Summary
In the ten years since the release ofSouth Park: The Stick of Truth,South Parkgames, RPGs, theSouth Parkseries itself, and the world at large have all changed significantly. As a result,South Park: The Stick of Truthstands as something of a time capsule, capturing the moment in which theSouth ParkIP was finally done justice in a video game adaptation. OtherSouth Parkgames before it were numerous, but they all varied wildly in quality and struggled to capture exactly what it is that has helped the series endure for more than 25 years. Ironically, the IP now finds itself in a similar spot followingStick of Truth’s release.
After partnering with RPG veterans Obsidian for the development ofStick of Truth(with the express goal of creating a captivating RPG that replicated the look of the show), publisher Ubisoft would pass development duties to Ubisoft San Francisco for the sequel,South Park: The Fractured But Whole. This resulted in the title being a vastly different experience than the first game, a trend now looking to repeat itself with the upcoming thirdmodernSouth Parkgame–South Park: Snow Day!. A decade later after it debuted on Jul 24, 2025,Stick of Truthstill stands as the definitiveSouth Parkgame thanks to its iconic presentation, pitch-perfect humor, and genuinely deep RPG mechanics.
South Park: The Stick of Truth’s Faithfulness to the Show Makes it a Series Standout
This year’s upcomingSouth Park: Snow Day!looks to provide a third (and potential closing) chapter to the saga of “The New Kid” that began inThe Stick of Truth, but it’s doing so while incorporating some significant changes over its two predecessors. WhereStick of TruthandFractured But Wholewere 2D games adhering closely to the look and feel of the show,South Park: Snow Day!is the first full 3D game in the trilogy. Gameplay forSnow Day!also implements co-opplay and has a greater emphasis on real-time action and coordinated attacks.
Even if the writing and humor are faithful to the show, the game’s presentation leaves something to be desired considering how well its predecessors accurately replicated their source material. Fans who had wished for the ability to essentially play through an episode of the show were able to see that dream become a reality thanks toSouth Park: The Stick of Truth, and its turn-based RPG combat and use of references spanning the show’s then 17-year history help it stand as perhaps the best game to ever usetheSouth ParkIP.
Fractured But Wholewould release to initial strong sales, but that momentum would quickly fall off and see the game fail to meet the targets set byStick of Truthbefore it. After it’s first week, sales were already 7% lower than those of its predecessor.
What Stick of Truth Can Still Teach Future South Park Games
TheSouth Parkgames' transition to a full-3D co-op brawler may be a calculated decision on the part of the developer and publisher to reach a wider audience than Ubisoft’s two RPG titles, but it remains to be seen whether that gamble pays off. As it stands, bothStick of TruthandFractured But Wholeare successful titles in their own right that also are some of the better licensed games in recent years. As the saying goes, it’s not necessary to fix that which isn’t broken, andStick of Truth’s proven formula is still one of the bettertemplates for aSouth Parkvideo game.
Ten years since its release,Stick of Truthstill presents an impossibly high bar for all otherSouth Parkgames to reach, and it does so by mixing quality gameplay with a fundamental understanding of what fans love about the license. It borrows enough fromSuper Mario RPGandDungeons & Dragonsto appeal to RPG enthusiasts, and its difficulty and pacing are approachable enough as to entice genre newcomers in with the promise ofclassicSouth Parkshenanigans. If there’s one lesson thatStick of Truthcan teach futureSouth Parkgames, it’s that the show’s iconic characters and subversive humor don’t have to come at the cost of compelling gameplay.
South Park: The Stick of Truth
WHERE TO PLAY
From the perilous battlefields of the fourth-grade playground, a young hero will rise, destined to be South Park’s savior. From the creators of South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, comes an epic quest to become… cool. Introducing South Park™: The Stick of Truth™.For a thousand years, the battle has been waged. The sole reason humans and elves are locked in a neverending war: The Stick of Truth. But the tides of war are soon to change as word of a new kid spreads throughout the land, his coming fortold by the stars. As the moving vans of prophecy drive away, your adventure begins.Arm yourself with weapons of legend to defeat underpants gnomes, hippies and other forces of evil. Discover the lost Stick of Truth and earn your place at the side of Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny as their new friend. Succeed, and you shall be South Park’s savior, cementing your social status in South Park Elementary. Fail, and you will forever be known… as a loser.
