Once Upon a Puppet launches April 23 [Update: Switch version delayed to early June]
Pre-orders available now in standard and "Backstage" editions.
2.5D puzzle platformer Once Upon a Puppet will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on April 23, publisher Daedalic Entertainment and developer Flatter Than Earth announced.
Update 04/23/25: Daedalic Entertainment and Flatter Than Earth have delayed the Switch version to early June, with an exact release date to be announced in the coming weeks.
Pre-orders are available now for $29.99 / £24.99 / €29.99. A “Backstage Edition” is available for $39.99 / £32.99 / €39.99, which includes a digital art book, digital soundtrack, 3D printing model QR code, two exclusive Drev skins, and the Golden Strings skin for Nieve.
Here is an overview of the game, via Daedalic Entertainment:
About
Welcome to Once Upon a Puppet, a 2.5D puzzle platformer that unfolds within a vibrant world of theater. Take part in a magical tale that combines classic platforming with puppet-inspired gameplay, in a captivating story of friendship, self-discovery, and redemption.
Wear the glove of Nieve, a Stagehand exiled to the Understage, and wield control over Drev’s strings, a Puppet magically bound to her. As they journey to return to the Frontstage above, they will retell forgotten stories, uncover shadowy secrets, and learn their fate is interwoven with the kingdom of theater itself.
Key Features
- Become Puppet and Puppeteer – Pull the strings and master the art of puppetry in this unique approach to action, movement, and creative puzzle-solving.
- A Troupe of Characters – Meet an ensemble cast of dozens of Major and supporting characters, featuring hundreds of lines of handcrafted dialogue.
- Deadly Shadows – Face a horde of villainous creatures who will do all they can to snuff out the lights and bring the show to an untimely end.
- A Meticulously Crafted World – Marvel at the stylized and detailed graphics that reinforce the magic of theater, with stages that fluctuate between past and present.
- Set the Scene – Arrange and move props, backdrops and characters to rebuild theatrical stages, and re-enact scenes to unveil what befell the once proud World Stage.
- Enchanting Soundscapes – Be captivated by a rich, theatrical soundtrack and immersive sound effects that bring the world of Once Upon a Puppet to life…
The Leading Actors
Unwittingly bound together by spool and thread, Drev and Nieve reluctantly embark on a quest to reclaim their place in the theater, against a heartbroken King.
Nieve, a talented Weaver beset by self doubt, builds a strong bond with Drev, a naive yet ambitious Actor. With Drev’s unbridled theatrics and Nieve’s brilliance, they will conquer their deepest held fears to reveal the truth of the void harbored in their hearts.
Watch a new trailer below.