South Park: The Fractured But Whole

South Park balances ample fan service with gameplay that stands on its own merits and an engaging story. It won't make you a fan if you weren't one already, but it's hard to imagine a better-realized adaptation.

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In South Park: The Fractured But Whole, players step back into the shoes of the New Kid and join Cartman's superhero group, Coon and Friends, to save South Park from crime and chaos. This sequel to The Stick of Truth offers a new and outrageous RPG experience, filled with familiar characters and mature humor. The Gold Edition includes the base game and the season pass.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 28,903 reviews

story2,056 positive mentions

stability881 negative mentions

story
6,356 mentions
32 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" is generally seen as entertaining and humorous, capturing the essence of the show with its absurdity and satire. However, many players feel it falls short compared to its predecessor, "The Stick of Truth," citing a less cohesive narrative, repetitive side quests, and a tendency for the plot to drag towards the end. While the game offers a longer playtime and improved combat mechanics, the overall story is perceived as weaker and less engaging, with some players experiencing game-breaking bugs that hinder progression.
- “The story is engaging and full of unexpected twists and turns, keeping players on their toes throughout the game.”
- “The story is really well written and hooked me in for hours, with its sudden plot twists and same crude humour, it really made me feel at home.”
- “The story felt like it never went anywhere.”
- “The story is both hilarious and well crafted, staying close to the show.”
- “The story is a far cry from what we would expect from South Park screenwriters.”
humor
5,812 mentions
99 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The humor in "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" is a mix of classic South Park irreverence and crude jokes, with many players finding it consistently funny, though some feel it doesn't reach the heights of its predecessor, "The Stick of Truth." While the game retains the show's signature style and includes numerous references, opinions vary on the effectiveness of its humor, with some noting a reliance on toilet jokes that can become repetitive. Overall, fans of the series appreciate the humor, but newcomers may find it less impactful without prior knowledge of the show's context.
- “Super funny game, definitely recommend!”
- “The world of South Park is brought to life in a way that's funny, chaotic, and surprisingly relaxing – you’ll be laughing too hard to stress!”
- “The humor is spot on, classic Parker & Stone.”
- “It's just not funny and that should be the selling point for a South Park game.”
- “But the biggest sin of this game bar none, is that it's just not funny.”
- “I genuinely loved Stick of Truth, but this one is just a mess of unfunny jokes and uninspiring gameplay.”
gameplay
2,964 mentions
34 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its improved combat mechanics and strategic depth compared to its predecessor, "The Stick of Truth." Players appreciate the grid-based turn-based combat system and the variety of character classes, which add tactical elements to battles. However, some criticize the gameplay for being repetitive, slow-paced, and less engaging than the first game, with certain mechanics feeling cumbersome or unnecessary. Overall, while the gameplay is generally seen as enjoyable and fun, it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who preferred the simplicity of the original.
- “Whether you're here for the laughs or the amazing gameplay, The Fractured But Whole is hands down the best South Park game ever made.”
- “The turn-based combat system has been upgraded with more tactical depth, featuring a grid-based movement system and various character classes that allow for more strategic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and I loved the fights in the game; it's a great mix of humor and engaging mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is quite basic and repetitive.”
- “You will find yourself using the same game mechanics over and over and over and over.”
- “The gameplay drags, the mechanics are boring and feel lazy.”
stability
903 mentions
2 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and game-breaking glitches that hinder progress. Many users experienced issues during combat and cutscenes, often requiring restarts or reloads to continue. While some found the gameplay enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by bugs, making it difficult to recommend without significant patches.
- “Good graphics, no glitches, and easy to follow along.”
- “Unlike others, I've had no glitches, bugs, crashes, etc. during the entire playthrough.”
- “I have a top of the line setup (1080ti + 7700k) and have had absolutely no glitches.”
- “Game was buggy af, couldn't get past the first quest (follow Cartman somewhere) invisible barrier next to my house, after it autowalked me halfway across the opposite screen, before that it auto saved right after power selection so I couldn't reverse accident double click choices when trying to examine choices so I had to start a new game, couldn't skip stupid cut scenes tried multiple times and it rolled credits and restarted cutscene by the time I got fed up with the game I couldn't refund it because it was past the 2h mark.”
- “I can't bring myself to recommend a game that glitches to prevent you from progressing in the game, especially when the game is like 5 years old.”
- “The game is plagued by bugs and glitches that range from minor graphical hiccups to more severe problems like crashes and save file corruption.”
graphics
635 mentions
27 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" are generally praised for their vibrant and faithful representation of the show's distinct art style, making players feel as if they are part of an interactive episode. However, some reviews note that the visuals can be less polished compared to its predecessor, "Stick of Truth," with reports of performance issues and graphical glitches affecting gameplay. Overall, while the graphics capture the essence of South Park, they are seen as a mixed bag, with improvements in some areas but shortcomings in optimization and consistency.
- “The graphics are vibrant and true to the South Park style, immersing players in the town of South Park like never before.”
- “The game flawlessly captures the essence of the South Park universe, from the irreverent humor to the distinct art style.”
- “It's like playing an actual South Park episode with the graphics staying loyal to the show's art style and humor.”
- “The graphics are worse than South Park: Stick of Truth and have less elements to explore.”
- “I loved the first game, this one looks like crap, the graphics are worse, the menus are full of shit, it looks censored, like this game was aimed at a broader public and therefore they left out the good stuff.”
- “My first issue is that this has got to be the most poorly optimized piece of shit I've ever seen, it's a South Park game, there's no excuse for it to run at 12 fps on some screens that don't even have any fancy visual effects happening.”
music
433 mentions
40 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its energetic and fitting soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, particularly during battles. However, some players feel that it falls short compared to the previous title, "Stick of Truth," citing issues with repetitive tracks and sound glitches that disrupt gameplay. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it is noted that it lacks the memorable quality of its predecessor.
- “Voice acting, music, and writing are phenomenal.”
- “The soundtrack honestly slaps and no one can change my mind.”
- “The music, sound, and voice are all superb.”
- “Music is worse than in the first game, and background pop music inside some buildings is just terribly annoying.”
- “The soundtrack from the first game is still unbeatable, and the soundtrack of this game doesn't even come close to the first one.”
- “However, the music is a let down in comparison with the previous title.”
grinding
325 mentions
1 % positive mentions
8 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and repetitive, with many players noting that combat and exploration become monotonous over time. Players often feel overwhelmed by the need to backtrack, complete fetch quests, and engage in drawn-out battles without the option to skip animations or speed up gameplay. While some enjoy the humor and story, the overall sentiment is that the game requires a significant time investment, leading to a frustrating experience for those seeking a more streamlined adventure.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Not tedious enough to be a negative, but it was definitely a downer.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game itself is pretty good, apart from where it freezes in combat sometimes, but playing it through this piece of shit Ubisoft bloatware makes it exceedingly tedious!”
- “However, towards the end of the game, the combat can start to feel repetitive and tedious, which may dampen the overall experience for some players.”
- “The overworld exploration is similarly lackluster, with a tedious amount of backtracking and uninteresting side quests that fail to add meaningful content or variety.”
replayability
290 mentions
26 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The replayability of "South Park: The Fractured But Whole" is a mixed bag among players. While some appreciate the tactical combat and humor, noting that the game can be replayed for its various character classes and unique experiences, many others criticize its lack of significant replay value due to the linear progression and the ability to unlock all classes in a single playthrough. Overall, it seems that while there are elements that encourage replaying, the game ultimately feels more like a one-time experience for many players.
- “The replayability and emphasis on tactics really bring this game together.”
- “There's also a lot of replay value too; every playthrough feels like something new every single time, and that's hard to achieve.”
- “The class combinations make the game quite replayable too, which I am sure I will at some point take advantage of!”
- “You get every class at the end (which cuts the replayability for me).”
- “Unfortunately the game doesn't have much for you to do once you've beaten the final boss fight, except for the usual collecting some leftover collectibles and the standard secret boss fight (I don't give them bonus points for this since many RPG games have this these days so it's kinda to be expected) there's not really a lot of replayability in this game since the few choices you do get to make don't matter, and there's nothing you can really change.”
- “The biggest complaint I would have to make is that there is pretty much no replay value.”
monetization
170 mentions
2 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as a cash grab due to the presence of unskippable ads, day-one DLC, and a perceived push towards microtransactions through Ubisoft's Uplay system. While some users argue that there are no significant microtransactions affecting gameplay, others feel that the integration of these elements detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the monetization strategy has sparked considerable debate, with opinions divided on its impact on the game's value and enjoyment.
- “There are no microtransactions in this game in spite of what people are saying.”
- “Please understand that there are no microtransactions in this game; you can earn everything in the game just by playing it alone.”
- “A lot of reviews are negative claiming microtransactions, but there are none.”
- “This game had so much potential, but it's just a cash grab.”
- “The game also throws marketing popups for premium services or items at you from the start, making the whole thing feel like a cheap cash grab.”
- “The whole production seemed like a cash grab from Ubisoft (with day 1 DLC and exorbitant season pass).”
optimization
168 mentions
20 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering, lag, and bugs that disrupt gameplay. While some users have managed to run the game smoothly on high-end systems, others have found it poorly optimized for keyboard and mouse controls, suggesting it is better suited for console play. Overall, the consensus indicates that the game suffers from a lack of polish and optimization, particularly for PC users.
- “The combat system has majorly been improved and the entire game is just a major improvement in performance as well.”
- “Issues/optimization: well optimized with good performance on modern hardware.”
- “It was well optimized so there are no frame rate issues or glitches.”
- “There is no optimization, nor progression, nor any sense of accomplishment.”
- “The game also suffers from a huge problem with optimization - the game's graphics are literally cardboard cutouts, but it takes up all of my CPU, and by the end of the game there's a lot of lag at the start of each turn in combat, to the point that I had to browse social media between each turn just to pass the time.”
- “Buying this game in its current state is a gamble; I loved the gameplay and the story was excellent, but you are basically spending $60 for a game that might not even open without crashing, and there are plenty of game-breaking bugs. Good game, awful optimization.”
emotional
88 mentions
89 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a surprisingly heartfelt narrative that explores themes of friendship, acceptance, and personal identity, often juxtaposed with crude humor. Players report experiencing a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, particularly during poignant moments that resonate with their own experiences. Despite some criticisms of the gameplay and story pacing, many find the emotional depth and character connections to be a standout feature, making it a memorable and touching experience.
- “Underneath all the fart jokes and crude humor, there's a surprisingly touching story about friendship, acceptance, and the power of being true to yourself.”
- “This game made me cry every 30 minutes. 10/10.”
- “There are moments where the story gets dark, from the parents emotionally abusing each other, to your eventual choice of having to pick which one to save, but with the ending everything is fixed.”
- “A boring story with agonizingly slow gameplay, completely unbalanced difficulty, and the Ubisoft launcher straight from the depths of hell.”
- “But this game is a forgettable boring story that's also far too easy on the hardest setting, so it just drags.”
- “Boring story, forgettable encounters, inconvenient controls designed for a gamepad.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
43 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its faithful representation of the South Park universe, with many reviewers noting its humor, engaging music, and immersive exploration. While some feel it captures the essence of the show effectively, others argue that it lacks the same magic as its predecessor, "Stick of Truth," leading to mixed opinions on its overall impact. Overall, the atmosphere is described as compelling and enjoyable, particularly for fans of the series, though some elements may feel repetitive or darker than expected.
- “The atmosphere is great; if you love the show and enjoyed the previous game, you'll love this one as well.”
- “Ubisoft managed to nail the atmosphere and dark humor of South Park with an amazingly fun and addictive RPG system.”
- “The gameplay and soundtrack are great; the atmosphere is exactly South Park, the characters and dialogues are funny, and the story is a parody of your average Marvel movie.”
- “Story & atmosphere: feels like the leftover ideas of Stick of Truth were gathered, and some story were added so it can be sold as a new game.”
- “The quality of the story and atmosphere of The Fractured But Whole, compared to its predecessor, has been a very divisive topic among players.”
- “There are a lot of throwbacks to the series such as Craig's evolved super, but the game doesn't quite capture the ridiculing and no-holds-barred atmosphere of the predecessor, something that has always been a staple of South Park to me.”
character development
44 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and engagement, offering players a variety of options and insights into both major and minor characters. While some reviews note a lack of complexity in character skills, many appreciate the meaningful progression and the ability to explore diverse identities. Overall, the character development is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the storytelling and gameplay experience.
- “There is so much to do, and so much character development that really draws the player in.”
- “The story was a bit slower compared to the previous game, but there's a lot more content, with a lot more depth and character development for your character.”
- “Great expansion on storyline and character development.”
- “Game has almost no character development.”
- “Each has little screen time, and hardly any character development.”
- “Although you get some character development for Tweek and Craig, as well as Wendy, and a little bit of Butters and Stan, all other characters rely on your prior knowledge of South Park as a show.”