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Once Upon a Puppet is a narrative-driven adventure, which blends genres into a cinematic 2.5D puzzle-platformer set in the world of theater. The gameplay is centered around two main characters – a Stagehand named Nieve, who has been exiled to the darkness of the Understage, and a Puppet called Drev who has been magically bonded to her. Their connection shapes both the story and gameplay as they journey through the Understage, retelling forgotten stories and confronting the shadows that haunt them.
By wielding Nieve's glove, you can use the magical threads to control Drev through the power of puppetry, which opens up unique actions and movements as you explore. In addition to the classic platforming and puzzle solving, these threads can be used to interact with the props you find, alter the environment around you, and reveal secret pathways to delve into – making them an integral part of the gameplay.
You only need to glance at the screenshots to appreciate the beautiful hand-crafted theatrical world, known as the Kingdom of Theater, in which Once Upon a Puppet takes place. Taking its inspiration from stage plays and puppetry in general, you'll see shifting backdrops and moving sets that change the scenery on the fly, while also discovering collectible costumes to switch up your appearance. But be wary, as deadly creatures lurk in the shadows that are determined to bring the curtain down on your performance.
As you rebuild the theatrical sets to progress through the imposing Understage, you'll uncover more of the narrative behind this adventure to start piecing together the story. There must be a reason why the fates of Nieve and Drev have become so intertwined with one another – but will you be able to delve deep to uncover this mystery and help free them from their bonds so they can escape the dilapidated Kingdom of Theater?
As you would expect from an adventure with such a theatrical setting, Once Upon a Puppet features a captivating musical score that brings the world to life through a rich soundtrack and immersive sound effects. The action is punctuated with vaudevillian charm and dramatic flair, so you can truly lose yourself in each performance during your journey.
Once Upon a Puppet is out now on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, and if you purchase it on Steam before May 7 then you'll receive a special introductory offer of a 10% discount. The Nintendo Switch version will be available in early June 2025, and you can follow publisher Daedalic Entertainment on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and updates on the game.
