Introduction

Some games ask you to save the world, some ask you to rescue a princess, and some ask you to help a pink, tooth-missing plush doll find a kid who will love her. UglyDolls: An Imperfect Adventure is the officially sanctioned video-game cousin to the 2019 animated movie, stamped and packaged by Outright Games with an MSRP that once hovered around 39.99 USD. If you showed up to this party expecting an existential AAA experience about the human condition, well, this is not that party. If you showed up because you love colorful plush monstrosities singing pop bangers and being charmingly imperfect, pull up a Joy-Con. The Switch version offers a portable, slightly worn-in playground of toybox levels based on the film's Uglyville, the Institute of Perfection, and yes, the infamous Gauntlet. This is a game aimed squarely at kids, fans of the film, and anyone with a soft spot for bright, low-stakes co-op fun.

Gameplay

The game translates the movie's 'big world versus ugly world' storyline into a string of bite-sized levels and mini-game detours. You play through the arc from Moxy's hopeful attic dreams to the Institute of Perfection's sterile corridors, turning scenes into platforming stages, fetch quests, and obstacle-course riffs that nod to the Gauntlet. In practice that means a lot of running along colorful platforms, jumping over goofy hazards, solving very gentle puzzles, and hopping into short co-op mini-games that feel like a stuffed-animal take on a theme-park attraction. Characters from the movie are present like adorable ambassadors: Moxy's peppy optimism, Ox's grumpy mayor energy, Lucky Bat's shy brainpower and the rest of the UglyDolls crew show up in both cutscenes and playable bits. Outright's approach is straightforward: pick a character, be charming, and use simple, forgiving moves to overcome toy-themed obstacles. There is the occasional gimmick level where one UglyDoll's trait matters for a puzzle, but nothing here demands frame-perfect platforming or deep combo mastery. That's a design choice that rewards younger players and those who want to play with siblings rather than punish anyone with a tolerance for cute repetition. Missions are often collections of small tasks: gather a set of factory bits, escort a nervous prototype, complete a timed obstacle section inspired by the film's Gauntlet. These tasks rarely twist the formula, which is both a blessing and a limitation. On the plus side, the learning curve is tiny and accessible, making it an ideal co-op experience for mixed-age groups. On the downside, the repetition becomes noticeable after a couple of hours. If you are the type who likes unlocking layered systems, complex upgrade trees, or a deep combat chassis, this will feel slim. If you want pick-up-and-play, popcorn-friendly content that doesn't take itself seriously, you will be fine. The game sprinkles in music cues and stylings lifted from the film's soundtrack, which is a nice touch. The movie's pop-forward DNA - songs associated with Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe and the rest of the starry lineup - leans into the levels so the experience preserves the film's musical identity. Outright tends to lean family-first on controls, and on Switch that means accessible inputs and a control scheme that an eight-year-old could master in minutes. There is a mild sense of template design: developers recycled a reliable set of platforming and mini-game mechanics across multiple levels, which leads to occasional deja vu. Expect more charm than challenge, more collect-a-thon than conquest. Co-op play is where this game earns its keep. Whether you want to pair up with a younger cousin or use local multiplayer to soften tense family board-game moments, the levels are designed to be forgiving and cooperative. The cooperative bits rarely require intense coordination, which can be comforting for household playdates but might underwhelm veteran couch co-op lovers looking for deep teamwork mechanics. The final sequences lean into the film's heartwarming beats - rescuing friends from the recycling center, contesting the Gauntlet, building a new portal - and those moments have enough narrative glue to make completing the campaign feel rewarding even if the gameplay loop is light. Replay value is modest. There are collectibles and small unlockables that nudge you back into levels, but the core loop is short and sweet. It is not an endurance test for completionists, and it's clearly priced and paced as a family-friendly gift rather than a multi-season commitment. If you buy it for a little sibling or a film-crazed friend, you will get a solid few hours of pleasant play. If you buy it looking for a meaty 40-hour adventure, you will very quickly discover Outright's minimum viable-joy design ethos.

Graphics

Visuals lean hard into the film's aesthetic: big, squishy character models, saturated colors, glittery pop backgrounds and a level of polish that says 'movie tie-in' without pretending to be the film itself. On the Switch, textures are soft and models are chunky in a way that actually complements the toybox vibe; the game never tries to be photorealistic and it doesn't need to. Cameras are functional, sometimes a little too zoom-happy in tighter platforming sections, but the art direction is consistently upbeat. Expect pleasant lighting, expressive faces and environments that read well even on a handheld screen. The technical finish won't make hardware fans swoon, but it is perfectly suitable for the audience it courts: chubby, lovable dolls and their storybook world. If you played the film and enjoyed its visual charm, the game captures that look faithfully enough to make the ride feel familiar.

Conclusion

UglyDolls: An Imperfect Adventure on Switch is the video-game equivalent of a warm blankie - it is soft, colorful, temporary comfort for rainy afternoons and small parties. Its strengths are accessibility, faithful film theming, and a cheery aesthetic that makes it easy to hand to kids or anyone who likes their platformers served with a side of pop music and sentiment. Its weaknesses are equally clear: repetitive mission structure, shallow systems, and modest replay value. For an adult gamer who wants mechanical depth or technical bravado, this will probably sit politely on the shelf. For families, fans of the film and players who want a harmless, smiling diversion, the game is a dependable little present. Score: 6 out of 10 - not a masterpiece, but not a recycling-bin reject either. If you see it on sale or want a no-fuss co-op for younger players, it is worth the small jump through the portal.

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