Jot, the hero of a children’s book, discovers he is trapped inside his own story.
Stories that take you to another world >>>
The Plucky Squire is now available: https://t.co/WWB1ZevIOk pic.twitter.com/ABmH8iSPi6
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The evil wizard Humgrump, also realizing he is a book character, flips ahead and learns he is destined to lose to Jot. With a wave of his wand, Humgrump ejects Jot from the hand-drawn pages into the real-life bedroom of a boy named Sam.
Jot’s quest is to return to his storybook world and defeat Humgrump. He jumps between the 2D pages and the 3D bedroom, using his abilities to manipulate the story.
The Plucky Squire is "a charming, surprisingly family-friendly win"
10/10 @WindowsCentral
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Jot can change words in the book to alter his environment, like adding “cheese” near a mouse to distract it.
"The Plucky Squire is the first game I've played that so effectively speaks to that childhood, to that love of art and its power to inspire."
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He can also jump out, pick up pages to shake out obstacles, and explore Sam’s room to find new abilities.
Escaping pages: Jot’s unique journey
The Plucky Squire, released Tuesday by developer All Possible Futures, is a Zelda-inspired adventure that creatively blends puzzles, swordplay, and a silent protagonist.
I have to agree with this Polygon review of The Plucky Squire — it's a beautiful game with a clever concept that is, unfortunately, a chore to play https://t.co/0KLGJluNoq
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 17, 2024
Co-director Jamie Turner says when Jot is kicked out of his book, “He’s been this amazing main character up until this point, and now he gets set back to zero.”
The game features clever wordplay puzzles where Jot swaps words to progress, like turning “closed” gates into “open” ones. Outside the book, Jot becomes a 3D character and can tilt or flip pages to solve puzzles. The developers also shake things up with charming minigames in various styles.
However, the game is held back by an overly wordy script with characters constantly explaining what to do next, even with an optional hint system available. The final act also drags with Jot losing his abilities and repeating stealth sections. Despite these issues, The Plucky Squire remains a delightful, inventive adventure.
It’s a testament to the imaginative potential of both video games and picture books, reminding players that the magic of a good story is timeless.
