100
Once Upon A Jester isn’t like too many other games out there, but if you’re willing to give it a chance, you’ll find that it does what it sets out to do incredibly well.
60
A whimsical and light-hearted tale that’s also fairly light on gameplay, Once Upon a Jester is an enjoyable three-hour romp, with colourful silliness for children and irreverent humour for parents to keep both engaged as they play together.
90
Once Upon a Jester is a classic hero quest told through some creative gameplay and writing. There are plenty of touching moments mixed in with the humor, which I wasn’t expecting. The music sets the scenes perfectly as well. What I love about Once Upon a Jester is that the creators took a lot of risks, from the story to the voice acting, and even the mechanics for putting on a show. And all of these features stick the landing. This game is everything I love about the indie scene.
8
I appreciate what the devs tried to do here and there’s no denying that there’s some unique gameplay here incorporating improv techniques from the theatre world. As someone with a master’s degree in theatre, that really intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to see how it was implemented. Mostly I muddled along and it wasn’t super clear how I could improve my skills. I did find the game funnier as it went along but initially I got the idea that they were trying too hard at the young Michael Cera slash lovable nerd routine. My favorite line was when a character goes to a party and says “I don’t know what to do with my arms.” Now that’s funny…and too real. Wallflowers unite! I’d definitely take a look at their future work, but I’ve got to admit this didn’t vibe with me 100%.
7
"At the end of the day, it’s the amusing performances and catchy songs that are going to sell you Once Upon a Jester. Not the repetitive gameplay, not the unlockable stickers, but simply the sheer charm of the main protagonists and the cute shows that they do. If the trailer sold you on the concept, you may very well have a good time with the game – if not, then the gameplay probably won’t do much to win you over." ****/2022/11/25/once-upon-a-jester/
10
Once Upon A Jester is a whimsical, charming adventure! Sok & Jester were such a goofy duo and grew a lot from their Diamond stealing ways to actually love theatre. Together they worked really well and I enjoyed them greatly
Once Upon a Jester
Released On:
Nov 9, 2022
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
57% Positive
4 Reviews
4 Reviews
43% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Apr 5, 2023
100
Once Upon A Jester isn’t like too many other games out there, but if you’re willing to give it a chance, you’ll find that it does what it sets out to do incredibly well.
Dec 12, 2022
90
Once Upon a Jester is a classic hero quest told through some creative gameplay and writing. There are plenty of touching moments mixed in with the humor, which I wasn’t expecting. The music sets the scenes perfectly as well. What I love about Once Upon a Jester is that the creators took a lot of risks, from the story to the voice acting, and even the mechanics for putting on a show. And all of these features stick the landing. This game is everything I love about the indie scene.
User score
Generally Favorable
73% Positive
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
27% Mixed
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
Nov 14, 2022
10
Once Upon A Jester is a whimsical, charming adventure! Sok & Jester were such a goofy duo and grew a lot from their Diamond stealing ways to actually love theatre. Together they worked really well and I enjoyed them greatly
Jan 27, 2025
8
I appreciate what the devs tried to do here and there’s no denying that there’s some unique gameplay here incorporating improv techniques from the theatre world. As someone with a master’s degree in theatre, that really intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to see how it was implemented. Mostly I muddled along and it wasn’t super clear how I could improve my skills. I did find the game funnier as it went along but initially I got the idea that they were trying too hard at the young Michael Cera slash lovable nerd routine. My favorite line was when a character goes to a party and says “I don’t know what to do with my arms.” Now that’s funny…and too real. Wallflowers unite! I’d definitely take a look at their future work, but I’ve got to admit this didn’t vibe with me 100%.
Nov 14, 2022
85
From the live-performed songs to the funny writing and memorable characters, Jester and Sok's journey is one I would heartily recommend and makes my Dutch heart incredibly proud.
Nov 24, 2022
80
With an original story, charming characters, and some killer music, there’s just so much to love about Once Upon a Jester. With so much passion put into this game by such a small group of incredibly talented people, Bonte Avond has given us a unique, enjoyable, and memorable adventure that I couldn’t recommend enough. If you love music, humor, and just simply having fun, then please do yourself a favor and play this game.
Nov 22, 2022
70
I applaud the creative spirit behind Once Upon a Jester, and I had a decent time playing through it. I’d love to see these characters again, and I hope to see more from this developer in the future. The game thankfully reaches its conclusion before the novelty wears out completely, but some parts of it get a little repetitive even within that span of time. It’s an affable affair, and its quirky charms are worth experiencing even with a few shortcomings in tow.
Nov 15, 2022
70
A fantasy musical adventure which has big laughs to match its big heart, while being built around charming, if shallow, gameplay mechanics.
Jan 3, 2023
60
A whimsical and light-hearted tale that’s also fairly light on gameplay, Once Upon a Jester is an enjoyable three-hour romp, with colourful silliness for children and irreverent humour for parents to keep both engaged as they play together.
Nov 25, 2022
7
"At the end of the day, it’s the amusing performances and catchy songs that are going to sell you Once Upon a Jester. Not the repetitive gameplay, not the unlockable stickers, but simply the sheer charm of the main protagonists and the cute shows that they do. If the trailer sold you on the concept, you may very well have a good time with the game – if not, then the gameplay probably won’t do much to win you over." ****/2022/11/25/once-upon-a-jester/
SummaryBest friends Sok & Jester devise a mischievous scheme to steal the Royal Diamond! To complete their master plan, they must start an improv theatre show and outperform every other act - including their rivals, Hofnar & Bok. Only becoming the best show in the kingdom will get them invited to the Royal Theatrical Spectacle in the Royal Pal... Read More
Rated E +10for Everyone +10
Platforms:
- Nintendo Switch
- Xbox Series X
- PlayStation 5
- PC
Initial Release Date:Nov 9, 2022
Developer:
- Bonte Avond
Publisher:
