In a press release, the studio and publisher Devolver Digital have announced that they’ve pushed out a new free update for the action-adventure title’s PC version that adds a new Streamlined Mode, which is described as “a new abridged mode for anyone who’d prefer a less hand-holdy experience.” Streamlined Mode cuts down on camera hints, tutorial dialogue, and other sequences where “control of the game is taken away from you”.

Alongside Streamlined Mode, the update also adds new dialog portraits for major characters and some bug fixes. As mentioned, the patch is available right now on PC, and will be rolling out on consoles “very soon.”

The Plucky Squire is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Read our review of the game through here.

The Plucky Squire is the tale of Jot in a metaphysical sense. As the hero of the titular book, he goes on adventures with his friends, Violet and Thrash. However, when the villain, Humgrump, becomes aware of the world’s true nature, he violently ejects Jot into the real world. By shifting between 2D and 3D realms, Jot must overcome the evil sorcerer’s plans.

The Plucky Squire is a concise adventure with about eight to ten hours of playtime. Check out our review – we awarded it a nine out of ten for the presentation, gameplay, and compelling mechanics. Head here for more details on its accessibility features, which include Jump Assist and turning off falling platforms.

However, perhaps the most distinct similarity is they’re both meant for a wide range of audiences, from kids to adults who have grown up with these kinds of experiences. In a sense, The Plucky Squire isn’t just about calling back to the classics in new and intriguing ways but also channeling one’s childhood. Where storybooks and characters were larger than life, going beyond two dimensions and having a distinct impact on our upbringing. It’s comfortable and nostalgic, manifesting the atmosphere of simpler days while presenting a compelling gameplay journey.

"The realization that maybe the story isn’t predetermined manifests in heart-warming ways."

The Plucky Squire is about Jot, a renowned hero in the Land of Mojo. His life is pretty simple: When he’s not saving the day against the villainous sorcerer Humgrump, he’s writing stories that the populace is enraptured by. However, upon setting out one day to foil another scheme by Humgrump, the latter reveals the shocking truth – that their world is nothing more than a story. Using his powers, he ejects Jot from the book and closes it.

Of course, this does little to deter Jot, who ventures across the desk of Sam, the book’s owner. By meeting up with a mysterious, omnipotent bookworm, he eventually gains the power to reopen the book and turn its pages to return to Mojo and stop Humgrump’s schemes.

Though players primarily control Jot, other characters assist in his journey, like Violet, a trainee witch who also dabbles in art; Thrash, a mountain troll and drummer; and Moonbeard, an overtly chill wizard who also drops some sick beats when things are all too peaceful. While their personalities can initially prove a little two-dimensional – which fits within the story’s context and overall set-up, though their dialogue is passable – they eventually expand in interesting directions.

There’s a running theme of Violet and Thrash leaving Jot to handle everything. So when he disappears, however briefly, panic sets in and eventually morphs into both characters slowly emerging as heroes in their own right. The realization that maybe the story isn’t predetermined manifests in heart-warming ways.

"While the 2D sections can feature side-scrolling platforming, it’s when Jot ventures off the page and into the real world where things get interesting."

While the premise of Jot having to stop Humgrump because it could adversely affect Sam’s chances of being a writer when he grows up sounds contrived, it fits the overall theme of deciding one’s destiny. It’s impressive how the narrative works on so many different levels, even though it’s presented in such an approachable fashion, further aided by narrator Philip Bretherton, who lends an air of elegance to the proceedings.

On a gameplay level, The Plucky Squire is an action-adventure title that brings The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past to mind. The top-down movement and slashing bushes to discover Hearts and currency are very similar – Jot even has a charged slash that can be unlocked, and his sword serves as a boomerang to retrieve items from a distance when thrown. However, the combat adds several contemporary touches as well, from three-hit combos and jumping attacks to dodge-rolls. The result is a comfy mix of old and new, with decent enemy variety to keep you on your toes (though it’s not difficult, even in Adventure Mode).

While the 2D sections can feature side-scrolling platforming, it’s when Jot ventures off the page and into the real world where things get interesting. Not only does the combat change significantly, like more forward momentum with strikes, but so does the exploration. One section involves sneaking past some less-than-friendly beetles, and while it may seem straightforward enough, things quickly ramp up in complexity. There’s extensive traversal between the 2D and 3D worlds, not unlike A Link Between Worlds.

The page-turning mechanic is also well executed. When first starting, Jot encounters puzzles that involve rearranging sentences to produce different outcomes, whether you’re changing the layout of a forest or emptying a moat of water. However, by exiting through special portals and moving towards the book’s edges, you can turn the page to a previous section in the story. Perhaps there’s a word that doesn’t fit your current predicament. Return to an earlier page, and you might find a word that serves as the solution.

"Rounding out The Plucky Squire’s solid gameplay and story-telling are the visuals and music. The former is just a joy to behold – the 2D artwork while exploring the Land of Mojo is brightly colored and clean, animating beautifully."

For example, one puzzle involved singing creatures that blocked pathways during the day. After returning to a previous page and retrieving a word, I changed it to nighttime, causing them to sleep and open up new paths while blocking others. Trying to juggle these two aspects while finding the best way to progress made for a fun puzzle experience. Of course, I also liked experimenting with words to create unorthodox outcomes, like giant gates and deflated insects.

Those mysterious portals also play a part during side-scrolling sections, as you’ll navigate through the dark, avoiding hazards and enemies to progress. The overall approach to the puzzles and platforming is quite robust, growing even more so as you progress further.

Of course, sometimes, Jot needs to venture outside of his story to find items that could help in specific situations. This leads to other sections, like a turn-based mini-game against a dignified elven archer who thinks you’re allied with Humgrump and won’t give up her bow. It leads to another sequence where Jot goes Rambo mode and wields the bow to take down flying bugs. Several other sections await, whether it’s a shoot ’em up sequence or a Punch-Out!!-style boxing mini-game, and they keep the gameplay fresh, even if they’re not too mechanically deep.

Rounding out The Plucky Squire’s solid gameplay and story-telling are the visuals and music. The former is just a joy to behold – the 2D artwork while exploring the Land of Mojo is brightly colored and clean, animating beautifully. When venturing into the 3D realm, the contours, shading, and lighting are immediately apparent, granting a more lifelike and realistic feel to the surroundings (and even to enemies who venture off the page).

"Overall, The Plucky Squire is a magical experience. Its story-telling and action may not initially overwhelm you, but it quickly unfolds into a unique adventure with plenty of heart."

The two styles work excellently in tandem, capturing their respective environments very well. While the music didn’t immediately strike me as amazing, it offers catchy, easy-breezy beats tunes. Moonbeard shouldn’t quit his day job to become a DJ by any means, but at least his beats added a nice comedic air.

When looking at The Plucky Squire as a whole, it’s easy to compare it to other titles that have come before. Some sections are similar to this SHMUP or action title and so on. What makes the experience stand out is how it leverages these different tropes and genres uniquely while keeping to its tone and overall world-building. If there’s any particular knock against the title, it can sometimes feel a little too easy. I know that’s supposed to be a given with Jot’s role and whatnot, but still.

Overall, The Plucky Squire is a magical experience. Its story-telling and action may not initially overwhelm you, but it quickly unfolds into a unique adventure with plenty of heart.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Said moments include Jot fighting against what seems to be a honey badger, shooting down flying bugs with a bow (head here for details on how he got it), and more. Aside from Humgrump, there are potential new bosses, like a giant flying bird. A wide shot of the Land of Mojo closes the trailer, with Humgrump menacingly hovering near Artia, where the queen resides.

The Plucky Squire will be available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch (while launching day one on PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium). It’s verified to run on the Steam Deck; unfortunately, it won’t reach 60 frames per second on the Switch.

The latter has now also confirmed that on the Nintendo Switch, The Plucky Squire will run at 30 FPS. When asked on Twitter if the game will run at 60 FPS on Nintendo’s console, Devolver Digital confirmed that it won’t, stating that the Switch “can’t maintain that, unfortunately”. 

The game’s performance targets haven’t previously been confirmed for any system, but presumably, it will target 60 FPS on PlayStation and Xbox, as opposed to the Switch. 

Previously, developer All Possible Futures revealed that The Plucky Squire’s main story will be roughly 8-10 hours long, before confirming that the game will be Steam Deck Verified. A recent trailer also showcased its accessibility options. 

The Plucky Squire launches on September 17 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. On PS5, it will also release for PlayStation Game Catalog day one. 

The features include a Jump Assist and converting falling platforms into stationary ones for easier platforming. You can also enable hidden portals, which is great for darker locations. Invincibility prevents any damage taken, and a one-hit kill results in a single sword slice slaying enemies.

Of course, there are also two difficulties – Adventure and Story. The former is more challenging, while the latter is more laid-back and meant for those who want to experience the plot.

The Plucky Squire launches on September 17th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. It will be available for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers at launch. Head here for more details on the playtime.

Taking to Twitter, All Possible Futures has officially confirmed that The Plucky Squire is going to be Steam Deck Verified. That means the game will be fully optimized for Valve’s portable device, and should run on the platform without any issues, or without any tweaking required by players. Of course, most would have guessed that the game would launch with full Steam Deck support, but it’s good to get confirmation nonetheless.

Recently, All Possible Futures also confirmed that The Plucky Squire will be about 8-10 hours long for players looking to go through its main story. Read more on that through here.

The Plucky Squire launches on September 17 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. On PS5, it will also be available via PlayStation Plus Game Catalog at launch.

For starters, The Plucky Squire, which is due out next week, will also be available via PlayStation Plus Game Catalog day and date, as previously announced. It will be joined by a handful of acclaimed narrative-driven adventure games in the form of Night in the Woods, Road 96, and Under the Waves, The Farm 51’s survival horror action RPG Chernobylite, 7v7 arcade football game Wild Card Football, Ubisoft’s open world first-person shooter Far Cry 5, colourful action-adventure title Ben 10, and voxel-based sci-fi sandbox game Space Engineers.

Additionally, PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers will also get access to a PS VR2 title in the form of Pistol Whip, and some returning legacy titles with Secret Agent Clank, Sky Gunner, and Mister Mosquito. All aforementioned titles will become available starting September 17.

Taking to Twitter, All Possible Future recently shared “basic facts” about The Plucky Squire so players can “make an informed purchase decision” when the game launches. The developer has revealed that the action-adventure’s main story will be roughly 8-10 hours long (though there’s no word on how much you can extend that playtime depending on how much you engage with the side content).

Players will also have two difficulty modes to choose between, as well as additional difficulty assist options. All Possible Futures has also confirmed that the game will be sold digitally at a price of $29.99 on all platforms. 

The Plucky Squire launches on September 17 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. 

Thus begins a quest wherein he exits the book realm and ventures across the desk into the real world. It involves platforming, shifting in and out of paper, drawings, and banners, and ultimately entering a Dungeons and Dragons-esque fantasy card. The battle for the bow plays out like a turn-based encounter, though ultimately, Jot finds victory by simply talking and explaining his position.

From there, Jot returns to his friends and engages in a third-person shooting gallery against the bugs with the new bow (whose art style meshes well with the 2D art).

The Plucky Squire launches on September 17th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and PC. It will also be available for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers on day one. Check out some more gameplay here.