Ruffy and the Riverside

"With its energetically vibrant world that&s;ll keep you smiling and clever puzzle-filled platforming, Ruffy And The Riverside has everything you&s;d need for an excellent 3D funfest. 🐻"

"Ruffy and the Riverside cleverly apes classic platformers while delivering a gimmick that makes it feel fresh and modern. In fact, its whimsical nature, built around an intriguing gameplay mechanic, gives it a classic Nintendo vibe. The story sets up …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is a joyful and quirky collectathon that attempts to bridge past and present sensibilities. Bursting with personality and a novel gameplay mechanic, should enjoy a sense of discovery and a helping of clever puzzles."

"Ultimately, Ruffy and the Riverside is an excellent homage and possibly the most fun I’ve had with an indie platformer since A Hat in Time or Nikoderiko. Ruffy and the Riverside was clearly made by a team that knows and …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is a solid entry into the 3D platformer genre. I felt so nostalgic while playing it, especially when I stumbled across a hidden room where “Banjo was here!” was written on the wall. I definitely suggest …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an unbelievably fun and imaginative 3D adventure-puzzler. In some ways, it feels like it could have been a third Tomba! game due to its playful visual style that goes against the grain. Not everything works …"

"An adventure-platformer that seems to come straight out of the 64bit golden-age.The original "swap system" succeeds in raising the gameplay above average and in bringing to life some truly unique and entertaining puzzle elements. The overflowing "richness" of some levels …"

"A gorgeously presented modern twist on the classic 3D platformer, Ruffy and the Riverside is positively glowing with charm. Featuring a cavalcade of fun environmental puzzles that take advantage of its unique copy-and-paste "SWAP" mechanic, a delightful blend of hand-drawn …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside takes us back to a time where the 3D platformer was king, controllers had three prongs, and analogue sticks were a new-fangled invention. There&s;s the same vibrancy and creativity here as classics like Banjo-Kazooie and Mario …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is both an homage to classic platform games and an entirely new take on the genre. Its fantastic texture swapping mechanic lends itself to a stunning variety of environmental puzzles, many of which offer a high …"

"Unfortunately, the few bosses and enemies present here are quite bland, and though the environmental puzzle-solving is initially unique and rewarding, it eventually stalls out in creativity and challenge. Overall, Ruffy ends up feeling a bit inconsistent, but it&s;s still …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is one of those pleasant surprises that charms with its simplicity and fun thanks to the SWAP mechanic. A game that draws a lot of attention for its beautiful art direction and that, despite drawing from …"

"As a whole, Ruffy and the Riverside is a charming game that is fun to play. Anyone that has nostalgia for late 90s 3D platformers will feel a sense of familiarity that hits all the right notes. It&s;s an adventure …"

"There are exciting moments in Ruffy and the Riverside, an adventure platformer with a copy-and-paste mechanic used to solve clever puzzles, but the lack of variety and depth in how its core mechanic is implemented undermines the game&s;s good intentions."

"Unlike other seemingly similar efforts that want to tempt players down 3D platformer memory lane for a concentrated hit of nostalgia and leave it at that, Ruffy and the Riverside doesn&s;t just take that well-worn idea and repackages it, but …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an incredibly charming game with one of the most unique gameplay mechanics I&s;ve seen in a while."

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an enjoyable experience and clearly draws inspiration from platformers from the early ’90s and beyond. With its unique SWAP mechanics and neat presentation, featuring hand-drawn visuals, this platformer caters to gamers of all ages and …"

"It performs well on Switch 2, which is where I reviewed the game, and has a lot of content for completionists to sink their teeth into. Some of the puzzles can be frustrating or obtuse, but the unique swapping mechanic …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside&s;s swapping mechanic is great fun, but I wish it would shut up and give me more organic opportunities to use that mechanic."

"The three-dimensional platformer isn&s;t what it was. It used to sell consoles. It used to forge characters and brand them to the memory. Now it can s..."

"Ruffy and the Riverside is a creative and heartwarming platformer with original gameplay mechanics. The blend of nostalgia, clever gameplay, and a likable cast makes the game a hidden gem in the indie scene. Its pacing issues are hardly noticeable …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an impressive debut title and a top-notch 3D collectathon adventure. The texture-swapping gimmick adds a rich layer to the canvas that more than makes up for some spotty platforming, and Riverside itself is a wonderfully …"

"For players who really love quirky indie platformers, there may be enough charm here to make it worth a look."

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an enjoyable experience that, despite featuring fascinating copy-paste mechanics and puzzles that gets your brain going, has a forgettable storyline. Nonetheless, it&s;s a great choice if you&s;re looking for a quick and cute adventure that …"

"It may be influenced by a whole host of games from 25 years ago, but it never borrows from any of them so blatantly that it just feels like you’re playing a clone or a lesser version of a much …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside offers precise platforming with retro charm which, thanks to the unique SWAP mechanic, adds an additional layer of puzzles to the gameplay making the experience truly special. The puzzles range in difficulty and the optional content, …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is a vibrant 3D platformer bursting with nostalgia, inventive puzzles, and colourful papercraft visuals—pure joy for classic game fans!"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is a charming and creative adventure that shines with its hand-drawn art direction and original texture-swapping mechanic. Despite its technical and design limitations, it offers a light, fun, and accessible experience — ideal for those seeking …"

"Ruffy and the Riverside is an enjoyable return to the colourful 3D platforming romps of the late 1990s, and it&s;s one that brings its own clever idea to the table, rather than just simply copy/pasting everyone else&s;s homework. With nods …"

""Charming, inventive, but unbalanced" Ruffy and the Riverside is moving and full of ingenuity. Its distinctive Switch mechanics add a clever twist to classic platformers, and its vibrant world is a visual delight. However, the game often suffers from limited …"

"As an avid fan of the 3D platformer, the indie space is quickly growing into a thriving hot spot of the genre, with Ruffy &a; the Riverside joining the ranks of A Hat in Time and Poi. Utilizing a creative …"

"Ultimately, Ruffy and the Riverside is a game we wanted to like, but despite its attractive visual style and unique ideas, it never really comes together in a satisfying way. While there&s;s some fun to be had running around in …"

"Ruffy and The Riverside delivers a distinctive platforming experience that blends 2D and 3D perspectives, built around the clever SWAP mechanic for changing environmental elements. This idea adds depth and flexibility to the challenges, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging …"

"Ruffy 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 …"

""The right approach and mindset, but the developers need a bit more experience.""

"Not only does Ruffy and the Riverside offer a charming story that is fun to experience up to its very end, but it also offers a beautifully designed world that is full of quirky characters and fun activities to do …"