Bugsnax (2020)

Released in 2020 (although I played the Steam version that was released in 2022), Bugsnax is a game about catching mysterious creatures that are a mix between bugs and snacks called... Bugsnax.

The story is simple: You are a journalist visiting an island because an explorer called Lizbert sent you a video talking about the wonders of Bugsnax, but when you arrive she is lost and the people on the island are scattered and need your help to fix their problems and conflicts. While you help them you discover more about their lives, the story of the island, the fate of Lizbert and the truth behind the bugsnax.

Also, the real charm of the game are the characters. All of them are unique and have their own quirks, goals, opinions, and even their own sidequests with a little arc related to their reason to go the island. They feel like actual people, with a strong personality that makes pretty easy to love (or hate) them. This is further supported by the dialogue, which can be really funny and savage when you least expect it.

However, the gameplay is also pretty good and unique. Most of the quests you do are related to catch and feed characters with a specific bugsnax, and to do so you need to use tools that you get during the story. At the beginning you can only use a basic trap, but as you advance your arsenal increases, and with that the possibility of catching more and more bugsnax.

Some of them are easy and just need to be in the same area as your trap, while others are way more complex and need multiple steps to be catchable, like putting out their flames, or tripping them, or using another bugsnax to attack them and make them vulnerable, and so on. At first it can be confusing, but you quickly learn how to take advantage of your tools and be creative with your surroundings. Sometimes even a mistake can help you to catch a bugsnax that looked impossible to get, so experimenting and being creative is definitely encouraged.

And that's just talking about the basic story. There are lots of sidequests and optional content to do, like catching all the bugsnax, or doing a full optional island that was added as a free DLC, which gives some characters more screentime, as well as explaining even more lore that is way more complex and interesting than I was expecting.

In my case, I liked the gameplay so much that I didn't have any problem doing every single possible thing to do, and even if some sidequests can be obscure or kind of annoying (like getting lost items or getting a photo of a bugsnax doing something really specific), I enjoyed most of my time with game. But if you just want to complete the main story you will also get a full experience, although getting the good ending is harder if you don't do the main sidequests, but not impossible, so you can play however you want and have a good time.

In conclusion, if you like small games with unique gameplay you definitely need to play Bugsnax, I'm sure you have never played something like it, and even if you don't love it, at least it will make an impression.

I was already very into the premise of this game: it's animals that also are food! - same reason I love 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2' so much -, it is just so cute and imaginative! And on top of that, you get to collect all of these adorable monster snacks! I definitely was the target audience for this game.

And now I have played through it all... and I am absolutely shooketh with its ending. The misterious hints, the real life problems that all the islanders presented... it reeled me in to continue playing, figure out what was on the other side. Oh boy! I don't want to spoil it for everybody else, but I will say that I am now very fond of many characters I dislked at the beginning. I learnt to understand their struggles and I am itching for some more exploration of the themes presented. Where is Bugsnax 2?? Are the Illuminati real?? ARE THERE SECRET QUESTS I DIDN'T GET TO DISCOVER??? I really cannot recommend this game more. Absolutely so fun to play, engaging and tells important stories through their characters. Chef kiss! If I had to come up with a deficiency is that the port to Nintendo Switch could do with more polishing; the loading screens take quite long and the controls are quite a bit clunky.

In summary, if you like Pokemon or cute characters, play this game. If you like real struggles in your games, this is the one for you. Even if you're not these guys but you're super into plot twist I have news for you: Bugsnax's got plenty. Go play it, what are you waiting for!

This game is cute, silly, and weird! Tee-hee~

As well as goes into the crippling struggle of mental health and the reluctance of self reflection. How easy it is to rely on quick feel better crutches or engaging and absorbing distractions than to face the real issues that cause one's life to spiral out of control. No one likes to admit that a lot of one's own problems are their own fault but ultimately the willingness to face it and admit that they were wrong is the first step. Wanting to do better and BE better not only enriches their own life but also the life of the people around them whom they love.

So... Bugsnax, huh? Where to start?

I had basically no expectations from this game when I snagged it on sale. I first heard of the game when it was announced alongside the PlayStation 5, but its whimsical tone, similar to a cartoon for young children, really didn't appeal to me. What did catch my attention were comparisons to the likes of Pokémon Snap, so I finally picked up the game on a whim to try it.

The game is way more than I expected. Despite its obvious shortcomings, it is a joy to play such a delightfully unique title in the sea of sequels and remakes I've been busy with this year. Bugsnax is an adventure game that tasks you with documenting and capturing the titular bug-snack hybrid critters with an evolving assortment of tools and gadgets.

The main loop of the game involves exploring various areas, fulfilling requests for various characters in your quest to persuade them to return to the island's central town. The main residents, the Grumpuses, are an odd cast of furry muppets with an obsession for Bugsnax, and will send you on various missions to catch whatever they're currently craving. The game has a very friendly, child-like vibe, but it does dip into unexpectedly dark territory at times. Some games can pull off this contrast, but in Bugsnax, I have to say it just felt like an unsettling tonal clash. I do really like the inclusion of various LGBTQ+ characters, and found the storyline to be really enjoyable. The voice acting was also a surprising highlight.

The game has a bit of a slow start, due to how it slowly introduces new mechanics. The earliest Bugsnax in the game can be caught as easily as laying out a trap in their very obvious path, but as more tools and mechanics are introduced, capturing each new Bugnsax becomes a fun puzzle to unravel. While there were a handful of moments where I felt like I was battling an awkward mechanic or lacked clear direction, the vast majority of Bugsnax is smooth, and lets you get very creative with its toolset. The game's biggest weakness, in my opinion, is the visuals. While the Bugsnax themselves are cute and a joy to discover, the Grumpuses can be weird-looking and the environments are downright bland.

I really enjoyed the ending to Bugsnax, and I can see myself revisiting the title in the future to go for a more complete run through the various side missions. The game is surprisingly addictive, offering just enough to feel satisfying without overstaying its welcome. Definitely recommend the title to anyone who finds appeal in the prospect of chasing cute critters around a whimsical world.

3.5⭐ overall

This was a charming little game. I recently got a PS5 and after finishing Astro's Playroom I wanted to play another game that was built for the PS5. I ended up landing on this since I already owned it through PS+

I was expecting wacky tabaccy and I feel like thats kinda what I got. Feed the Grumpuses, (Snaktooth island inhabitants) their limbs turn into snacks, bring them all back to the village. Never could I have come up with the idea to eat bugs and your limbs turn into them. But it turns into something strangely fun. All the different snacks you can get become quite addicting to try and catch. Definitely a Pokemon "Gotta catch 'em all" aspect to it. And I did. I did catch them all. Trying to figure out how to use the different tools to catch the different kinds was enjoyable and not overly difficult or frustrating.

While the story of the game is nothing crazy, it was good enough to keep me interested. What happened to Lizbert Megafig? Where did she go and why did she leave? The end result was actually pretty cool, but the highlight was definitely the unique and individual character of each Grumpus. Sure, some might annoy you, but I bet there's at least a few that are gonna be endearing to you. And wonderful cast of characters that are well voice acted as well.

I had a fun time with Bugsnax. I never thought I would play it and then I ended up getting the platinum trophy. And playing with my kids was just an absolute blast. They had such a fun time with the names of the snacks and trying to help me figure out how to catch certain ones. Overall I had a good time for sure.

This was a really nice surprise. The Switch version is not great at a technical level, grasphics are choppy at times, frames drop occasionally and yuo can see how the level "appears" when you explore it.

But honestly, I don't care about any of that. I loved the characters and the humor. The way it handles more serious themes like mental health, relationship problems and even substance dependancy was really thoughtful, specially in the DLC... at least until the ABSOLUTELY BONKERS final section.

Anyway, you can find my review in spanish here.

The DLC is also great. It gives more depth to the most unverdeveloped character and the new puzzles are great. Also has more "lore", for those who like that.

And I cannot go without saying... It's bugsnax!

Edit: If you can't find the Isle of Bigsnax, I just wrote a guide (also in spanish) about how to unlock it.

kino!

Literally the best game I've played all year (tied w/ Psychonauts 2), it offers something different and fun re: gameplay, and wraps it up in a wonderful Lynchian, Don't Hug Me I'm Scared, vibe. Some of the best voice acting, writing and character design I've seen in a while. And the inclusion and centring of LGBTQ+ characters was just really great to see. These fluffy Grumpuses interact and forge real bonds with one another, they have their own troubled personas beneath the caricatured veneer: they love, they lose, they ponder the meaning of life and goddamn gimme the expansion now, gimme a sequel, gimme an entire media franchise STAT

ALSO: do the sidequests people!!! You get to fight kaiju bugsnax, and the extra character interactions flesh the grumpuses out so well (I particularly enjoyed snooping on the others to get Beffica the hot goss)

Bugsnax is a strange and endearing amalgamation of many disparate influences. Its cast of Henson-esque grumpuses carry out a Twin Peaks drama in a walking simulator world with a Disasterpeace-esque score; its gameplay combines elements of Pokémon Snap, Ape Escape, off-kilter FPS mods and old-school adventure games.

Sometimes, unexpected combinations can feel revelatory: the mix of arcade sports and collectathon platforming in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, the rails shooter and rhythm mechanics of Rez, and so on. But the elements of Bugsnax, as fun and well-executed as they are, never quite cohere into a greater whole. I kept expecting an "ah-ha" moment where I'd understand why these elements belonged together, but that never arrived.

That said, the game's uniqueness and my desire to "catch em' all" kept me engaged through the main story and optional sidequests. I'd recommend it to open-minded fans of walking sims, adventure games and collectathons.

PROS

• Highly unique, there has never (and will never) be another game like it
• Taps into that addictive "gotta catch 'em all" Pokémon effect
• Encourages player experimentation through open-ended design and removing the threat of death
• Surprisingly good VA

CONS

• The bizarre combination of children's show puppet creatures, genuine attempts at interpersonal drama, and Cronenberg-ian body horror is off-putting at best and stomach-turning at worst
• Mushy mechanisms rarely satisfy
• Getting knocked around by ice and fire creatures when you're trying to catch something nearby can get hella annoying

This game is so charming! The character are so lovely! And it’s also quite hilarious! The gameplay is also surprisingly compelling. Trying to figure out strategies to catch certain bugsnax, it turned out to be fun. The story also turned out to be really good as well.

Overall, Bugsnax turned out pulling my heartstrings with lovable characters, great voice acting, great story, and a game oozing with personality. Loved it through and through.

BUNGER! Oh lord, I'll never get over this lil' fella.

When people spoke to me about Bugsnax and some of my favorite streamers started playing it, I could not believe such muppet-esque and cartoony style would hold much against the other lofty titles this game popped up from. Hell, I could not believe it wasn't going to be a whatever game that I might have ended up never touching in my big backlog on Epic Games.

Turns out, Bugsnax is a charming game where you crash land on an island in hopes to get your biggest scoop yet and keep your job; your scoop? well, Bugsnax, of course. These little critters are as charming and cute as they are on the very cover and they appear in every zone of the game - some of them repeating but changing their nature and such to give more variety and fit within their environment. They have likes, dislikes, fears and loves and collecting all of them sometimes proves to be a challenge in itself as some require some more practical engineering and timing to catch.

The story in itself picks up about 3 or so hours into the game but if you're like me and you easily get lost in talking to the other Grumbles (the muppet-like creatures) and spend ungodly amounts of time just catching every Snax you are able to, donating them to the shelter and making sure you have missed nothing, you won't feel it.

All in all, if you want a surprisingly 10/10 game that is a little 'surprise' hidden gem, play Bugsnax. You won't regret it.

Bugsnax is a little indie game that i got from ps+. It caught my attention before but i wasn't really thinking about getting it... And i would have made a great mistake. The game starts with mysterious vibe and its story hooks you up pretty quickly. I was very curious to see what happens next and what is going on in general, the story remains interesting till the and. "Bugsnax" are so well designed that I couldn't wait to see more of them and their names are so clever that it's beyond me, I'm definitely making my own bugsnax at my next digital art lessons. The game is filled with interesting and enjoyable mechanics, catching bugsnax and doing puzzles was a blast. There are twelve interesting characters to meet, each with their own personality, story and side quests. The side quests were entertaining and I've been doing them with joy, nothing forceful. This game has one of the coolest boss fights ever. The music is great, I was also very surprised by how cool are the other sounds, for example the sounds of bugsnax after you catch them (coming off your controller's speaker). The game used some pretty cool features from the newest dualsense but not too many. Locations in the game are pretty cool designed and very diverse. I played the game with Polish subtitles and to be honest it's the best translation i've seen so far. Usually game translations are as lazy as you can imagine but these guys put in some creativity and passion. To me, this game doesn't have any cons, for real. I added this game to my favorites because without even considering the pros, this game is simply something fresh. We get clones or just very similar games every year, we rarely see something new. This is it guys, while playing bugsnax i felt like I'm playing something brand new, something I haven't played before, not even something close to it... and that's why I was playing bugsnax for two days straight, ignoring the fact that I have two triple A titles waiting for me. I platinumed the game in fifteen hours, and these were great invested hours.

10/10

All of you should have a bugsnax ;)

~Wo

So, I just finished Bugsnax on PC. Took about 9 hours to finish, and I did a good amount of sidequests, although far from all of them.

This game... is weird. I'd argue that the opening isn't great, in the sense that I wasn't really interested until a few hours in. The main charm to this game is definitely the characters. There's a whole dozen with interesting trope-y personalities, with great voice acting. It's a ton of fun to talk to the characters and hear who they love and hate.

Now, the gameplay is fine. You use some tools at your disposal to catch Bugsnax, these half-food half-animal things. Catching the Bugsnax is fairly satisfying, but I don't think it's super enticing gameplay. But, that's probably more of a personal note.

The story is also pretty great, although it really doesn't pick up until about ~4 hours in. If you go in completely blind (watching no trailers), it might hook you more, although I'm not sure.

Overall, I'm glad I bought and played this. Games that choose to do something very unique (and aren't shy about getting weird) deserve to be supported. And holy shit, the soundtrack is amazing. I think the gameplay is around a 5/10 from me, but the story and music is around a nice 7-9/10, if that makes sense. Check this one out if you want something unique!