Pumpkin Jack

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,265 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Pumpkin Jack Game Cover
Pumpkin Jack's delightful NPCs, boss battles, visuals and music outweigh the clunky platforming and uninspired combat. This is the perfect game to ignite your Halloween Spirit.
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Pumpkin Jack is a Spooky Scary 3D platformer in which you embody Jack, the Mythical Pumpkin Lord! Dive into an Epic Adventure through otherworldly landscapes and help the Evil annihilate the Good!

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,265 reviews
gameplay291 positive mentions
replayability14 negative mentions
  • Charming visuals and a whimsical Halloween atmosphere that captures the spirit of the season.
  • Simple yet enjoyable gameplay with a mix of platforming, combat, and puzzles that keeps the experience fresh.
  • Funny dialogue and character interactions that add personality and humor to the game.
  • Combat can feel repetitive and lacks depth, often reducing encounters to button-mashing.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price.
  • Some mini-games and on-rails sections can be tedious and detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • gameplay791 mentions

    The gameplay of "Pumpkin Jack" is characterized by its solid and smooth mechanics, blending platforming, light combat, and various mini-games that keep the experience fresh. While the combat is straightforward and lacks depth, the game compensates with a variety of weapons and engaging boss battles, though some players find the overall gameplay repetitive and simplistic. The charming visuals and nostalgic feel evoke classic 3D platformers, making it a fun, albeit short, experience for fans of the genre.

    • “The gameplay is solid and smooth, combat is fluid and fun with good variety of weapons unlocked throughout.”
    • “From the get-go, the gameplay pulls you right in, with mechanics so smooth you’ll feel like you’re speedrunning straight into Halloween itself.”
    • “Each level introduces a new weapon for your arsenal, new enemies to deal with, and a new gameplay mechanic to keep the experience fresh.”
    • “The gameplay started to feel a bit repetitive after a while, but with its length along with new enemy types and new weapons unlocked, it was not a problem.”
    • “The mechanics don't make any sense but to kill your hands trying.”
    • “Gameplay is simple and combat is one button.”
  • graphics737 mentions

    The graphics of "Pumpkin Jack" are widely praised for their vibrant, stylized aesthetic reminiscent of early PlayStation platformers, effectively capturing a whimsical Halloween atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the game's charming character designs, colorful environments, and impressive lighting effects, although some note that the art style can occasionally obscure gameplay clarity. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic appeal and immersive experience.

    • “The graphics and their style are unique looking.”
    • “The visuals for this game are absolutely amazing with the art style just looking so good and so much like those early PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 1 platformers.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the platforming is nostalgic and familiar, the characters are fun, there are no microtransactions.”
    • “However, I found that the art style is sometimes detrimental to the gameplay.”
    • “Sometimes because of the art style, it is confusing to know when a platform is safe or not, especially in the swamp section, knowing whether the water is safe to walk on or not because the water instantly kills you.”
    • “Quality: the graphical quality in Pumpkin Jack is pretty bad; think PS3-era graphics at best.”
  • music704 mentions

    The music in "Pumpkin Jack" has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the game's Halloween atmosphere, featuring a mix of original compositions and playful remixes of classical pieces. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack effectively captures a whimsical yet spooky vibe, reminiscent of Tim Burton's style, and complements the game's visuals and gameplay. While some found the music occasionally repetitive or derivative, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The music and atmosphere were by far the highlight, but the story and characters were really adorable too.”
    • “The soundtrack is catchy and really boosts the atmosphere.”
    • “The music is fantastic and the graphics are gorgeous, I just think some of the game mechanics could be improved.”
    • “The music was alright but a lot of it was lent from free classical music tracks and didn't blend well.”
    • “The music screams classic Halloween music, with 'spoopy' themes and adventurous Danny Elfman melodies and instruments.”
    • “The music is full of theremins and scary Halloween instruments.”
  • story665 mentions

    The story of "Pumpkin Jack" is a lighthearted and humorous take on the classic good vs. evil narrative, where players control Jack, a villain tasked by the devil to thwart humanity's efforts to save the world. While the plot is relatively simple and straightforward, it is delivered with charm and wit, featuring engaging dialogue and a whimsical aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Although some players found the story to be short and lacking depth, many appreciated its comedic elements and nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic platformers.

    • “I absolutely love the dialogue and story and find myself laughing often.”
    • “The story is a sort of fairy tale parody, where the commonly 'good' guys appear as actual evil, while evil incarnate actually saves the day.”
    • “Pumpkin Jack is a fun, spooky adventure with a charming story that keeps you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The story is very derivative and generic.”
    • “The story is absolutely terrible.”
    • “The story is kind of bland, but I guess we don't expect complex narratives from games like this anyways.”
  • humor357 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever dialogue, quirky characters, and light-hearted tone, often drawing comparisons to classic platformers like *MediEvil*. Many players found themselves laughing at the witty writing and amusing interactions, although some noted that the humor could be hit or miss, with occasional attempts at meta-humor falling flat. Overall, the game's charm and comedic elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a fun experience for fans of whimsical and spooky themes.

    • “I absolutely love the dialogue & story and find myself laughing often.”
    • “The humor is nice too.”
    • “The dialogue between Jack and the various side characters, bosses, and the wizard has some clever humor for adults and kids alike.”
    • “The humor falls flat and often feels forced, lacking the charm it aims for.”
    • “I expected more clever jokes, but most of the attempts at humor just missed the mark.”
    • “The comedic elements are repetitive and fail to bring any genuine laughs.”
  • atmosphere186 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming and spooky Halloween vibe, enhanced by a whimsical art style and an engaging soundtrack. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and immersive environments that evoke a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 3D platformers. Overall, the game successfully captures the spirit of Halloween, making it a delightful experience for fans of the season.

    • “The atmosphere is wonderfully spooky.”
    • “The art style and overall atmosphere is absolutely stunning, the gameplay is fun, and the story is well told.”
    • “The atmosphere really nails Halloween.”
    • “All in all, the concepts and atmosphere are here, and I was looking forward to a fun Halloween-themed character action game, but I'm left wanting more.”
    • “The atmosphere is spooky but not scary, similar to watching old Disney Halloween animation, which is always welcome.”
    • “The whole spooky Halloween atmosphere, the lively & colorful world, the entire level design with the little puzzles, all the spooky scary enemies and bosses, just a really great 3D platformer.”
  • replayability61 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many players noting that it can be completed in about 4-6 hours, often with little incentive to replay once 100% completion is achieved. While there are collectibles and achievements that may encourage some players to revisit the game, the lack of additional content or difficulty settings significantly diminishes its replay value. Suggestions for improvement include adding multiplayer modes or post-game content to enhance replayability.

    • “Not too long or difficult, easy to get achievements, and it has potential for replayability if you are going for 100% collectibles.”
    • “The replay value isn't bad either given the masks you have to collect; maybe in expanded content there can be other achievements, but for a base game design, there's plenty to do here, and redo that will keep you entertained for a while!”
    • “I beat it within 4 hours, but the replay value does make up for it.”
    • “Unfortunately, it has little to no replayability, especially if you 100% the game the first time around.”
    • “There's no justification for charging $30 for a game that could easily be beaten within 2 hours when it has zero replayability (outside of secret hunting).”
    • “I believe it took me closer to 5 hours of actual time to complete it 100%, which for some may be too short to be worth the launch price, especially since it offers no replayability.”
  • grinding46 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some levels and mini-games feeling tedious and repetitive, particularly those involving puzzles and certain combat mechanics. While many enjoy the smooth gameplay and collectibles, the need to replay levels for 100% completion can lead to frustration. However, the game avoids excessive grinding for items or achievements, allowing for a more enjoyable experience despite some tedious moments.

    • “The game was fun and not tedious to 100% which is perfect.”
    • “No endless talent tree, no grinding for items, no stupid RNG, it's just purely enjoyment; you just play your simple game.”
    • “Overall gameplay and movement feels smooth and good, jumping isn't tedious or painful, and weapons are cool.”
    • “What's worse is that seeking out all the collectibles for those wishing to 100% this game can get on the very tedious side of things.”
    • “Each stage has incredibly tedious set-pieces and gimmicks that either seem to be designed to stop the player in their tracks and waste time or just to frustrate the player.”
    • “I found one of the boss fights absolutely tedious because you needed quick movements that are just too sluggish on the keyboard.”
  • optimization41 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance across various settings, including high graphics and ray tracing. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering and frame drops in specific areas, particularly during intense sequences or with certain graphical settings. While most players found the performance satisfactory, a few noted issues that suggested room for improvement, particularly in terms of optimization for higher resolutions and specific gameplay segments.

    • “I loved the art style and the performance on PC is very optimized (I was running ray tracing on all ultra and was solid FPS).”
    • “Gameplay is fluid, and the game felt well optimized even when playing with ray tracing enabled (if your GPU supports it, give it a try).”
    • “Greatly optimized, and good looking too - best of both worlds.”
    • “Generally well done for an indie game, but it feels somehow incomplete and poorly optimized: game bugs and crashes the more you get close to the end; whole story took me less than 8 hours to complete (took my sweet time to explore nearly every inch of every map); all levels other than one are nearly flat and involve few easy explorations to actually find all skulls (missed only 3 among last 2 levels during first run).”
    • “There's some graphical performance glitches - in one case I needed to lower the graphics quality so that the frames wouldn't drop below 10 in one segment, probably some glitchy shader coding or something.”
    • “First, the game feels poorly optimized.”
  • character development39 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its strong emphasis on unique and visually striking character designs, complemented by quirky dialogue and a charming atmosphere. While players appreciate the aesthetic and creativity, many reviews indicate a lack of a formal character development system, with some expressing a desire for deeper character growth despite the engaging storytelling and enjoyable gameplay. Overall, the character designs and art direction are consistently praised, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The character designs are unique, the environment art detailed but not overly noisy, and the general composition all comes together well to a standard usually only seen by the likes of Nintendo.”
    • “From start to finish the story never gets old, and there is surprisingly great character development for such a short game.”
    • “Everything about this game oozes creativity, from the music to the character designs to the gameplay; it's all there and it's all a blast to play.”
    • “There are also collectibles and unlockable costumes for the main character, though no character development system.”
    • “This is especially the case when it came to some of the characters, as there is no character development.”
    • “Character design.”
  • stability28 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed, with some players reporting a smooth experience and minimal glitches, while others encountered significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly in high graphics settings. Many users noted specific problems like screen resolution changes, respawn glitches, and graphical performance drops, but some praised the game's aesthetic and smooth controls. Despite the inconsistencies, several reviews highlighted that the game is still enjoyable, especially at a low price point.

    • “Bought it for 3 bucks, worth every penny. Fun game to play in the afternoon/night during the October Halloween. Really enjoying the experience and everything works—no glitches or bugs.”
    • “It came out 96% bug free, stable, and looking fantastic.”
    • “Nice, crisp art style that gets a big boost from RTX effects (and DLSS support means it runs great, too), cool Halloween-y music, and tight controls.”
    • “Unfortunately while playing, I experienced a few glitches like bosses not dying and a few crashes.”
    • “This game is so buggy it won't even start in full screen - I spent 2 full hours trying everything without success.”
    • “One thing, which is a major problem, is parkour levels in the game; they are very difficult and buggy... and when the screen moves with all that colorful environment in those levels, you feel nausea.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely characterized by a strong sense of nostalgia, with many players expressing that it evokes fond memories of classic platformers from their childhood, such as "MediEvil" and "Spyro." Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall experience is described as charming, heartwarming, and reminiscent of simpler, more joyful gaming days, making it a delightful adventure for those seeking a lighthearted escape.

    • “Big happy, made me feel like a kid again.”
    • “Pumpkin Jack is incredibly charming, fun, and especially heartwarming and enjoyable if you're like me and grew up on some of the most iconic platformers of yesteryear.”
    • “This game is a journey and an emotional roller coaster that carries itself well for just one person making it.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization model of the game is highly praised, as it features no DLC or microtransactions, allowing players to earn cosmetics through gameplay without the need for grinding or additional purchases. Reviewers appreciate the developer's focus on creating an enjoyable experience rather than prioritizing profit, highlighting the game's polished design and rewarding mechanics.

    • “No DLC, microtransactions, or bugged nonsense.”
    • “Cool skins that don't require in-game purchases.”
    • “I know it's hard to believe due to the current game environment we have with microtransactions flooding our existence, but there was a time in gaming when players actually earned their cosmetics through gameplay, and Pumpkin Jack does this!”
    • “No grinding, no microtransactions.”
    • “You can tell the developer was making something they enjoyed and not just a cash grab with the level of polish in the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
5-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 47 analyzed playthroughs

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