You are what you eat in this cutesy game
Bugsnax is an adventure video game wherein you can explore a mysterious yet whimsical world full of strange half-bug, half-snack creatures. Developed by Young Horses, this hit 3D first-person indie game features a comedic story chock full of silly puns and heartwarming moments.
Similar to the developer’s other popular game — Octodad: Dadliest Catch — Bugsnax has cute and cartoony 3D graphics for its memorable cast of characters, and the environment is alive with vivid designs of amazing characters. However, don’t be fooled by its wondrous atmosphere — there are some mature themes hiding underneath all of this fluff and hilarity.
Is Bugsnax a horror game?
The story of Bugsnax revolves around the great but unconfirmed discovery of Lizbert Megafig, a disgraced explorer. She claims that there are “half-bug and half-snack” critters living on the mysterious Snaktooth Island, whose flavors are beyond delightful. You play as an intrepid journalist who gets invited to the island to interview Lizbert, but you only find her missing and her companions scattered around the island.
Your goal is to search for her while trying to rebuild their community by taking on their requests with the help of the critters you catch. Using the various tools given to you, you can collect all 100 species of them and even feed them to the NPCs to transform their body parts into other designs. Doing so can give the critters special abilities to help progress through the story.
However, not everything is as it seems in this game. There’s body horror involved with feeding the characters and a dark truth surrounding these creatures. There are two main endings and both will reflect just how much you’ve managed to grow closer to these well-written and voiced characters. While their quests can be repetitive in nature, their relationships with each other really keep you invested in the game.
Release on other platforms
Following its release on PC and gaming consoles, Bugsnax is landing on mobile devices as well. The mobile version offers full touch controls as well as controller support. It also includes the DLC right off the bat.
Discover the mysteries of Snaktooth Island
All in all, Bugsnax is an adorable yet poignant adventure that any player should try out. The process of completing quests can be tedious but the dialogue and plot are the first half of the solid core that makes up this game. The other half is the wonderful art design of the world and the cute critters you can catch — making exploration a truly enjoyable endeavor.
