MARS 2120
MARS 2120
Game
Game2025
Once Upon A Puppet
Developer Flatter Than Earth
Control the strings of fate and embark on a grand adventure with Drev and Nieve. A magical, story-driven 2.5D puzzle-platformer where puppeteering mechanics and a whimsical, theater-inspired world intertwine. From the Steam store page
88 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Oct 18, 2026 · last updated Oct 19, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
90
LovedLoved
55 positive · 6 negative
95% range 80–95%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 55 | 6 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 8 | 0 | 11 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 8 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
59 of 66 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
90% recommend · 56 yes, 6 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 62 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (134 of 157 positive).
Players praise the game's stunning visuals, art direction, and immersive sound design. [1][2][3] Many find the story charming and the experience cozy, though some note it is short. [4][5][6] Some reviewers report technical issues like glitches and input lag that affect gameplay. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
I struggled a lot with this one. The storyline was okay, the animation I liked very much and the concept of controlling a puppet is pretty awesome, but when it came down to the mechanics, I didn't quite enjoy it too much. The gameplay was repetitive, it wasn't a puzzle game and more of just an obstacle course game. It was just a bunch of jump here, grab this, swing on that, avoid the falling objects and occasionally …
- [1]
I've got about an hour in this game and stopped to come put my thoughts down. The visuals and sound design in this game are nothing short of inspired. Top notch, A+ work folks. The way the music and sound wrap together with the handcrafted artwork is really quite breath-taking. They recommend playing with a headset, and I understand why... the ambient sound is a huge part of the immersion in this game, and really …
- [2]
Once Upon a Puppet is a story-driven puzzle platformer that wears its theatrical identity proudly, presenting a world that feels less like a traditional game setting and more like a living stage production. From the opening moments, the game establishes a whimsical yet melancholic tone, drawing players into a forgotten backstage realm where discarded stories, broken props, and lost characters linger in shadow. …
- [7]
On the + side: I loved everything about this game: the exquisite 3-D graphics, mechanical/physics based solutions to moving on and the basic storyline (though it got laborious reading the novel-long narrative). On the - side: In the penultimate confrontation against the Shadow King (where the bad guy throws oil bombs at Drev/Nieve) my version glitched out....the dialogue boxes between Drev and Nieve kept popping up …
- [3]
Really awesome platformer and super gorgeous enviroments
Summarised from 34 of the 90 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 13, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
90% of the 62 Steam reviewers we collected recommend Once Upon A Puppet. The complaint that keeps coming up: some bugs and glitches. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Reactions
60 of 88 · most liked firstBeen really digging Once Upon a Puppet. Fairly simple 3D puzzle adventure with some fantastic art, art direction and music. Around 3 hours in of what's about an 8 hour game and it's been a very enjoyable, more story than stress, ride so far. store.steampowered.com/app/1904880/...
positive · AI labelView post →Adding another game to Fridays KCD2 stream with a #sponsored look at the Once Upon a Puppet Demo! Also, we'll be finishing up Generations Ultimate Low Rank before moving to Rise! Remember, this'll be LR1 and 2 in Rise! Bring level appropriate equipment! twitch.tv/patstaresat
neutral · AI labelView post →I've got about an hour in this game and stopped to come put my thoughts down. The visuals and sound design in this game are nothing short of inspired. Top notch, A+ work folks. The way the music and sound wrap together with the handcrafted artwork is really quite breath-taking. They recommend playing with a headset, and I understand why... the ambient sound is a huge part of the immersion in this game, and really enhances the visual design. You don't really play this game so much as you…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While I did not sit the full 8 plus hours I did finish the game. It was not difficult, there were a few points that I got stuck but managed to figure it out pretty quick. I loved the art style and the voice actress is one of my favorites. The game as a whole was a lot of fun to play. My first controller game on a pc that I have played in a very long time. That was a bit of a learning curve for me as I am a mouse and keyboard gamer. I would recommend this to people that like a relaxed, cozy game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very good hidden gem amongst the bigger seller games! I can see the devs put a lot of heart into making this. The story is good, great graphics and mechanics/controls are very easy to work with. Overall game play is short (I completed within 6 hours) but a lot of good meat is put within that short time frame.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I struggled a lot with this one. The storyline was okay, the animation I liked very much and the concept of controlling a puppet is pretty awesome, but when it came down to the mechanics, I didn't quite enjoy it too much. The gameplay was repetitive, it wasn't a puzzle game and more of just an obstacle course game. It was just a bunch of jump here, grab this, swing on that, avoid the falling objects and occasionally shoot a target. I can easily blame user error on my part due to me having poor…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"I recommend talking to all the characters, because their dialogue lines are very amusing; the game has been translated into our language, among others, and the teams behind the localization appear on the credits" @todasgamers.com on Once Upon a Puppet 🤍 Always a pleasure to see our work noticed 💫
neutral · AI labelView post →I really enjoyed the dialogue - a mix between banter & introspective. game is absolutely gorgeous. my community loves it! it’s the next 2.5D platformer!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Once Upon a Puppet is a story-driven puzzle platformer that wears its theatrical identity proudly, presenting a world that feels less like a traditional game setting and more like a living stage production. From the opening moments, the game establishes a whimsical yet melancholic tone, drawing players into a forgotten backstage realm where discarded stories, broken props, and lost characters linger in shadow. Rather than relying on bombastic spectacle, the experience builds its charm through…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Greatly enjoyed playing this little gem of a game. The story was to die for, sad, but kept you wanting to continue to find out the truth. I think it would of been good if they made this co-op too. The art style was simplyamazing Great work!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I wasn't sure wether or not i would pick up 'once upon a puppet' initially given the high asking price but gave it a shot nonetheless as i was looking for a game that wasn't overly long or challenging. Now having played it i understand why it's quite expensive, quite simply the reason being that once upon a puppet is a VERY polished game. Every level, asset, storybeat and piece of music is of a suprisingly high quality for an indie game thus i played the entire game within one day with a few…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →“Stage-based puzzle-platforming production deserves props for keeping most things things well in hand”- Drew Onia reviews Once Upon a Puppet for AGH adventuregamehotspot.com/review/6352/... #indiegame #adventuregame #puzzlegame #platformer
neutral · AI labelView post →Absolutely fantastic game. A true pleasure to play from start to finish. As a 3D artist, I hope to someday work with the incredible team behind it. Story & gameplay: 11/10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very nice game with a cute story, graphics and minor platforming/puzzle solving. Reminds me of one of my favorite games, Puppeteer. This game does not reach the heights of that game, but for a 6-8 hour game is very enjoyable and worth the price. I wish there were more short/fun games like this and less of the expensive, 30+ hour monstrosities that only seem to get made anymore. Kudos to the development team! I look forward to seeing what else they may produce in the future.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'd hate to disrespect this indie team cuz you can tell they worked hard on this. I'll start with the positives - the overall setting of it with you being a puppet and having to go through various theater stages is very unique from a level design perspective. I would say the back half of the game is where it picks up once you unlock more abilities and start being challenged by the enemies so warning - the first half will feel SLOWWWWWW. Another positive I would say are the animated cutscenes,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a truly wholesome experience to be swept away into this exciting fairytale. I was greeted by lovingly crafted characters (love for the oracle-granny), beautiful soundtracks, extraordinary level design and a very special art style. I was thrilled by the variety of messages the NPCs had to share. I also liked that the demo-level wasn't the first level of the game. Drev's animation and the sound of his footsteps are awesome. My character got stuck at three points in the game, forcing me to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Once upon a Puppet is a very cute and charming little platformer. If you like art style or atmosphere in the Trailer or pictures, I would say give it a try. For a platformer, its very responsive, feels nice to control and has some neat little puzzles The atmosphere is very fitting for the story and the art direction hit the nail on the head for a theater with puppets! There is a few little bugs here and there, but I didn't encounter anything game breaking. Overall the platforming is fun and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed my time with Once Upon A Puppet. If you're a fan of puzzle-platformers, I'd recommend this. Although, I came across a few glitches, they were very minor. Check out my full review: https://minimap.net/magazine/minimap-game-review-once-upon-a-puppet-en
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really awesome platformer and super gorgeous enviroments
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love it so much!!! I would recommend playing this wonderful game!!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While I like the story and the combination of adventure and parkour, the game mechanics is what breaks it for me. I can appreciate the chance to figure things out myself but after the hundred death I could use some help. A hint. Anything. Instead I have to search up a walkthrough to figure out how to beat the level. Furthermore is navigation a ♥♥♥♥♥. I have no idea where to go and few levels speak for themselves. Again, I have to look online to find out what I'm meant to do. Maybe it's just me…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was a very nice cozy & relaxing platformer ! The music was on point at every turn !! It was a magic fairytale/theatrical/puppet show experience ! I loved it ! <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On the + side: I loved everything about this game: the exquisite 3-D graphics, mechanical/physics based solutions to moving on and the basic storyline (though it got laborious reading the novel-long narrative). On the - side: In the penultimate confrontation against the Shadow King (where the bad guy throws oil bombs at Drev/Nieve) my version glitched out....the dialogue boxes between Drev and Nieve kept popping up while I'm trying to fight from being exterminated, then Drev would freeze…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So, I finished a couple of levels, and so far it seems very very solid. The gameplay is good with a nice mix of puzzles, platforms, and runners. Puzzles aren't too difficult at least judging by the first level. Gameplay-wise I hope to see more puzzles where the hand and the puppet have distinct and different roles that need to be coordinated. The story and visuals are really making this game stand out. I like how light and camera are used to focus gamer's attention, and it blends really well…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A fun but short puzzle platformer with an amusing story. I would say this was more a 20 dollar game than 30, but still very much enjoyed it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So I loved this game... Storyline was great. Puzzles were good. Mechanics and optimization...could be better. There was lag in input response. Also the one stage where you are having to pickaxe your way up at the wall at the end definitely needs revisiting. Cause man.....the timing of objects falling were crazy fast and Nieve kept getting stuck on environment objects. Overall, 8/10 Game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fun game, and the story is great~
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fixed my controller problem, hairpin triggers was in a middle position, needed to be able to fully press it down. Still early in game, but seems promising. Tentative thumbs up for right now. Quick response from the devs, is a plus. Reminded me of The Puppeteer, from back on the PS3.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game and good story. Playing is nice and I really enjoyed
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great adventure with a lovely story. I enjoyed playing the game but unfortunately the gameplay does fall off quite a bit as you go especially when the bugs start messing with your progress. But all in all a lovely adventure game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Bestest writing ever.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i like this game, nice use of color, wonderful story line good example of light and darkness of hate, love and what could happen if you let hate get a hold of you. love how puppets and stagehands was used. it gave a magical quality vibe to it. i will admit however some parts of the game was a bit harder, for example climbing the ice to get away from the poison at the end.. it took me 7 tries as I found jumping from the ice to get higher was harder due to the repeated items that were falling.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →cute game. nice artstyle. great audio design. but not my type of puzzle game. just to simple. but thats just me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Amazing Style, Beautiful Deep Story, Love it , Thank you very much for Creating it
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't like how wildly the difficulty varies, from the moment you enter a level and you're already being told what to do, like "you should move this piece onto that platform," even though things like that are already obvious, to having a parkour section where deadly smoke is rising from below, debris that can kill you is falling from above, and you're given absolutely no room for error. Slow down for a second — you're dead — and you have to start all over again. And the final section with the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a stunning game! I don’t have any words. It kind of checked every box in my opinion. Great unique artwork, great story, awesome little mechanics that stay true to the concept of the game. The world seems so alive and as I say in my channel during the playthrough, developer watched every little detail. Humorous conversations, stage seemed so real as you could see the frontstage, backstage, a peak under the stage etc. I’m always looking for unique indie gems and I think Once Upon A Puppet…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This story is beautiful, the gameplay is a bit lackluster with controls a little finnicky, but a great purchase if you're in for a cute little platformer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A delightful game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great platormer
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great RELAXING Game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed this game really cool art style ran smoothly. I just wish it was a little longer some of the mechanics i feel like you get too close to the end of the game. Hoping for a DLC and another story line.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Our game review of #OnceUponaPuppet by @cjediknight87.bsky.social is out now! @onceuponapuppet.bsky.social #Platformer #Adventure #Minimap #GameReview minimap.net/magazine/min...
neutral · AI labelView post →Highly recommend this game. Wonderful story and it has PUPPETS!!! I played this game 3 months ago and I still keep thinking about it and wanting to replay it to 100% it. Even my shooter game enjoying chad friends like the game we had fun each taking turns voicing the characters Not to spoil the ending in anyway but it made me cry and I keep wanting to make art or something for it. I want this game to get more recognition because original games with such a style seem so rare especially from new…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=store.steampowered.com/app/1904880/Once_Upon_A_Puppet/]Once Upon A Puppet delivers much better theatrical themes and charming story elements than gameplay execution. Jump and glide to explore theatrically inspired environments. Handle items and move objects to complete puzzles and platforming sections. Talk to numerous characters for flavor, or the occasional quest giver to obtain simple tasks usually leading to props or stained glass collectibles. Find spools to earn new abilities like…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The text parts where they were talking i skipped and found the game to be enjoyable since it does like to pause your momentum as you go. The cut scenes pretty much clear up the story as well so kinda didn't see a point in reading them. That being said the game play is pretty straighter forward and has lots of old school platforming and puzzle solving to be had. Game puts you in the shoes of a random puppets who gets entangled with a stage hand who was thrown into the underworld. As the story…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nothing too groundbreaking but good enough. Nice environment and protagonist/assistant.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →When I first saw the game at Gamescom, I was very impressed by the graphic style. I'm currently playing it and can highly recommend it. For those unfamiliar with it: There are no boss fights. You play a puppet who must complete tasks from other characters, and everything takes place on a stage. I also think the loading screen is very well done. The price is certainly justified for the development costs, but I would still wait for a sale due to the length of the game. Someone on YouTube finished…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Linear, fixed-camera 3D puzzle-platformer in which you play as a talking puppet attempting to save a kingdom of fellow puppets. The gameplay aspires to be something akin to a family-friendly, horror-free take on Little Nightmares, but there are too many rough edges here for me to recommend this one to kids, with collision detection issues, finicky button prompts, various bugs, and sometimes unclear puzzle design. I still enjoyed this one enough to finish it, but take this as a very qualified…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Heals my soul An unpolished, incredibly enchanted world. Is it the most exciting? No. But the music and and the details make up for it. It feels light to play so far. I like this one a lot.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The story is a story about dealing with loss, in a way.. I could relate with the King's decisions, though our reasons would differ. Drev and Nieve are well written and work quite well together. There are a few heartfelt moments too. Gameplay 2.5D Platforming that manages to be more than block pushing puzzles and interactions. Though, you do that a fair amount. There are a variety of "puzzles," that you'll need to complete. None of them are difficult. The only difficulty I really experienced…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great Indie adventure platformer with an unique story and gameplay. Some bugs, but overall a very enjoyable game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great game, love the artstyle and sound design. Had a couple of bugs, but nothing a restart would't fix. So overall a good game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lovely story, characters, music and voice acting. These and expecially the wonderful art kept me playing until the end. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for gameplay. It got frustrating sometimes due to poorly setup stuff such as enemy feedback. Overall, I still liked the game and appreciate the hard work of those who contibuted!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →interesting story, predictable ending still good
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →8. Once Upon A Puppet I love and adore puppets and puppet-based worlds, and this game delivers a beautiful platformer with a thespian worthy plot to save a kingdom from falling to ruin. I also love the costumes, you give me costumes to collect and I'm in. 4⭐/5⭐
positive · AI labelView post →the gameplay was fun. I enjoyed the puzzles more, not too hard not too easy. perfect story and scenes. 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →brilliant, entertaining, little gem
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →forgiveness is weakness
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The only thing I would change would be more of the narrator and less text. The lady's voice sounds great but constantly having to click characters for text got tedious at times. Other than that, I still enjoyed the game. Games like this is why I bought a 5080 :-)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is a good game but the combat and some hit-boxe ruins it. Combat is literally stand still and you kill your enemies. The Ocarina of time but worse, everything takes time to die. 7/10 Solid but not something you will be dying to play.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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