Secret Ponchos

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 436 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Secret Ponchos Game Cover
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Secret Ponchos is a challenging PvP fighting game set in a stunning Spaghetti Western world. Players engage in fast-paced, precise combat with every shot requiring skill. Compete in 3v3 shootouts and 1v1 duels, relying on outmaneuvering opponents, team play, and environmental strategy to emerge victorious. The "Most Wanted Edition" offers an expanded experience with new features and content.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 436 reviews
gameplay53 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and engaging art style that enhances the overall experience.
  • Gameplay is fast-paced and fun, with a variety of characters that offer different playstyles.
  • The developers are active in the community and responsive to player feedback, which bodes well for future updates.
  • The player base is very low, making it difficult to find matches, especially during off-peak hours.
  • There are issues with balance, as some characters are significantly stronger than others.
  • The game lacks a single-player mode, which limits its appeal for those who prefer solo play.
  • gameplay110 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is widely praised for its innovative mechanics, fast-paced action, and unique western theme, offering both depth for hardcore players and accessibility for casual gamers. While many players find the combat satisfying and addictive, issues such as long matchmaking times, occasional bugs, and a dwindling player base have been noted as drawbacks. Overall, the game is seen as a fun and engaging experience, with a strong emphasis on skill-based play and strategic decision-making.

    • “The developers crafted a very innovative multiplayer gameplay with an attractive art style.”
    • “The gameplay is fast and extremely addictive (in a good way, you'll just want to rematch those who just beat you).”
    • “The mechanics are deep, the art style is beautiful, and the community is amazing.”
    • “But gameplay is extremely buggy; hitboxes are extremely inaccurate.”
    • “Sadly, the gameplay is really stiff, and I've had trouble getting into matches.”
    • “It took me 20 minutes to get the game to play, and even then the gameplay was boring and awful. I truly regret buying this terrible game.”
  • graphics93 mentions

    The game's graphics have received widespread praise for their vibrant and unique art style, which effectively combines a cartoonish aesthetic with a western theme, enhancing the overall immersive experience. However, many players have expressed frustration over the limited graphics options available, which restrict customization and performance adjustments. Overall, while the visuals are considered stunning and well-crafted, the lack of flexibility in settings has been a notable downside for some users.

    • “The graphics are amazing as well, which brings out the artwork and detail in the characters and the abilities they perform.”
    • “The art style draws you in with its unique aesthetic, welcoming you into the world of Lone Tree.”
    • “The aesthetic of the game is fantastic.”
    • “The worst part is that there are only 3 settings in the graphic options.”
    • “I can't even run the game smoothly at the lowest graphics.”
    • “The graphic options are a freaking joke, graphic quality, v-sync and full screen hello 1995.”
  • music38 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its vibrant and thematic quality, effectively blending western flair with modern elements to enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to set the mood for intense gameplay, with many noting its cinematic feel and nostalgic appeal. While some mention minor issues like looping in the menu music, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.

    • “The music has the perfect mix of compelling western flair with just enough modern spice.”
    • “Overall the music is very thematic, fitting to a T, and serves its purpose very well.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal, sounding exactly as though it was from a classic spaghetti western film.”
    • “A music full of tension when showdowns turns into real duels would have been great!”
    • “I don't like the game; also the art style and songs are good, it's not that good. 3/10 waste of my money.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as inaccurate hitboxes and specific character attacks failing to register. While some users experienced significant issues, others noted that recent patches have improved stability, making the game relatively bug-free for an early access title. Overall, while there are stability concerns, many players still find the game enjoyable despite its flaws.

    • “It's surprisingly bug-free for me for an early access title.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any major issues.”
    • “I've experienced very few crashes, which is impressive for a game in development.”
    • “As a warmonger, my tomahawk secondary attack passed through certain characters such as Poncho 100% of the time. I labbed this, and it is repeatable. Ridiculous game-breaking issues like this are common. Even if the glitches weren't there, the base game would still be horribly balanced. Gordo's primary weapon is a Gatling gun that can stun-lock anyone to death, and it has more range than a lot of characters. That should speak for itself.”
    • “But gameplay is extremely buggy; hitboxes are extremely inaccurate.”
    • “The game does have a number of glitches that can become annoying and affect one's performance.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its superb and distinct designs that bring comic book characters to life, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the variety in playstyles and mechanics associated with each character, which contributes to a fast-paced and engaging gameplay. The combination of artistic flair and unique character traits creates a vibrant and immersive atmosphere that resonates with the community.

    • “The character designs and UI are just superb and made me feel like part of a gritty western cartoon.”
    • “First, massive kudos to the clever mechanics, distinct art style, and slick character design.”
    • “Character designs and playstyles make each one stick out from one another, providing very different ways to play depending on who you choose to play as.”
    • “Secret Ponchos is truly an amazing game, from the combat to the art and character design.”
    • “Character designs are comic book characters come to animated life.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it both funny and relaxing, complemented by hilarious graphics and a light-hearted competitive atmosphere. The community is described as friendly, enhancing the overall enjoyable experience. Overall, the game is considered fantastic and addictive, with a strong emphasis on humor throughout.

    • “Pretty funny and relaxing.”
    • “Switchblademonkeys managed to produce a renaissance-like game by going back to the good old basics – fun experience, fair but unforgiving gameplay dynamics, with intense but humor-infused light-hearted competitive element.”
    • “This game is fantastic, hilarious and totally addictive!”
  • optimization7 mentions

    Overall, players have mixed feelings about the game's optimization. While some report improved performance after updates, others highlight persistent glitches and limited graphic settings that hinder further optimization. The consensus suggests that while the gameplay is intense and visually appealing, significant optimization improvements are still needed for a smoother experience.

    • “In my opinion, it has cool graphics, good music, and well-optimized intense gameplay.”
    • “Edit: the developer got back to me after this review to ask for my specs, etc. I forgot to answer, but today I launched the game to see if anything was better, and the game runs smoothly now with high quality.”
    • “The only downer so far is that you cannot increase the performance too much because the graphic settings are very limited.”
    • “The game does have a number of glitches that can become annoying and affect performance.”
    • “The game is not optimized to run on PC.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, largely due to character progression and the availability of additional content. Its affordability further enhances its appeal, making it a strong recommendation for players seeking a game with lasting value.

    • “High replay value.”
    • “Character progression brings high replay value.”
    • “Price – at 16.99 for one or 49.99 for a pack of four games, this is one of the most affordable games with incredible replay value on the market.”
    • “If it had more content or was more playable in single-player, I could recommend it.”
    • “Replayability is lacking.”
    • “The game feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment over its poor marketing despite the game's quality. However, it is noted that there are no microtransactions, and the only purchasable content is a skin pack that does not affect gameplay, which some players appreciate.

    • “No microtransactions at all; the only thing you can buy extra, at the moment, is a skin pack, which obviously confers no in-game bonuses.”
    • “It's a testament to the power of good marketing and monetization - I've never seen a game that was so good do so poorly.”
    • “Cash grab that Steam has allowed for years for whatever reason.”
    • “Such a great game wasted by bad monetization.”
    • “The only thing you can buy extra at the moment is a skin pack, which obviously confers no in-game bonuses.”
  • story6 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with users noting a lack of a single-player mode and narrative depth. While some appreciate the focus on PvP without complex storylines, many express a desire for character backstories or a dedicated story mode to enhance the overall experience. Overall, the consensus is that the game would benefit from a more developed narrative.

    • “I'm looking forward to seeing if there will be updates or even a single-player story mode.”
    • “Just overall, it's a fun, addictive, top-down shooter with unusual game controls, but I just wish there were a story with each character to give them a little more life or a small single-player mode.”
    • “No single player, no story behind the game.”
    • “I'm looking forward to see if there will be updates or even a single player story mode.”
    • “This game isn't for me, but if you really are just craving some good PvP without the bloated storylines and quests of other MMOs, this is it.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its fantastic art and charismatic characters, creating an immersive experience that reflects the developers' dedication. Players appreciate the unique wild west graphic novel style, which enhances the chaotic yet rewarding multiplayer matches. Overall, the atmosphere is considered extremely well executed and engaging.

    • “The art and atmosphere are fantastic, and the developers really care about their game.”
    • “The game has a real atmosphere, and the characters have a lot of charisma.”
    • “The atmosphere is extremely well done.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The game's superb character designs and user interface create an immersive experience reminiscent of a gritty western cartoon, effectively drawing players into its emotional narrative. Despite its heartwarming elements, the game is also recognized for its engaging gameplay.

    • “The character designs and UI are just superb and made me feel like part of a gritty western cartoon.”
    • “But beyond all that heartwarming nonsense, there is a very well-made and engaging game here.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players appreciate that the game avoids traditional grinding mechanics, focusing instead on fast-paced arena action without the need for extensive loot farming. This design choice enhances the overall enjoyment and keeps the gameplay engaging.

    • “Say goodbye to hours of farming loot... this is an action game!!!!!!!”
    • “The grinding feels endless and takes away from the enjoyment of the gameplay.”
    • “I spent more time grinding for resources than actually playing the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

64% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
9hAverage play time
6-14hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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