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Secret Ponchos

Secret Ponchos is a rather unique game with intense fights and a high skill ceiling but in need of more players.
Secret Ponchos Game Cover
69%Game Brain Score
gameplay, graphics
stability, story
72% User Score Based on 895 reviews
Critic Score 64%Based on 9 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStation
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Secret Ponchos Game Cover

About

Secret Ponchos is a multiplayer arcade shooter game. It was developed by Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment and was released on October 13, 2015. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

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.

Genres & Tags
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Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
Secret Ponchos screenshot
+6
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72%
Audience ScoreBased on 895 reviews
gameplay104 positive mentions
stability22 negative mentions
  • Unique and engaging gameplay that combines elements of shooters and fighting games.
  • Beautiful art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
  • High skill ceiling that rewards players for mastering characters and strategies.
  • Very low player base, making it difficult to find matches.
  • Matchmaking issues, often pairing new players with experienced ones.
  • Bugs and glitches that affect gameplay and overall experience.
  • gameplay
    234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, competitive nature and innovative mechanics, while others criticize the clunky controls, poor matchmaking, and lack of a player base. Players appreciate the unique art style and depth of gameplay, but express frustration over bugs, balancing issues, and the overall execution, which detracts from the experience. Despite its potential and engaging mechanics, the game's current state leaves much to be desired, particularly in terms of accessibility and player engagement.

    • “The developers crafted a very innovative multiplayer gameplay with an attractive art style.”
    • “The gameplay is fast and furious and highly rewards skill over spamming buttons, your aim must be true and wasting shots will leave you wishing you hadn't.”
    • “The core gameplay mechanic is just fantastic, it's fast-paced PvP action where you challenge yourself all the time and try to perfect your moves with a character.”
    • “The actual controls and gameplay feel very clunky to me.”
    • “So, poor game mechanics, poor control schemes, console controller focus, no single player, expensive for what should be a free to play, and no players in a multiplayer only game.”
    • “Gameplay is entirely skill-based, which makes it quite fun.”
  • graphics
    159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and smooth performance, with many reviewers highlighting the unique aesthetic reminiscent of animated works like Gorillaz. However, there are significant complaints regarding the limited graphics options available, which hinder performance on lower-end systems. Overall, while the visuals are considered a strong point, the lack of customization options detracts from the experience for some players.

    • “The graphics are amazing as well, which brings out the artwork and detail in the characters and the abilities they perform.”
    • “The art style is really, really nice, and the music is too.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely beautiful and if you're an artist, it's worth owning for checking out the environments and characters which are badass.”
    • “The lack of 'graphics/display options' is posing a problem for a lot of people.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its fantastic soundtracks that perfectly capture the essence of the western theme, often compared to classic spaghetti western scores. Players appreciate the immersive and atmospheric quality of the music, which enhances the overall gameplay experience, although some note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time. Overall, the combination of high-quality music and appealing art style contributes significantly to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal, sounding exactly as though it was from a classic spaghetti western film.”
    • “The music is very well done and gets you going for some wild shootouts and has a nice cinematic feel.”
    • “The art style and the music are just awesome.”
    • “The game looks nice, it can be fun but the developers seem to have done the bare minimum in terms of music and animations.”
    • “The music is droning and annoying with only a few tracks.”
    • “A music full of tension when showdowns turns into real duels would have been great!”
  • stability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and issues with hitboxes that significantly impact gameplay. While some players find the game enjoyable despite these problems, others describe it as a "buggy mess" with server lag and matchmaking delays. Overall, the game's stability is a major concern, and potential players are advised to consider waiting for further updates before diving in.

    • “It's surprisingly bug-free for me for an early access title.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any major crashes or glitches.”
    • “I've experienced very few issues, making for a stable gaming experience.”
    • “It's a buggy mess and maybe because of it, also a ghost town.”
    • “I won't be buying this game, it's a buggy mess with no meaningful progression.”
    • “The game does have a number of glitches that can become annoying and affect one's performance.”
  • story
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many players noting a lack of narrative depth and single-player content. While some appreciate the character designs and backstories, they feel these elements are underutilized without a cohesive plot or campaign mode. Overall, players express a desire for more storytelling to enhance the game's immersive experience.

    • “The characters, the artwork, the sound, the animations, the controls... all have such depth and you can feel a backstory to them that the developers have bled into the game.”
    • “The game is so awesome, I want to dive head first into the Secret Ponchos universe with an in-depth storyline and single-player campaign.”
    • “After this, the top priority for the devs should be adding AI and then using them to craft a single-player experience with a narrative, as these characters are crying out for a backstory or an adventure.”
    • “While I was unable to find a match (dead game, no players), the tutorial/bot combat shows the game has a lot of flaws... as a twin stick shooter, presumably the developers thought they could achieve Red Dead Redemption meets Diablo 3, but without any story or plot.”
    • “We're at that point in video gaming where character depth is more than just the way they look, especially in a game that lacks any sort of story or exposition beyond a few sentences.”
    • “There isn't a story; it's only multiplayer... at the moment 2vs2.”
  • character development
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its exceptional character designs, which are described as vibrant and reminiscent of comic book characters brought to life. Players appreciate the distinct art style and unique playstyles that enhance gameplay, making each character feel unique and engaging. Overall, the combination of clever mechanics and appealing visuals contributes to a strong sense of investment in the characters.

    • “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.”
    • “Fast fun gameplay with some character development to keep you invested and coming back for more.”
    • “The character design is beyond amazing.”
    • “Character designs are comic book characters come to animated life.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its funny action, hilarious characters, and light-hearted competitive elements. The comic book art style and quirky graphics contribute to the overall comedic experience, making it both entertaining and addictive. Despite some gameplay intensity, the community's friendly nature and the game's humorous aspects create a fun atmosphere.

    • “It's twitchy, it's strategic, it's funny.”
    • “This game is fantastic, hilarious and totally addictive!”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While many players appreciate the high-quality graphics and smooth engine performance, there are significant concerns regarding PC optimization, with reports of glitches, limited graphic settings, and issues like lack of mouse support in menus. Some users have noted improvements after updates, but the need for further optimization remains a common theme.

    • “A lot of effort went into this game as the graphics are very high quality and the engine runs smoothly.”
    • “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.”
    • “Horrible optimization, no mouse support in menus, can't create an outlaw in the lobby with friends, Steam invites don't work.”
    • “The only downer so far is that you cannot increase the performance too much because the graphic settings are very limited.”
    • “The game is not optimized to run on the PC, also.”
  • monetization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a potential cash grab, with some users expressing disappointment over poor advertising that undermines its quality. While there are microtransactions available for cosmetic items like skin packs, players appreciate that the game avoids a pay-to-win model, allowing for a fairer experience. Overall, the monetization approach is seen as lacking in transparency and effectiveness, impacting the game's visibility and success.

    • “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.”
    • “Microtransactions are used not often, just a heads up.”
    • “Cash grab that Steam has allowed for years for whatever reason.”
    • “A secret cash grab.”
    • “Make microtransactions for in-game skins, do not make it pay to win though.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by diverse character options, engaging gameplay, and ongoing developer support for improvements. Players appreciate the unique abilities of characters and the promise of additional content, which enhances the game's longevity. At an affordable price point, many consider it one of the best options for replay value in the market.

    • “Fun gameplay with huge replayability; few UI bugs, but the devs are very community-oriented and promise to keep improving the game.”
    • “Character progression brings high replay value.”
    • “A fun, fast-paced, no BS game with unlimited replay value.”
    • “If it had more single-player content, I could recommend it.”
    • “With more content, there would be more reasons to replay the game.”
    • “The game lacks sufficient replayability to keep me engaged.”
  • atmosphere
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its fantastic art, original design, and strong spaghetti western influences, complemented by charismatic characters and engaging music. Players appreciate the immersive experience it creates, particularly in both single and multiplayer modes, contributing to a unique and rewarding gameplay environment. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature that reflects the developers' dedication to the game's style.

    • “The art and atmosphere are fantastic, and the devs really care about their game.”
    • “The game has a real atmosphere, and the characters have a lot of charisma.”
    • “I love the atmosphere and style of the game; great choices.”
    • “The atmosphere of spaghetti westerns, the music, the design, and both single and multiplayer gameplay (if we ignore all the negative stuff I wrote above) are quite good and original.”
    • “The atmosphere is extremely well done.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the lack of grinding in this MOBA-style game, highlighting its focus on fast-paced arena combat rather than time-consuming loot farming. The gameplay emphasizes skillful trading and resource management, making for a more dynamic and engaging experience.

    • “Say goodbye to hours of farming loot... this is an action game!”
    • “It's like a MOBA but without the farming, leading to just pure combat which boils down to outtrading your opponent and managing your ammo and stamina while keeping an eye on both for your opponent.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight the emotional impact of the game, praising its superb character designs and user interface that immerse players in a gritty western cartoon atmosphere. This engaging experience is complemented by heartfelt elements, making it both entertaining and emotionally resonant.

    • “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.”
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64%Critics’ scoreBased on 9 critic reviews
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6h Median play time
59h Average play time
5-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Secret Ponchos is a arcade shooter game.

Secret Ponchos is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 59 hours playing Secret Ponchos.

Secret Ponchos was released on October 13, 2015.

Secret Ponchos was developed by Switchblade Monkeys Entertainment.

Secret Ponchos has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Secret Ponchos is a multiplayer game.

Similar games include Laser League, Friends vs Friends, Maelstrom, The Mean Greens: Plastic Warfare, ArcheBlade and others.