Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 66 | 33 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 88% | 81 | 73 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 84% | 78 | 82 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 23, 2025) · 82 reviews sampled · 57 total reviews in window · weighted 41 up / 7.6 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (20)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 67
“While it has a unique look, and works well in general as a puzzle platformer, some issues with depth perception and quirky mechanics let it down”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While mostly light-hearted, it does give off some eerie vibes at times. My playthrough took about 8 hours while spending some time searching for most collectibles and secrets.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Once Upon a Puppet tried to present a new and exciting idea, and it partially succeeded by building a theatrical world with an artistic and visually appealing style, accompanied by music that matches the atmosphere. However, it overlooked everything beyond that. Behind this enchanting curtain lies a shallow gameplay experience with repetitive puzzles and a story that lacks soul. While the game does have a unique identity, it falls short on delivering enjoyment, which causes boredom to quickly take over the experience.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Too often, I found myself quitting out of frustration, forced to replay sections from the last checkpoint because of bugs. These weren't minor annoyances'they significantly impacted the experience. With proper polish, this could have been rated much higher. If the developers eventually patch the game, it's absolutely worth your time. Until then, I suggest adding it to your wishlist and waiting.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“I very much enjoyed the majority of my time with Once Upon a Puppet, and while it was not entirely without issues, it's a nice fusion of search adventuring and the linearity of Little Nightmares. This one is well worth a look for platforming fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Accepting your past and moving forward after great loss are universal messages. Those messages are the heart of the adventure Once Upon a Puppet expresses. Drev and Nieve's journey, despite having some loose threads here and there, tells a powerful story utilizing solid platforming, strong presentation, and charming characters you grow to care for.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“If you like darker fairy tales and stop-motion style visuals, Once Upon a Puppet will definitely delight you. All in all, it's not a bad title, but it could have made more out of its offered potential.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Once Upon a Puppet is a good puzzle-adventure game that is also funny, touching, and full of style. Maybe the methods aren't very new, but what counts is the beautifully staged story of what kind of magic happens behind the scenes.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Once Upon a Puppet is a game that succeeds more on its artistic merits and creative vision than its mechanical execution. It's a beautiful, atmospheric adventure that creates a unique and memorable world, even if the journey through it isn't always smooth.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“For us as players, "Once Upon a Puppet" is a bit like the world within the game itself: a play full of adventure, heart, and quirky characters, somewhat predictable and with numerous loving details. It's one that takes place on a low-level stage, it can't (yet) make it onto the big AAA stages, but it will find many fans who will love this special style and explore every corner until they've uncovered every last secret. "Once Upon a Puppet" has many facets and, despite the rather slow pace of the production, is a play that's definitely worth seeing.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Once Upon a Puppet is an indie 2.5D puzzle-platformer with a lot of charm, but not a whole lot of substance.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Once Upon a Puppet excels in its ability to build a fantastical world cobbled together from the dilapidated remains of opulence. As a 2.5D platformer, the game’s attempts to use the genre’s foundations are often mixed. Clever puzzles and bursts of action go hand-in-hand with movement that can often not feel fluid and satisfying enough. But players open to the game’s charm should be able to ignore the blemishes and enjoy the moments that truly shine.”
read full review ↗
Nindie Spotlight
Minimap
Just Play it
SECTOR.sk
TheSixthAxis
Lords Of Gaming 
SomHráč.sk
NoobFeed
Duuro Magazine
GAMES.CH
Game Rant
Digital Chumps…and 8 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Another round of fixes!Jul 23, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Collectible hotfix is here!Apr 30, 2025