Beautiful piece of art, made me laugh and cry!”
    • “Beat-em-ups and shooters typically try to make violence fun, funny, and/or repetitively dull.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the game may experience performance issues, particularly on PC, which could benefit from further optimization. However, players have found that adjusting the settings can alleviate some of these concerns.

    • “In fact, the only thing wrong with it might be some PC optimization, but lowering the settings a bit fixes that.”
    • “Possible performance issues?”
    • “Could have used some optimization.”
    • “In fact, the only thing wrong with it might be some PC optimization, but lowering the settings a bit fixes that.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the reviews highlight the game's artistic world and character design, they do not provide specific insights into character development itself. The emphasis is more on the overall aesthetic experience rather than the depth or growth of the characters.

    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character's unique story.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices feel impactful and meaningful.”
    • “Each character has a rich backstory that unfolds beautifully, enhancing the overall narrative experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3hMain story
6hCompletionist
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs

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