The Perfect Pencil

 Switch
The Perfect Pencil Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 4 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: John finds himself trapped in a mysterious world, as it can happen to all of us from time to time. He can see a glow in the distance, though. It's not clear where it comes from, but it looks like that's the beginning of his adventure. And yours.

    Start your emotional odyssey, a journey    John finds himself trapped in a mysterious world, as it can happen to all of us from time to time. He can see a glow in the distance, though. It's not clear where it comes from, but it looks like that's the beginning of his adventure. And yours.

    Start your emotional odyssey, a journey during which you'll have to create your own path and face the consequences of the choices you make. Everything will depend on them, your choices.

    Help John on his journey of personal growth. Unravel the nuances of human reactions to fear.

    Surprising exploration, fast paced combat, complex choices and allegorical characters, all intertwined with a psychological narrative in this hand-drawn 2D action-platformer.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Starbit
    Feb 4, 2026
    80
    The Perfect Pencil is a metroidvania wrapped in a rather unusual outfit. If the game's mechanics are fairly standard insofar as we will do what most games of the kind expect from us, the plot and theme set it apart. By integrating the experience within a world that deals with issues of mental and emotional health and where every interaction and development derives from that theme, The Perfect Pencil manages to create a captivating space of its own, even if at some moments the game has a tendency to become rather repetitive.
  2. Nintendo Life
    Feb 4, 2026
    80
    Despite being another in an ever increasing genre stable, The Perfect Pencil brings a uniquely twisted world to the genre. Its mysteries can be a bit dense, but the eerie atmosphere, complex themes, and strange landscapes make it worth exploring.
  3. Pure Nintendo
    Mar 18, 2026
    75
    The Perfect Pencil mixes a really cool hand-drawn style with a dark, symbolic story about inner struggles. The gameplay follows a familiar Metroidvania formula, but creative enemy designs and the analysis mechanic keep it engaging. Frustrating save points hold it back a bit, but it’s still a solid and slightly unsettling experience.
  4. Nindie Spotlight
    Apr 2, 2026
    73
    Undoubtedly a strange action adventure that does its own thing, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a home run either.

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