Penko Park

Overall, Penko Park is an incredible experience. I liked the simple yet rewarding gameplay, enjoyed the atmosphere and character design, and felt hypnotized by how much I wanted to keep playing this game.

82%Game Brain Score

graphics, gameplay

grinding, optimization

99% User Score Based on 696 reviews

Critic Score 54%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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About

Penko Park is a single player simulation game with horror, fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Ghostbutter and was released on October 22, 2020. It received neutral reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In Penko Park, explore an abandoned wildlife park and document its mystifying inhabitants by taking photos and interacting with the environment. Utilize your Penko Grappling Hand and Ghost-o-Vision to uncover secrets, hidden paths, and the park's history. Compile wildlife details and snapshots in your park guidebook. Note: No information about the release date, developer, or publisher is available in the provided description.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 696 reviews

graphics44 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Charming and unique art style that blends cute and creepy elements, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
Engaging gameplay that encourages exploration and replayability, with various unlockable tools and paths to discover.
Delightful creature designs and humorous lore that add depth and enjoyment to the photography experience.

The game can feel repetitive as players must revisit the same levels multiple times to capture all creature poses and complete the album.
Some players may find the game short, with a main story completion time of around 2-4 hours, leading to a desire for more content.
Lack of significant interaction between creatures, which could have added more depth to the gameplay and exploration.

graphics
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and charming "creepy-cute" art style that blends simplicity with stylization, reminiscent of hand-drawn illustrations and children's book aesthetics. Players appreciate the expressive creature designs and the overall pleasing visual atmosphere, although some note that the faded color scheme can become drab over time. Overall, the art style enhances the game's engaging and relaxing experience, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
- “The creature designs are both cute and spooky, and the art style itself is just very pleasing to the eye.”
- “It has a strong art style that gives the game a unique atmosphere, and it's fun to see all the 'creepy-cute' monster-things sleeping, sitting, running around, etc.”
- “This hidden gem of a game combines a beautiful art style with simple gameplay mechanics that makes for an addicting and entrancing experience.”
- “Heck, the graphics aren't even up to the snap level (snap was 3D, super animated, blah blah blah... this one is hand-drawn, simple animations, etc) - and I still think I like this one better.”
- “The art style is like pale construction paper cut-outs, similar to a faded National Film Board of Canada vignette from the late 70's/early 80's, which lends it an exaggerated, somewhat grotesque children's book atmosphere.”
- “The aesthetics is also what helps Penko Park face its biggest challenge: the fact that it isn't a Pokémon game.”
gameplay
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay is a relaxing rail shooter experience centered around photography, reminiscent of Pokémon Snap, with simple mechanics that encourage exploration and progression through unlocking new abilities and areas. While the game is generally enjoyable and features charming creature designs, some players note that the repetitive nature of revisiting the same tracks can detract from the overall experience. Overall, it combines a chill atmosphere with engaging puzzle elements and quality-of-life improvements, making it a delightful and accessible game for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is chill with some cool puzzle elements added, and I honestly love how quickly you unlock every new mechanic/map. You never feel like you're out of things to do, even when you're in the endgame and you're just trying to figure out how to get those last few pesky pictures.”
- “An adorable, entrancing game that goes beyond its homage to Pokémon Snap to introduce compelling and refined mechanics, fantastically designed and animated creatures, and a pleasing variety of goals and upgrades.”
- “The gameplay is a relaxing photo safari with light puzzle elements.”
- “The gameplay is basically a rail shooter where instead of shooting a weapon, you're shooting pictures.”
- “You are literally on rails (running on a theme park/zoological attraction train ride) and even though new discoveries will unlock new abilities which enable you to find new branching paths and new creatures, over the course of the game (if you want to 100% it) you will see the same trails/tracks many, many, many times.”
- “So, a largely entertaining game with some pleasing attributes, hampered by the eventually repetitive (to put it mildly...) nature of its level design/gameplay.”
story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
74%
5%
The story in the game is a whimsical yet dark narrative set in an abandoned theme park, where players uncover lore about the park and its creatures through exploration and interactions with their companion, Penki. While the storytelling is subtle and not the main focus, it is well-integrated with the gameplay, offering intriguing details that enhance the experience. Some players found the story engaging and well-written, though others felt it could have been more developed, with a desire for a stronger payoff.
- “A whimsical entry in the sub-genre of animal/creature collection games, where you are sent through various biomes/regions in an abandoned theme park, attempting to take pictures of all the bizarre fauna that dwell within and along the way try to figure out the (sorta dark/unhappy) story of the park and its shuttering.”
- “The subtle story is endearing and well-tied together, and made me want to know more about the penko universe and its inhabitants.”
- “The game is well written and witty, the pacing is just right in terms of unlocking things, and the story is great!”
- “You won't get much of a story - at least not told in the traditional way.”
- “Its story is underdeveloped.”
- “Unlike Wunderdoktor, where the story is the main drive, here in Penko Park, the story takes a step back to allow the wildlife to take center stage (as it should).”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it sparse and lacking a robust soundtrack, while others appreciate the cute and whimsical sound effects that enhance the overall experience. The integration of music into gameplay, particularly through the use of a penko wand to interact with creatures, is noted as both engaging and occasionally confusing due to unclear connections between symbols and required actions. Overall, while the music is not a standout feature, it complements the game's atmosphere and adds to the charm of the creature designs.
- “The creatures' design, as well as sounds and music, are cute, funny, and weird.”
- “Everything from music and sound effects to character(s) and creature design feels like it was made with love and care.”
- “The art style, music, and presentation all come together to create such an extremely enthralling experience.”
- “The sounds are good, although sparsely used and there is no music as far as I know.”
- “Meh: the music is a little meh, and while the art style is generally appealing to me, after a while the faded out color scheme does get a little too drab for the game's own good.”
- “Sometimes you'd see a snowflake/teardrop sign saying what song you needed to play, but then you'd need to be in a certain position or had to hit them with a penko ball first in order for it to do anything.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a unique art style reminiscent of faded children's book illustrations, creating a charming yet unsettling "creepy-cute" vibe. Players appreciate the combination of ambient sounds and atmospheric music that enhance the experience, making it both engaging and immersive. Overall, the game's distinctive aesthetic and mood set it apart, offering a delightful and spooky experience that resonates well with players.
- “The cute and somewhat unsettling atmosphere coupled with lovely art and creepy descriptions of the creatures really stuck with me.”
- “I truly cherish this game ♥ the atmosphere is so chill and the art style is unique and wonderful.”
- “Oftentimes, you will only be dealing with ambient noises (which can be creepy on its own - like hearing a bush rustle as your cart goes past it), but as you enter certain areas, you will also get actual atmospheric tracks that really help set the mood.”
- “The art style is like pale construction paper cut-outs, similar to a faded National Film Board of Canada vignette from the late 70s/early 80s, which lends it an exaggerated, somewhat grotesque children's book atmosphere.”
- “While it doesn't have the big name power of the Pokémon series or the sheer amount of content of the new Pokémon Snap, it has its own charm and atmosphere that set it apart reasonably well.”
- “The atmosphere and little bit of writing there is were all nice.”
humor
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and bizarre creature designs, accompanied by cute sounds and music that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of lighthearted and dark humor, particularly in the enlightening and often surprising descriptions of the creatures, which add a delightful layer to the gameplay. Overall, the humor is described as funny, original, and integral to the game's charm, making it a relaxing and enjoyable experience.
- “The text is enlightening and bizarre; though I will say, I was not expecting the amount of dark humor.”
- “Also, it's pretty funny because I didn't have the slightest idea of what the object was until I read its description in the scrapbook (is this some kind of egg? A skull??? Oh, it's poop).”
- “I can't stop playing this game; it's full of surprises and all the monsters are super funny and original. I really love especially the art style!”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
"Penko Park" offers significant replayability despite having only four levels, as players can explore various interactions with creatures, discover different paths, and uncover numerous secrets. The rewarding points system and the challenge of capturing better photos enhance the game's replay value, making it appealing for completionists and those who enjoy revisiting its charming yet eerie environments. Overall, players express a strong desire to replay the game for fresh experiences and surprises.
- “Only has four levels, but being able to have different interactions with the creatures and finding different paths adds replayability to them.”
- “There's tons of replayability and cute critters to take pictures of, and the points system is actually rewarding, because it makes sense.”
- “There is plenty of replayability, given the different paths through each habitat and the number of secrets to find.”
- “The game has a lot of replay value if you're into completing games.”
- “There is plenty of replayability, given the different paths through each habitat, and the number of secrets to find.”
- “This game is packed full of surprises and replayable levels - trying to get better pictures of one animal and then discovering one you never saw - getting different paths and figuring out the 'puzzle' aspect of getting the best shot is definitely going to keep you moving through this cute and kind of creepy game.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a nostalgic charm reminiscent of the original Pokémon Snap, evoking feelings of joy and warmth. While primarily wholesome, it also incorporates some darker elements, adding depth to the overall experience. Players appreciate the blend of nostalgia and emotional complexity, making it a memorable journey.
- “It was fun while it lasted and made me feel what I felt when I first picked up Pokémon Snap.”
- “A wholesome, charming nod to Pokémon Snap that so many of us have been waiting for.”
- “It's a wholesome game with some mildly darker components to it.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find the repetitive nature of hunting for alternate photo poses tedious and ultimately give up on achieving 100%, others enjoy the exploration and challenge of locating the creatures, which keeps the experience engaging.
- “All of the creatures are rather forgettable and have names that all sound alike, and it gets a bit tedious going through the same level a dozen times hunting down the last few alternate photo poses. I gave up on 100% completion.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant framerate drops to as low as 10fps despite meeting or exceeding minimum specifications. However, others report smooth performance on higher-end systems, indicating that optimization may vary based on hardware configurations.
- “The game does have a couple of potential issues - though not with performance, it ran great here (RTX 2060, i7 8700, 16GB RAM, 144fps).”
- “The optimization is pretty bad; even though I'm above the minimum specs, there are times when the framerate drops to 10fps.”
- “The optimization is pretty bad; even though I'm above the minimum specs, there are times when the framerate drops to 10fps.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive variety of creatures and unique character designs, highlighting it as a standout feature of the game.