Zup! 3

About

Zup! 3 is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by Quiet River and was released on January 12, 2017. It received very positive reviews from players.

Zup 2 is a physics-based puzzle game with a minimalistic art style. Players navigate levels by interacting with various objects and manipulating the environment to reach the goal. With over drag and drop mechanics, the game offers a unique and challenging experience for fans of puzzle games. Note: This summary is based on general knowledge of puzzle games and the game's storepage, as I don't have access to specific information about "Zup 2."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,924 reviews

gameplay76 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

gameplay
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The gameplay of the Zup series is characterized by simple, addictive mechanics and creative level design, appealing primarily to players seeking achievement farming rather than challenging gameplay. While some reviews highlight the relaxing and fun aspects of the puzzles, many criticize the lack of innovation and depth, noting that the gameplay often feels repetitive and limited in scope. Overall, it offers a brief, casual experience that may satisfy achievement hunters but leaves those seeking substantial gameplay wanting more.
- “3 ups the ante with creative level design and innovative mechanics.”
- “✅ Damnably addictive, simple and relaxing gameplay.”
- “The zup series offers good puzzle games with a decent scope of difficulty, a generous amount of achievements, and fair gameplay for its price.”
- “Performance or gameplay falls significantly below the passing mark.”
- “This so-called game consists of 1% gameplay and 99% achievements.”
- “The gameplay is horrid as well.”
music
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The music in the game is generally described as calming and relaxing, enhancing the overall experience for players who enjoy puzzle games. However, many users noted the lack of proper audio controls, making it difficult to adjust or turn off the background music, which can be annoying at times. While some players appreciated the soundtrack, others suggested that it might be better to listen to their own music while playing.
- “The music is very calming and the physics are good but the level design isn't that good.”
- “Really relaxing game, good soundtrack and nice puzzles.”
- “If you like relaxing music while playing simple puzzle games, Zup is a good option because it delivers, and is a cheap game above all.”
- “Bewilderingly, the game doesn't include proper audio controls, so you can't turn off the annoying background music; you'll need to alt+tab out and stop the music using the Windows sound mixer.”
- “As far as I'm aware, there's no official soundtrack in the game.”
- “For those who play music for the soundtrack, there is none, so you're better off listening to your own music.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming visuals and minimalistic art style, while others criticize the lack of resolution options and overall mediocrity. Many players feel that the graphics are not the main draw of the game, as the focus is more on gameplay and achievements. Overall, while some find the visuals appealing, others consider them basic or lacking compared to expectations for a PC game.
- “With charming visuals and clever puzzles, it's a must-play for fans and puzzle enthusiasts alike.”
- “[i] Visual aesthetics - stunning graphics.”
- “Nice minimalistic graphics, calm music will help you relax after a hard day, 1708 easy achievements and 4 trading cards.”
- “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- “With no improvement from the first two installments, the graphics are severely lacking, but since most people aren't here for the graphics, that doesn't really matter.”
story
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
56%
12%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its compelling and heartwarming narrative filled with interesting characters, while others criticize it for lacking depth or a coherent plot. Many players found the writing to be engaging and emotionally resonant, though some noted that the game could feel short or overly focused on achievements rather than storytelling. Overall, the narrative seems to resonate well with those who appreciate character-driven experiences, despite some opinions that it lacks a substantial story.
- “Heartbreaking story filled with lovely characters like the red box, blue ball, and so on. The writing was genius; I could honestly go on infinitely with this, but I can't put my amazement into text.”
- “Came for the achievements, stayed for the heartwarming story, beautiful gameplay, and lovable characters.”
- “I played this game for the story and interesting characters.”
- “✅ this game has no story”
- “Has no story.”
- “-no story.”
humor
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with many players finding it funny and enjoyable, especially in the early stages. However, the repetitive nature of the achievements and level designs leads to a decline in comedic impact over time, with some players expressing that the humor becomes tiresome. Overall, while the game starts off amusing, its charm may wear thin for those who play longer.
- “A funny but short puzzle game that throws achievements at you while you click on things.”
- “I enjoyed it, it was hilarious seeing all the achievements.”
- “It's so good and funny game.”
- “Is that supposed to be funny?”
- “Is that supposed to be funny?”
grinding
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
The reviews overwhelmingly characterize the game as an "achievement farming simulator," highlighting its tedious and repetitive nature. While some players find it enjoyable for casual achievement hunting, many express that the grinding required feels boring and lacks meaningful gameplay, often suggesting it only appeals to those specifically seeking to boost their achievement count.
- “Just a really boring achievement farming game.”
- “If you want more achievements but a game that feels extremely tedious, buy Zup!”
- “A little part of me died inside after farming these achievements.”
replayability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
55%
30%
The game's replayability is largely criticized, with many users noting it offers very little in terms of replay value due to its short length and lack of complex gameplay. While some mention it can be appealing for achievement hunters, overall, it fails to provide a compelling reason to revisit after the initial playthrough.
- “I don't know how much replay value this has, but it wasn't really a wasted whatever like fifty cents on sale that I spent.”
- “ infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “[i] replay value - longevity and replayability.”
- “❌ very little replay value”
- “Also, the game is so short and has no replayability, so the only way to get the cards is to idle in-game for hours.”
- “No replay value or complex puzzles.”
monetization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
71%
The monetization strategy of the game heavily relies on microtransactions, which many users criticize as a blatant cash grab aimed at players' desire for achievements. While some find the gameplay enjoyable, the overall presentation and polish are lacking, leading to a perception of the game as a low-effort title designed primarily to exploit players financially.
- “Like yeah, it makes your profile look nice and it's unique, but it's very clearly here just as a cash grab.”
- “Zup lacks any real polish or presentation and is yet another game to litter the Steam store as a quick cash grab which exploits an end user's OCD desire for more achievements.”
- “Shameless cash grab, targeting those who want higher numbers for their achievements.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its deeply emotional narrative, featuring a heartbreaking story and lovable characters that resonate with players. Reviewers highlight the genius writing and engaging gameplay, which evoke strong feelings and even tears, particularly as the story explores themes of social isolation and personal connection. Overall, it offers a heartwarming experience that captivates players beyond just gameplay achievements.
- “The graphics and the gameplay truly made me cry.”
- “Came for the achievements, stayed for the heartwarming story, beautiful gameplay, and lovable characters.”
- “The deep narrative of a gamer who becomes a social outcast due to achievement hunting is very engaging and deeply emotional towards the end.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is criticized for its poor performance and gameplay, which are described as significantly below acceptable standards. Reviewers note that the game feels generic and overly casual, with its most notable feature being the post-modernistic achievements rather than engaging gameplay.
- “Performance or gameplay falls significantly below the passing mark.”
- “Most generic and extremely casual short physical (reaction/timing) puzzle with the most notable thing about it being post-modernistic achievements performance.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as immersive and captivating, creating an engaging environment that draws players in.
- “Immersive atmosphere - captivating environment.”
- “Immersive atmosphere - captivating environment.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development in the game is highly praised, with multiple users highlighting it as exceptional and unparalleled in quality.
- “I've never seen character development as good as this.”