PIO

About

PIO is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Star of Star and was released on January 22, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

PIO is a single-player action platformer where players control Pio, a faintly shining star striving to ascend from the lowest tier by completing challenging Trials of the Stars. Its innovative mechanics turn bullets into shrinking terrain, requiring strategic management of attacks and defense. The game offers about 6 hours of intense, skillful gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 83 reviews

gameplay14 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful visuals and a charming art style that enhances the overall experience.
Unique mechanics and a creative combat system make the gameplay enjoyable and engaging.
Despite its short length, the game provides a fun challenge and leaves players wanting more.

The game suffers from poor controller support, making it difficult for players who prefer using a controller.
Many players found the game to be extremely short, often completing it in under an hour, which left them feeling unsatisfied.
There are significant performance issues, including unoptimized requirements that can lead to gameplay stutters and crashes.

gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by unique mechanics that creatively integrate environmental elements into combat, offering a fresh and enjoyable experience. While the game features beautiful visuals and charming character designs, many players noted its short length, typically completing it in under an hour. Overall, the mechanics are easy to grasp yet provide enough challenge, making it a fun, albeit brief, platforming adventure.
- “Not only that, but the actual mechanics are good too. I enjoy the idea of using the environment to combat enemies, in this case being the star-imbued blocks you stand on which can be used to execute a variety of moves.”
- “I love the character designs and the gameplay was easy to pick up while still letting the levels be difficult enough to challenge me!”
- “It has a very unique combat system, intriguing character design, and genuinely fun gameplay.”
- “It is a bit confusing that it had controller on its setting but when I tried the controller it didn't work when getting into gameplay.”
- “It is a cool and unique idea but the story was confusing and the gameplay wasn't that exciting.”
- “However, I managed to beat the game in just 40 minutes, once I figured out the mechanics.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
36%
21%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful visuals, cute aesthetic, and impressive animations, contributing to an engaging experience for players. While some users noted the need for additional polish and occasional bugs, the overall art style and design are considered high-quality, reminiscent of a well-funded production. Many reviewers recommend the game for its charming graphics, especially for fans of 2D platformers.
- “Fun and challenging, very good visuals and animation.”
- “10/10 game that I would recommend to anyone who loves platformers and cute graphics!”
- “The graphics are astonishing with really well-made enemies and animations in general!”
- “Cool idea for combat and nice art style, but feels awful to play unfortunately.”
- “The graphics are astonishing with really well made enemies and animations in general!”
- “Some polish is needed but I think I'd recommend this to those who like 2D platformers with a cute aesthetic.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The story is generally perceived as heartfelt and carrying a good message, though some find it confusing and lacking depth. While the game is short and may serve as a prologue for a larger project, it shows potential for expansion, with users expressing hope for further development of its narrative. Overall, the combination of unique ideas, beautiful art, and engaging mechanics suggests that the story could evolve into something more substantial in future iterations.
- “The story isn't anything insanely fresh, but it's got heart and a good message.”
- “I hope the devs continue to work on this premise and release a full game and flesh out the mechanics; I feel there's definitely something special, and I'd love to see more of the story as well!”
- “It is a short game that my guess is more of a prologue for a bigger project with all the foreshadowing within its story; it has interesting combat mechanics integrated into the platforming in a creative and unique manner.”
- “Game play was kinda mid, story for me made no sense.”
- “It is a cool and unique idea but the story was confusing and the gameplay wasn't that exciting.”
- “The storyline has potential, but the game was short and needs more development.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and effectiveness, particularly during key moments like the final boss encounter. Reviewers appreciate the soundtrack's ability to enhance the overall experience, complementing the game's stunning visuals and artistic design. Despite some criticisms regarding controls and difficulty spikes, the music remains a standout feature that contributes positively to the gameplay.
- “The music and art are so beautiful, and the story seems interesting!”
- “The soundtrack accompanies the creative combat system very well, especially in the final boss.”
- “Lovely graphics and great music; I enjoyed it :)”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during longer play sessions.”
- “The soundtrack feels generic and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “While the sound effects are decent, the music fails to leave a lasting impression and often feels out of place.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted by charming and unique designs that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the balance between accessible mechanics and challenging levels, alongside an intriguing combat system that adds depth to the characters. Overall, the character designs contribute significantly to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “From the blocks to the character designs, it's just oozing charm.”
- “I love the character designs, and the gameplay was easy to pick up while still letting the levels be difficult enough to challenge me!”
- “It has a very unique combat system, intriguing character design, and genuinely fun gameplay.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers a unique and enjoyable experience, but users have noted that it can be somewhat buggy at times. Despite these stability issues, many players still find it worth trying, especially if they are drawn to its distinctive themes and gameplay.
- “The game is enjoyable, but it suffers from frequent crashes that disrupt the experience.”
- “I encountered several bugs that made it difficult to progress, which really affected my overall enjoyment.”
- “While the visuals are stunning, the stability issues are frustrating and take away from the gameplay.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming 2.5D art direction and adorable designs, creating a pleasant and engaging experience. Players appreciate the unique gameplay twist and the balance of challenge, culminating in a sweet message that enhances the overall ambiance.
- “A charming and atmospheric 2.5D platformer with a unique twist on gameplay.”
- “I came for the game's atmosphere, art direction, and adorable designs, only to be met with a honestly very pleasant yet decently difficult experience with a sweet message at the end.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization has been criticized for lacking detail sliders and only supporting 720p+ resolutions, leading to issues such as dropped and delayed inputs. Overall, players find the performance unsatisfactory and in need of significant improvements.
- “Unoptimized, no detail slider, only 720p+ resolutions, inputs getting both dropped and delayed.”