Papo and Yo

Papo & Yo (2012) is a metaphorical adventure where you play a brave young boy called Quico, whose best friend is a monster with razor-sharp teeth. Play involves traversing the city environments, solving puzzles and then dealing with the monster when he gets out of hand. It stands out for how this simple story shares the challenges of living with an unstable parent.

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Quico isn't afraid of the monster, although he is addicted to poisonous frogs that make him violent and unpredictable. Your task is to build your friendship with the monster and save him from his addiction. You do this by solving puzzles together and exploring the surreal world.

Play is like other platform games, only here you need to learn to use the monster's emotions, both good and bad, to your advantage. Sometimes this opens a new path, other times it reveals which blocks need to be pushed.

The result is a game in the form of a classic fairy tale. Of course, the monster isn't just in the imagination of the boy, but in his life in the form of his alcoholic father. Through a unique mix of gameplay and interactive narrative, you explore the complex relationships between Quico, Monster, Lula and Alejandra. It's a story inspired by Creative Director Vander Caballero’s tumultuous childhood.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Papo & Yo 5 years ago. It was re-examined by Thom Robertson and updated 4 months ago.