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The Perfect Pencil

Released: 1/29/2026

Critics
76
vs
Users
87

Score Breakdown

76.3

Critic Average

7 reviews

87

Steam User Score

53 reviews

N/A

Metacritic User Score

Disparity Breakdown

Steam Disparity
-10.5

76 vs 87

Metacritic Disparity
N/A
Combined Disparity
-10.5

Average of both sources

Review Disparities

Positive = critic higher than usersNegative = critic lower than users

Each point represents a critic review. Hover for details. Positive = critic higher than users. Negative = critic lower.

2/8/2026

Launch Window

The Perfect Pencil is a beautiful artistic and psychological experience that blends exploration with dark themes. Any fan of Metroidvania games will find it worth trying and immersing themselves in its terrifying world, we recommend it especially for the fans of this genre the only thing that’s need to check out is the price.

75

75/100

Read

2/4/2026

Launch Window

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.

80

80/100

Read

2/3/2026

Launch Window

Undoubtedly a strange action adventure that does its own thing, but that doesn’t necessarily make it a home run either

73

73/100

Read

1/29/2026

Launch Window

The Perfect Pencil is a great metroidvania full of exploration, a rich story, and odd, hand-drawn characters that give the game a surreal feel you need to experience for yourself.

90

90/100

Read

1/29/2026

Launch Window

The Perfect Pencil, ironically, is not perfect in the gameplay or pacing, but it does stand out in concept and delivery. While some moments are a trifle ham fisted, it nonetheless promises and delivers a unique metroidvania that keeps you moving, keeps you exploring and does a lot for fans of the genre wanting to try things from another angle. I’m not sure if I’m the ideal audience, but I listened, and I think I was able to hear John clearly. I hope others can, too.

65

65/100

Read

1/29/2026

Launch Window

The Perfect Pencil aims for a different experience within the Metroidvania genre, and for that it deserves praise. The creativity of the art team stands out, with very different environments and a world-building that, at the very least, is intriguing. However, this is not enough to sustain the entire experience. Seeking pillars through the power of words, it ends up becoming as fragile as the graffiti that scribbles on them, becoming repetitive in its themes and deprioritizing the genre elements that need to be given more consideration. The result is a slow, disjointed game that takes away the magic of the background art.

65

65/100

Read

1/29/2026

Launch Window

The Perfect Pencil stands out as a true gem that excels in blending art design and psychological elements, offering an intimate and visually mesmerising experience that deserves attention from lovers of action-adventure platformers. Its strengths lie in its impeccable artistic style and touching narrative, which touches on themes such as fear, depression, anxiety and personal growth, and really makes you think. All this is accompanied by gameplay that we found to be really solid and well integrated; there are few uncertainties and compromises – which are absolutely surmountable – such as repetitive backtracking (on rare occasions) and controls that are not always very fast in portable mode. The Perfect Pencil is more than an indie game, it is a true life experience that we highly recommend you try, as you will not regret it at all.

86

86/100

Read