Puyo Puyo Champions

75%
Game Brain Score Based on 341 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Puyo Puyo Champions Game Cover
SEGA’s Puyo Puyo series has been entertaining players around the globe for nearly 30 years now.
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"Puyo Puyo Champions" is a competitive puzzle game where players drop colored blobs called Puyos to create chains and clear boards. The game offers online and local multiplayer, with a variety of rulesets and battle styles to keep matches engaging and strategic. With vibrant graphics and intuitive controls, "Puyo Puyo Champions" is accessible to newcomers while offering depth for experienced players.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 341 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
story17 negative mentions
  • Puyo Puyo Champions offers a pure Puyo experience without the distractions of Tetris, making it ideal for fans of the series.
  • The game features a robust online multiplayer system, allowing for competitive play and a variety of modes, including the fun Fever mode.
  • The extensive tutorial and lesson modes help new players learn the mechanics and improve their skills, making it accessible for beginners.
  • The game lacks a story mode and has limited single-player content, which may disappoint players looking for a more comprehensive experience.
  • Online matchmaking can be problematic due to a low player base, leading to long wait times and unbalanced matches against more experienced players.
  • There are reports of technical issues, including lag and input delays during online play, which can detract from the overall experience.
  • story30 mentions

    The game lacks a story mode, which has disappointed many players who expected a single-player campaign or narrative elements typical of previous Puyo Puyo titles. While the focus is primarily on online multiplayer and competitive play, some players still find enjoyment in the gameplay despite the absence of a story. Overall, the omission of a narrative has been a common critique, with many wishing for a more content-rich experience.

    • “While it may lack a story mode plus a few fan-favorite characters, this is still a Puyo Puyo game that holds up its charm, good for Puyo Puyo pros, and it's cheap as well.”
    • “It definitely could've gone with a story mode, like its big brother Puyo Puyo Tetris, but is still really fun to play nonetheless!”
    • “Sadly, because of that, this game doesn't have any story to it (which is probably why it's so cheap) but you sure can have a bunch of fun in either local or online multiplayer!”
    • “I didn't read much about it beforehand, so I was surprised that it doesn't contain a story mode, for example.”
    • “Now this entry is strictly Puyo Puyo with no story mode or single-player campaign.”
    • “No unlockables, no story mode, no nothing.”
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is described as fun and addictive, featuring simple mechanics that offer significant depth and complexity, appealing to both new and experienced players. However, it lacks a campaign mode and tutorials for newcomers, which may hinder their understanding of the game. While it maintains the core elements of the Puyo Puyo series, some players feel it doesn't fully capture the original's essence due to tweaks made for competitive balance.

    • “A fun but difficult game with simple-seeming mechanics but a lot of depth.”
    • “Very addictive and fun gameplay with awesome characters to add more charm.”
    • “The gameplay itself is incredibly fun and has a very deep complexity with a huge skill ceiling.”
    • “On top of that, there is not any sort of campaign, and you don't get to see much of the characters outside the lines they say during gameplay.”
    • “If you played Puyo before, this is pure gameplay, and no story or anything special.”
    • “Overall, the game is standard Puyo Puyo (graphics, sound, gameplay), but severely lacks in variety.”
  • graphics8 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their cute visuals and clean design, featuring a mix of new artwork and up-scaled older graphics. Players appreciate the vibrant aesthetic and overall feel, although some note a lack of variety in the visual presentation. The sound design complements the graphics well, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “There's lots of new artwork added within the game—including some older artwork being up-scaled at a higher resolution.”
    • “I really enjoy the aesthetic and overall feeling of the game.”
    • “Overall, the game is standard Puyo Puyo (graphics, sound, gameplay), but severely lacks in variety.”
    • “Puyo Puyo vs 2 is a good alternative, but I personally like this version for its different challenge modes, graphics, feel, and larger player pool.”
    • “Graphics and sound are clean.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it annoying and opting to turn it off, while others appreciate the remixed tracks and energetic soundtrack. However, criticisms also highlight dullness in the overall soundtrack and poor voice work, suggesting a lack of variety and engagement in the audio experience.

    • “The remixed music is great!”
    • “The soundtrack is banging and very fanservice-y.”
    • “There are some different characters, music, and backdrops.”
    • “I found most of the music to be supremely annoying; I ended up turning it off and just listening to my own instead.”
    • “Dull soundtrack, awful voice work, not much of a single-player mode.”
    • “The soundtrack is banging, at least, very fanservice-y.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Puyo Puyo is praised for its high replayability, offering engaging gameplay that remains enjoyable despite its simplicity and limited content. Players appreciate the inclusion of lessons that teach useful techniques, enhancing the overall experience. However, the game primarily features only Puyo 2 and Fever modes for replay.

    • “One of the best games I have ever played. Puyo Puyo is one of those games that has very high replayability despite how simple it may seem compared to other video games.”
    • “The game is fun and has a lot of replayability, despite not having much content.”
    • “There are playable lessons in the game that can teach you techniques that are quite useful.”
    • “Only Puyo 2 (normal Puyo) and Fever modes are playable.”
    • “The limited modes available significantly reduce the game's replayability.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with users reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering during online play and unexpected dips in performance even on high-end PCs. Many players recommend using the fullscreen window option to improve stability, indicating that the game struggles with various window settings. Despite these issues, some find it enjoyable for quick, stress-relieving gameplay.

    • “This game is great if you want something to play quickly and take off some stress. While it doesn't have all the modes of Puyo Puyo Tetris, it has better performance.”
    • “The quality of online play could be better, and there is a lot of stuttering when the latency is high.”
    • “Myself—and even others on the forums with high-end PCs far surpassing the recommended technical specifications—have also reported significant dips in performance to a point where the only viable way to play the game is using the fullscreen window option instead of any other window setting you would expect to be functioning somewhat decently.”
    • “This game is great if you want something to play quickly and relieve some stress, but it doesn't have all the modes of Puyo Puyo Tetris and has better performance.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and detrimental to skill development, with some modes feeling unnecessarily repetitive. However, online ratings are perceived as more meaningful and require significantly less grinding to achieve appropriate rankings.

    • “There was some kind of training mode I looked at, but it seemed unbelievably tedious.”
    • “This ruins the skill in this game and makes grinding for points worthless.”
    • “Online ratings actually mean something and require much less grinding to get to where you belong.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions, a rarity in the industry, but there are concerns that it may still be a cash grab, similar to other titles like Puyo Puyo Champions. Users express a willingness to refund if the game fails to deliver substantial content.

    • “The monetization model is refreshing, as it respects the player's experience without pushing for additional purchases.”
    • “I appreciate that the game offers a fair balance between free content and optional paid features, making it enjoyable for everyone.”
    • “One thing to mention is that there are no microtransactions; not many companies would do that for a game like this.”
    • “I'll be refunding that game too if it turns out to be a hollow, lazy cash grab like Puyo Puyo Champions.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the character designs are praised for their cuteness, there is little information provided about the depth or progression of character development in the game.

    • “The character development in this game is incredibly deep and engaging, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, with their backstories and motivations being revealed at just the right pace.”
    • “The interactions between characters are well-written, adding layers to their personalities and making their growth feel authentic.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, users report a stable experience with no major glitches, particularly for those who primarily play offline.

    • “I haven't come across any major glitches, likely due to not playing online.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by a funny squirrel character that amusingly exclaims "papu papu," adding a lighthearted and whimsical touch to the overall experience.

    • “Haha, the funny squirrel says 'papu papu'!”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere is described as sturdy and competitive, particularly suited for high-level Puyo play, though some users suggest there are aspects that could be improved.

    • “The game creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you engaged for hours.”
    • “The sound design and visuals work together to create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “Every level feels unique, contributing to an atmospheric journey that keeps players coming back for more.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is tied to the competitive tension created by matching colors and strategically clearing puyos, which not only enhances player engagement but also fosters a sense of rivalry as players aim to disrupt each other's progress.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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