- Publisher: Phiphen Games
- Release Date: Jun 26, 2025
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One
- Summary:
- Developer: Zockrates Laboratories
- Genre(s): Action Adventure, Open-World
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 2 out of 7
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Mixed: 5 out of 7
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Negative: 0 out of 7
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Jun 30, 2025You’ll need to get through a slightly confused opening, but then Ruffy and the Riverside fast becomes a quirky, unique, challenging game that is ripe for manipulation.
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Aug 18, 2025RUFFY AND THE RIVERSIDE is a fun and clever adventure title. There is a hint of retro gameplay and some enjoyable cheeky moments. Though the opening few hours can distract you, I suggest pushing through for a great time.
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Jun 25, 2025I still think Ruffy and the Riverside is worth your time if you’re a hardcore fan of platformers of the 90’s, especially if you’re still waiting for a proper new Banjo-Kazooie – though I’d argue that Yooka-Laylee does a better job at replicating that style. Ruffy’s adventure has enough spins on the formula to stand out, especially the creative swap mechanic and some ideas beyond the opening levels, but I feel like there’s a lot of unforced errors in this title, which made me not enjoy myself as much as I hoped I would. Maybe it’s just me, because the game definitely oozes charm a lot of the time, but I wish the actual game was as exciting as the ideas behind it.
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Jun 25, 2025As a unique 3D platformer in both visual presentation and gameplay systems, Ruffy and the Riverside doesn't quite reach its full potential.
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Aug 6, 2025Ruffy and the Riverside is one of the most creative games I’ve played all year. It’s a puzzle-platformer that puts puzzles first, throws platforming in for flavor, and somehow wraps it all in a technicolor cartoon aesthetic that shouldn’t work but totally does. Zockrates Laboratories didn’t just make a game; they made a vibe. It’s not for everyone, and that’s okay. But if you like your games clever, your worlds weird, and your protagonists one jazz hand away from a nervous breakdown, Ruffy is your guy.
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Jul 1, 2025I wish I could report that Zockrates Laboratories served up a playground of emergent sparks, but with such a promising trick I couldn’t help but hunger for more.
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Jun 25, 2025You can tell from the start that Ruffy and the Riverside is the studio’s first outing. It wins points with its cheerful tone, creative mechanics, and nostalgic flair, but once you scratch beneath the surface, the cracks begin to show. A weak narrative, uneven graphics, an undercooked SWAP feature, and technical hiccups all add up - leaving a 3D platformer with promise, but still clearly in need of polish.