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PEPPERED: an existential platformer

95%Game Brain Score
story, humor
grinding
95% User Score Based on 346 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsMac OSMac OSSteam DeckSteam Deck

About

ABOUTPEPPERED is an existential platformer where you have ONE SHOT at everything. Every choice, every boss battle, and every failure impact the branching plotline and determine how the story will go and how it will end. Will you save the world - or fail miserably? SYNOPSIS Seeing apathy in the face of doomsday, an office intern decides to save the world by themselves. But the world respond…

Genres & Tags
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PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot
PEPPERED: an existential platformer screenshot

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 346 reviews
story66 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • The game features stunning artwork and character designs, creating a visually captivating experience.
  • The writing is engaging, balancing humor and serious themes effectively, which enhances the overall narrative.
  • The game offers a variety of endings and paths, encouraging exploration and replayability, making it a unique experience.
  • The platforming mechanics can feel janky and frustrating at times, leading to a less enjoyable gameplay experience.
  • Some players found the transition to golf mechanics in later levels to be disappointing and detracting from the overall fun.
  • The game can be confusing regarding its multiple endings, as it doesn't always clearly indicate when players have more to explore.
  • story
    160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and clever humor, with many players getting lost in its fascinating universe. While the multiple endings and branching paths add depth, some reviewers noted issues with world-building and pacing, suggesting that the delivery could be improved. Overall, the story is seen as a standout feature that elevates the gameplay experience, despite some minor frustrations with replaying sections to explore all narrative options.

    • “The artwork and character designs are gorgeous, the story is so engaging, and the world it's set in is exciting and wonderful.”
    • “The writing strikes a balance between humor and serious commentary fairly well, and the various ways the story can play out both for the endings and various points of the game surprised me.”
    • “A wonderful game that is driven by its story.”
    • “The storytelling suffers, in my opinion.”
    • “The world building is missing, so the foundation of the story is weak.”
    • “The story was shorter than I hoped for, the paths were shallower than I hoped for, the choices were fewer than I hoped for, and the repetition necessary to get the different endings was far less satisfying than I hoped for.”
  • humor
    90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is widely praised for its cleverness and consistency, with players noting that it effectively balances comedic elements with deeper themes. Many found the dialogue and character interactions to be genuinely funny, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience that keeps players engaged. The game's ability to blend humor with serious commentary, along with its lively characters and beautiful art style, makes it a standout in the platforming genre.

    • “I can't recall the last game to have gotten full laughs out of me for some of the bits, and while being funny it also capably weaves in the existential elements with appropriate gravitas.”
    • “The dialogue is great; I get humor is subjective, but this game does very well with it. Each line feels appropriate, and it never feels like it tries super hard to push a joke; it simply happens and goes on.”
    • “The comedy strewn throughout had me chuckling, and the weight of the plot never felt heavy from the main character's point of view but was instead peppered to us through everyone else's response to what's happening.”
  • gameplay
    78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a mix of platforming and various mechanics, praised for its creativity and humor, though it can feel janky and lacks depth at times. While the platforming sections can be challenging and occasionally frustrating, the overall experience is enjoyable, supported by a rich narrative and charming art style. Some players noted a shift in gameplay focus, particularly in later levels, which may detract from the initial platforming experience, but the game remains engaging with its multiple endings and clever writing.

    • “The art style is super adorable, the gameplay itself is pretty standard for platformers, but the variety in gameplay styles as well as the story and characters really elevate this game to be a top contender.”
    • “Levels are greatly designed, gameplay feels great, lore is interesting, philosophical questions or implications are fantastic, the OST is an absolute banger.”
    • “Joyful indie platformer with several non-linear parts, a dozen endings, variability in mechanics, rich story, likeable characters, villain story arcs, and great writing overall, nice pixel art design and neat sound effects.”
    • “I would say the gameplay was never so frustrating or annoying that I didn't want to play anymore (which happens to me even in some games that are otherwise very good), but I wouldn't say much of the gameplay ever feels good either.”
    • “I actually was really looking forward to this game and I really started to like it but then when you get to world 4 the gameplay loop completely changes into... golf... and it outstays its welcome.”
    • “But man... the gameplay loop was established for the first three worlds and then it just seemingly wants to stretch out its playtime for as long as possible by making world 4 just golf and it's not even fun.”
  • music
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the soundtrack as "great," "amazing," and even "an absolute banger." While some noted that it may not stand out as exceptional compared to other titles, it is consistently described as soothing and well-integrated into the gameplay experience, enhancing the overall aesthetic and emotional impact of the game. A few users mentioned minor issues, such as occasional audio cut-outs, but these did not significantly detract from their enjoyment of the music.

    • “Love the music, aesthetic, and writing.”
    • “Music is chill and especially soothing in the case where you spend half an hour grinding/reloading to do one thing (e.g. certain boss fight) right.”
    • “The writing feels fresh, the platforming is challenging (especially under duress), the art is gorgeous and entertaining, and the soundtrack is subtle but knows when to ramp up.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't anything to write home about like some other games, but it was never bad or anything like that. Though sometimes it seemed to cut out if you reloaded your game, probably a bug. I will say, while I haven't gotten every ending, I thought the early-on sequence with the bird silhouettes was weird.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't anything to write home about like some other games, but it was never bad or anything like that. Though sometimes it seemed to cut out if you reloaded your game, probably a bug. I will say, while I haven't gotten every ending, I thought the early-on sequence with the bird silhouettes was weird.”
    • “The music is chill and especially soothing in the case where you spend half an hour grinding or reloading to do one thing (e.g., certain boss fight) right.”
  • graphics
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous artwork and unique character designs, which contribute to a charming and engaging experience. The art style is described as majestic and adorable, complemented by lively animations and beautiful backgrounds that enhance the overall aesthetic. Players appreciate the combination of humor, music, and storytelling, making the visual presentation a standout feature of the game.

    • “The artwork and character designs are gorgeous, the story is so engaging, and the world it's set in is exciting and wonderful.”
    • “The art style is straight-up majestic, the game feels snappy and smooth, and the lore also gives some food for thought.”
    • “Amusing humor, cool character design, beautiful background art styles, and an amazing soundtrack, it really has it all.”
  • emotional
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game effectively balances humor and emotional depth, with players noting that its emotional moments feel well-earned amidst a backdrop of absurdity and dark themes. The characters are described as funny and wholesome, contributing to a narrative that evokes a range of feelings while also exploring complex moral questions. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, with many players expressing that they were genuinely moved by certain parts and endings.

    • “All of the emotional beats, whether highs or lows, feel appropriately earned and well executed.”
    • “I liked that the game didn't take itself too seriously while still having some good emotional parts; nothing wrong with serious games, but I like my existential dread mixed in with a little absurdity.”
    • “The story is emotional and funny, but also calls morality into question by asking if immortality is unethical.”
  • character development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by stunning artwork and unique character designs that enhance the overall charm and coherence of the experience. Reviewers praise the engaging story and vibrant world, noting that the animations and humor contribute to a captivating atmosphere. Overall, the character designs are consistently described as beautiful and appealing, adding depth to the game's visual appeal.

    • “The artwork and character designs are gorgeous, the story is so engaging, and the world it's set in is exciting and wonderful.”
    • “The character designs, animations, backgrounds; everything feels coherent and looks amazing!”
    • “Amusing humor, cool character design, beautiful background art styles, and an amazing soundtrack, it really has it all.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when it involves lengthy reloading for boss fights. However, the soothing music and faster-paced platforming help alleviate some of the frustration, making the experience more bearable.

    • “Music is chill and especially soothing in the case where you spend half an hour grinding/reloading to do one thing (e.g. certain boss fight) right.”
    • “The platforming starts off a bit awkward, but speedy, and that is infinitely better than slow and tedious.”

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