Turbo Pug

About

Turbo Pug is a single player casual platformer game. It was developed by Back To Basics Gaming and was released on June 13, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

Turbo Pug is a fast-paced, pixelated platformer game where you play as a powerful pug fighting against hordes of enemies and bosses. With upgrades, power-ups, and various weapons, players must blast their way through dynamic levels and big boss battles. The game features a unique blend of retro graphics and modern gameplay, providing a challenging and entertaining experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,906 reviews

music87 positive mentions

stability5 negative mentions

The gameplay is smooth and addictive, making it a fun time-killer.
The graphics and music are charming, adding to the overall enjoyment of the game.
The variety of unlockable characters, including different pugs and cats, keeps the gameplay interesting.

The game can become repetitive quickly, with limited content and obstacles.
Visibility issues arise during night and stormy weather, making it hard to see obstacles.
There is no quick restart option, requiring players to navigate back to the main menu after each death.

music
185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The music in the game is a mix of catchy chiptune and 8-bit tracks that enhance its retro vibe, with many players finding it enjoyable and relaxing. However, the soundtrack is criticized for being repetitive, often cycling between just a couple of songs, which can become annoying over time. Overall, while the music is generally well-received for its charm and upbeat nature, some players recommend muting it in favor of their own playlists.
- “The game features a chiptune/8-bit soundtrack, adding to the retro atmosphere along with the graphics.”
- “The soundtrack for this game is genuinely awesome, too, though there's little content to the game I still find it a fun little time-sink for an hour or so.”
- “The music is lovely and it's such a fun game.”
- “The music is the worst I have ever heard in a game.”
- “The music is boring and repetitive.”
- “There are only 2 songs and both are mind-numbing and don't suit the pace of the game; they also both start when your pug dies instead of when you start the session, so you end up starting to play when the song is partway through.”
graphics
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming pixel art and retro aesthetic, while others criticize bland visuals and technical issues like poor hit detection and graphical glitches. Many players appreciate the cute and colorful design, which fits well with the game's theme, but some find the overall execution lacking, especially in fullscreen mode. Overall, the graphics are seen as a highlight for some, but a drawback for others, leading to a polarized reception.
- “I've never played a game with such beautiful and realistic graphics.”
- “The game is beautiful, the graphics, the music, the sound!”
- “The graphics have a great style and it fits that retro style.”
- “The SNES-like graphics are bland and the music is passable.”
- “There are visual glitches while playing, poor hit boxes, and really terrible lighting effects that wash out the visuals into an unparsable mess.”
- “The game also has a 'graphics' setting which is a lie; changing the graphics setting does absolutely nothing, and the game was made on GM8, so of course you can't change the graphics settings.”
gameplay
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
55%
7%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, primarily revolving around a one-click mechanic for jumping, which some players find addictive and enjoyable. However, opinions are mixed, with many noting that the gameplay can become monotonous and lacks depth, making it more suitable for short bursts of play rather than extended sessions. While the graphics and music receive praise, the overall experience is often described as hit or miss, with some players seeking more variety and updates to enhance the gameplay.
- “The stunning fluid and competitive gameplay truly astounds me.”
- “This is a great little runner game with nice graphics and smooth gameplay.”
- “The simplicity of Turbo Pug's mechanics is a breath of fresh air in the midst of all the unnecessarily complex action games found in the market today.”
- “The quality of the one-click jumpy runner gameplay is entirely dependent on the random level generator.”
- “I don't really recommend this game, because the gameplay isn't that fun.”
- “The gameplay consists of jumping at the right moment, which is really monotonous and not entertaining over more than a short time.”
humor
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
6%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it funny and entertaining, often describing it as a delightful way to pass the time. Many reviews highlight the quirky characters, amusing sound effects, and the overall lighthearted nature of the gameplay, which contributes to its addictive quality. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, making it enjoyable for casual play and eliciting laughter from players.
- “A very funny game!”
- “This game is so funny, and you keep telling yourself: just one more time, one more time.”
- “It's a stupidly simple yet brilliant game; I even found myself laughing at it a few times randomly while playing, the combination of the music and the hundreds of little pug heads floating around just got to me.”
- “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- “The attempts at comedy just made me roll my eyes.”
story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
60%
8%
The game's story revolves around a pug on a heartfelt quest to collect coins and return home, offering a mix of emotional depth and character development that resonates with players. While many praise its compelling narrative and innovative gameplay, some critics note a lack of clarity in the pug's motivations and backstory, suggesting that the game could benefit from a more structured storyline. Overall, the narrative is described as gripping and emotional, with a blend of humor and life lessons that enhance the gaming experience.
- “The story of a pug trying to return home made me cry in ways I didn't know I could.”
- “A very in-depth story of a pug who has escaped from the home of an abusive family on a quest to collect coins throughout the world so he can pay for food and shelter.”
- “With a deep, complex storyline and amazing characters with rich backstories, Turbo Pug is a game that only comes around once in a blue moon.”
- “There's no story or purpose to this game, other than challenging yourself to get a little further than you did before, so if that's what you're after, it's best to look elsewhere.”
- “I don't know this pug's objective, his motivation, his backstory, what goes on in his head, who he is, why he is doing what he is doing, how he gained these skills, what he is after, what his name is, who he loves, what he's been through, where he plans on going, what he smells like, whether or not he enjoys movies with Hugh Jackman, the order in which he pours his milk and cereal, what kind of music he likes, who his parents are, or even his shoe size.”
- “It isn't a bad thing, although it is just another lousy game with no story or real idea.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, evoking strong feelings and tears from players as they navigate the poignant story of a pug's journey home. Reviewers highlight its heartwarming and wholesome elements, alongside a gripping plot filled with life lessons and unexpected twists, making it a memorable experience for players of all ages. Overall, it offers a powerful emotional rollercoaster that resonates long after playing.
- “I love this game; it made me feel special emotions I had never felt before in my life.”
- “It has one of the deepest and heart-wrenching stories of this generation.”
- “I have never been put on such an emotional rollercoaster before.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Overall, users find the game to have high replayability, often comparing it to "the impossible game" due to its engaging challenge and smooth performance. While some suggest that additional content could enhance replay value, many agree it offers a more playable experience than competitors like MSFS 2024.
- “High replayability as you constantly try to get further (similar to the impossible game).”
- “Higher replay value than any game.”
- “While not extremely replayable, Turbo Pug offers a higher frame rate than literally every game on next-gen consoles, providing a smooth, 'impossible game-esque' experience.”
- “Some things could/should be added to increase replay value.”
- “Though I would love more playable characters.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by frequent visual glitches, poor hit detection, and subpar lighting effects that detract from the overall experience. While some users note it is less buggy than other titles like "izombie" and "Fallout 4," issues still persist, leading to an inconsistent gameplay experience.
- “There are visual glitches while playing, poor hitboxes, and really terrible lighting effects that wash out the visuals into an unparsable mess.”
- “It doesn't work and glitches out the whole time.”
- “As I ran, I noticed a few glitches here and there.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is well-optimized, delivering smooth performance even at 4K resolution and achieving high frame rates, making it accessible for weaker computers. Users report a seamless experience with no significant issues related to overscan or DPI.
- “I comfortably get 500 frames per second, so I think the game will run smoothly even on weaker computers.”
- “Performance is good and smooth in 4K with no overscan or DPI issues, mostly due to Unity, allowing baristas to pretend to be game developers since 2005.”
- “Well optimized.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The game features a variety of characters with unique abilities and a customizable environment, all available for a one-time purchase without microtransactions, making it an affordable option. However, some users feel the lack of notifications for new content and achievements detracts from the overall experience, leading to perceptions of it being a quick cash grab. Overall, it is praised for its nostalgic feel and kid-friendly pricing.
- “No microtransactions, made me feel like I'm in the 90's again - 10/10 IGN”
- “It would be great for kids to play and it is a nice cheap price and has no microtransactions.”
- “It has multiple characters (they're mostly skins) with different abilities, it has a changeable environment and no microtransactions. You still have to pay, but it's less than a life pack in these kinds of games.”
- “No notification of unlocking new characters, or of getting a new high score, no controller support or achievements make the whole thing feel like somebody made it in a weekend for a quick cash grab.”
- “It has multiple characters (they're mostly skins) with different abilities, it has a changeable environment and no microtransactions; you still have to pay, but it's less than a life pack in these kinds of games, so I give this game my rating of the Buck Bumble song/10.”
- “No microtransactions, made me feel like I'm in the 90's again - 10/10 IGN.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game successfully creates a nostalgic atmosphere through its chiptune/8-bit soundtrack and retro graphics, though players note that even a single mistake can disrupt this carefully crafted ambiance.
- “The game features a chiptune/8-bit soundtrack, adding to the retro atmosphere along with the graphics.”
- “One mistake and the perfect atmosphere is ruined.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The character development in the game is praised for being exceptional and engaging, contributing significantly to the captivating story. However, some users criticize the character design as lacking depth or appeal.
- “It's story is captivating and the character development is godly.”
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
- “The characters lack depth and their growth is predictable.”
- “I found the character arcs to be underwhelming and poorly executed.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessive, particularly criticizing the achievement spam and card farming introduced in 2017, which makes unlocking characters feel tedious and ultimately detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- “A little too grindy to unlock characters and wears out its welcome.”
- “By 2017, we had full-on achievement spam and card farming.”