When does POLE get good?

Hooks you right away. 40% of first-hour reviews are positive — about the same as players with 3+ hours (40%). The opening is criticised more than in 87% of games we track.

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AdventureIndieStrategy

POLE

May 2, 2022 Steam: Mixed

Hooks you right away

Gets good instantly from the first hour

Started playing 91% of owners

Steam reviews 50% positive of 399

What the data shows

40% of first-hour reviews are positive — about the same as players with 3+ hours (40%).
The opening is criticised more than in 87% of games we track.
91% of owners got the first achievement.

When it gets good

Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.

before it gets good opening up fully opened up

Based on all 402 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 6 reviews: 1.3h for positive, 1.6h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.

Where players quit

Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (90.6% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.

Story milestones aren't labeled yet; all achievements are listed below.

All achievements (10)

Update Complete Welcome to POLE 100%
100 Deaths! Don't give up! Keep trying! 22%
No Update Why!? 20%
The Millennium death Wow! Much deaths... 16%
So sad... So sad... 16%
The return of the pixels! You did it! You saved the world! But... is this all there is to the story? 16%
The 10,000th death! CONGRATULATIONS! You won the prize for the 10,000th death! 16%
NO DEATHS!?!?!?! WHAAAAAAAAT!!! HOW DID YOU DO THAT!!! 16%
Magic fingers Beat the game with under 10 deaths. 16%
Perfectly balanced Beat the game with under 50 deaths. 16%

Steam page Updated: 2026-10-21.