Papo & Yo

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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,196 reviews

story328 positive mentions

replayability10 negative mentions

Papo & Yo features a beautifully crafted world with vibrant visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
The game tells a poignant and personal story about a boy's relationship with his abusive father, using imaginative gameplay mechanics to convey deep themes of addiction and trauma.
Despite its short length, the game leaves a lasting impact, evoking strong emotions and encouraging reflection on serious social issues.

The puzzles are relatively easy and may not provide enough challenge for players seeking a more complex gameplay experience.
The game is quite short, typically taking only 3-4 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are occasional technical issues, such as framerate drops and minor glitches, that can detract from the overall experience.

story
876 mentions
37 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
2 % negative 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, artistic visuals, and the way it engages players with its heartfelt themes, making it a unique experience in the realm of interactive storytelling. Despite its short length, the game leaves a lasting impact, inviting players to reflect on their own experiences and emotions.
- “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 so 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 gameplay and environments are too simple and the story beats you over the head.”
- “The story isn't amazing, but it is an important one.”
gameplay
439 mentions
30 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Papo & Yo" is primarily a puzzle-platformer that combines simple mechanics with a strong narrative focus, often prioritizing emotional storytelling over challenging gameplay. While some players appreciate the unique integration of gameplay and themes related to childhood trauma and abuse, many find the puzzles straightforward and the platforming sequences repetitive, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall engagement and depth. Despite its artistic visuals and heartfelt story, the gameplay is often described as lacking complexity and can feel tedious at times.
- “The gameplay mechanics seamlessly integrate with the emotional narrative.”
- “The way it weaves gameplay and emotions is something I've never seen before.”
- “Papo & Yo uses puzzle platforming mechanics in a Brazilian favela setting to tell a story of the relationship between a boy and his alcoholic, abusive dad.”
- “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.”
- “Tries to be sophisticated but does it horribly wrong with extremely, painfully boring gameplay.”
- “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.”
music
287 mentions
56 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
1 % negative 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 highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautifully composed, immersive, and fitting perfectly with the game's themes and visuals. While some noted occasional repetitiveness, the majority found the music to be a significant strength, contributing to the game's unique charm and emotional resonance.
- “The music throughout the game is also great and adds layers to the emotion that the game is trying to express.”
- “The music is beautiful, and in spots almost breathtaking, wonderfully blending traditional and orchestral sounds.”
- “The soundtrack fits the game perfectly, making the whole experience even more immersive.”
- “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.”
- “Is it only me, or is there no background music?”
graphics
279 mentions
58 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often described as beautiful and vibrant, showcasing a unique art style inspired by Brazilian favelas, with stunning environmental details and impressive use of color. While some reviews note that the graphics may not be technically groundbreaking and exhibit occasional issues, the overall aesthetic and imaginative design are praised for enhancing the emotional narrative and gameplay experience. Many players find the visuals captivating, contributing significantly to the game's charm and storytelling.
- “The visuals are top notch and the favela vibe can be felt all throughout.”
- “Astounding environmental graphics set in a fantasy favela with street-art and fantastic music.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “There's also graphical issues such as clipping, where Quico's body would be inside of a wall or through some object on the ground.”
- “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
275 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Papo & Yo" is widely praised for its deeply touching narrative that explores themes of childhood trauma, alcoholism, and domestic abuse through the lens of a young boy's imaginative journey. Players report experiencing a significant emotional impact, often leading to tears, as the game masterfully integrates its gameplay mechanics with a heartfelt story and evocative soundtrack. Overall, it is recognized as a powerful example of video games as a medium for emotional expression, leaving players both drained and satisfied by its poignant conclusion.
- “This game is a major emotional punch in the gut, and may be tough for some people to experience based on the subject matter.”
- “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, told in the characters' actions with the surrounding environment and monster, the allegorical representation of his father.”
- “The whimsical setting and levels juxtapose perfectly with the deeply emotional and dark subject matter.”
atmosphere
48 mentions
54 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
6 % negative 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 takes precedence over gameplay, creating a relaxed and magical experience that captivates players. Overall, the combination of music, art design, and storytelling contributes to a nostalgic and engaging environment that resonates deeply with players.
- “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.”
- “This game is a pure visual work of art, filled with a nostalgic and magical atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, music, story, and gameplay are fantastic.”
- “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.”
replayability
40 mentions
8 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting its linear structure and short playtime of around three hours. While the story is engaging and worth experiencing once, there are minimal incentives to replay, aside from achieving 100% completion. Players are advised to consider purchasing it on sale, as the replay value is deemed insufficient for its full price.
- “The only detraction is that there is no real replayability, but what there is definitely worth the time and money investment.”
- “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 are 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.”
grinding
30 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by repetitive and tedious puzzles that often lack challenge, leading to a dull gameplay experience. Many players find the puzzles overly simplistic or frustratingly drawn out, detracting from the overall enjoyment and narrative impact. While some puzzles offer moments of fun, the majority contribute to a sense of monotony that diminishes engagement.
- “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.”
stability
10 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative 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.”
humor
8 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of delightful and dark elements, with cartoonish antics providing laughs while also evoking deeper emotions. The contrast between the main creator's stagnation in game design and the composer's successful career adds a humorous layer to the game's background. Overall, the game successfully blends fun and poignant moments, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “Cartoonishly bouncing on his tummy is delightful and funny, but each dawning of his fiery drunkenness makes my stomach sink.”
- “[h1] Beautiful piece of art, made me laugh and cry!”
- “The composer did an amazing job, and it is funny to see that while the main creator of this game has not done much in game design for the past 10 years after this game, the composer on the contrary went on to do the music of games such as Assassin's Creed, Tomb Raider, etc., so good on him!”
optimization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game may experience performance issues, particularly on PC, suggesting that optimization could be improved. However, players have found that lowering the graphics settings can alleviate these problems.
- “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.”
- “Possible performance issues?”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight the game's artistic world and character design, emphasizing its vivid colors and poetic soundtrack, which collectively enhance the overall experience. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative depth or growth.