Okay, so I wasn’t expecting much when I first heard about The Plucky Squire. Another indie action-adventure game, right? Wrong. This thing completely blindsided me with its whole “jump between 2D storybook pages and 3D reality” gimmick. And yeah, I’m calling it a gimmick, but it’s the kind that actually works.
All Possible Futures really went all-in on this concept, and honestly? It pays off more than it should.
What’s the deal with Jot and this weird book world?
So you play as Jot, this little knight dude who lives inside a children’s storybook. His life’s pretty straightforward – fight bad guys, save the day, rinse and repeat. Classic hero stuff. But then the game throws you a curveball: Jot discovers he can literally jump off the page and into the real world.
I know how that sounds. Trust me, I rolled my eyes too. But when you actually see it happen for the first time… it’s kind of mind-blowing. One second you’re moving around in this flat, colorful storybook world, and the next you’re walking around someone’s desk in full 3D, looking back at the book you just escaped from.
The story gets deeper than you’d expect too. Jot’s not just randomly hopping between dimensions – there’s actual purpose behind it. Sometimes you need to manipulate things in the real world to change what happens in the storybook, or vice versa.
The Plucky Squire Codes (because of course there are codes)
Yeah, like every game these days, there’s a bunch of codes floating around. Here’s what the community’s dug up so far:
- PLUCKYHERO2024
- JOTADVENTUREX
- SQUIREMASTER77
- BOOKTOREALM3D
- DEFENDEROFHOPE
- PAGESJUMPER99
- MIGHTYSQUIRE08
- ESCAPEFROMBOOK
- LEGENDOFJOTX1
- SWORDOFTALES22
Do these codes actually matter?
Look, I’m gonna be straight with you – most of these aren’t game-changers. They’re more like little easter eggs and cosmetic unlocks. A few new outfits for Jot, some behind-the-scenes content, maybe a mini-game or two.
But here’s the thing: some of them do affect gameplay in subtle ways. PAGESJUMPER99 makes transitions between the 2D and 3D worlds smoother, which is actually pretty helpful during some of the trickier puzzles. BOOKTOREALM3D gives you hints for some of the more complex challenges.
Why bother with codes at all?
Honestly? Because the developers clearly had fun hiding this stuff. It’s not like you need any of these to beat the game or enjoy it. But if you’re the type who likes finding every secret and seeing every detail the devs put in, then yeah, punch these in and see what happens.
Plus, some of the unlockable content actually gives you insight into how they pulled off the whole 2D-to-3D transition thing, which is pretty cool from a technical standpoint.
The visuals are genuinely impressive
This is where the game really shines. The art direction is fantastic – when you’re in the storybook sections, everything looks like it was ripped straight out of a high-quality children’s book. Bright colors, clean lines, that slightly exaggerated cartoon style that just works.
Then you jump into the 3D world and suddenly there’s depth, shadows, realistic lighting. But here’s what impressed me most: it never feels jarring. The transition is so smooth that your brain just accepts it, even though logically it should feel weird as hell.
I’ve played through several sections multiple times just to watch that transition happen. There’s something weirdly satisfying about seeing Jot step off a flat page and suddenly become a fully 3D character. The technical execution here is really solid.
Gameplay that actually makes sense
The core gameplay loop revolves around switching between these two worlds to solve puzzles and progress the story. And before you ask – no, it’s not as confusing as it sounds. The game does a good job of teaching you the rules early on.
Most puzzles involve using elements from both worlds. Maybe there’s a broken bridge in the storybook, so you hop into the real world, find some tape or glue, then go back and fix it in the story. Or you need to rearrange objects on the desk to change how the story plays out on the page.
Combat’s pretty straightforward – basic sword fighting with some dodge mechanics. Nothing revolutionary, but it doesn’t need to be. The real challenge comes from figuring out how to use both dimensions to overcome obstacles.
The puzzle design is smarter than expected
What I really appreciate is that the puzzles aren’t just “find the switch” situations. They make you think outside the box – literally, since the box is the storybook itself. Some solutions require you to manipulate the story from the outside, others need you to change things within the book that affect the real world.
There were a few times I got genuinely stuck, not because the solution was obscure, but because I was thinking too linearly. Once you start approaching problems with that “inside-outside the book” mindset, things click into place.
Audio design that supports the concept
The sound work here deserves mention. Inside the storybook, you get this whimsical, orchestrated soundtrack that fits the fairy tale vibe perfectly. Step into the real world, and suddenly there’s ambient room tone, realistic footsteps, the sound of papers rustling.
It’s a small detail, but it really reinforces the illusion that you’re moving between two completely different types of reality. The voice acting’s solid too – the narrator especially sells the whole “living storybook” concept.
Length and replayability
The main campaign took me about 9 hours, though I spent extra time exploring and messing around with the dimension-hopping mechanics. There are collectibles scattered throughout, plus some optional puzzle rooms that’ll add a few more hours if you’re a completionist.
Replay value is… okay. Once you know the puzzle solutions, subsequent playthroughs go much faster. But there are a few branching paths and some secrets I missed the first time through, so there’s reason to go back if you’re into that.
The rough edges
Let’s be real – this isn’t a AAA production, and it shows in places. I hit a few minor bugs during world transitions, mostly on console. Loading times can be a bit lengthy, especially when switching between dimensions frequently.
The camera can get wonky during 3D sections, and there are moments where the difficulty spikes pretty randomly. Some puzzles are almost insultingly easy, then suddenly you hit one that’ll stump you for 20 minutes.
Worth your time?
The Plucky Squire succeeds because it commits fully to its central concept. Yeah, it’s not perfect, and the execution gets shaky in places. But when it works – and it works most of the time – it creates this unique experience that I haven’t seen anywhere else.
According to Game Informer, games with this kind of innovative core mechanic tend to stick with players long after they finish, even if they’re not technically flawless. That rings true here.
If you’re looking for something genuinely different in the action-adventure space, The Plucky Squire delivers. It’s not going to revolutionize gaming or anything, but it’s a solid, creative experience that justifies its asking price.
I’d give it a 7.5/10 – definitely worth playing, especially if you appreciate games that try something new instead of just polishing existing formulas.
