Bugsnax

While the few times the game seems to simply abandon you to figure out things it hasn’t explained well are still here, almost every other complaint I had with the PS4 version has been fixed. With one of the more unexpectedly interesting narratives I’ve come across in recent years and deeply inventive puzzle gameplay, there’s a lot to like here in a package that isn’t too short but also manages to not overstay its welcome. I made some great friends on Snaktooth Island and I think you will too, especially if you’re playing on the PS5.

Bugsnax is a joyful, lovely experience from start to finish. With a surprising amount of heart, it'll hit you in the feels time and again - even when you're force-feeding snax down the throat of someone who'd rather keep them as pets (sorry, Gramble). It's the sort of game you can't help but play with a huge grin on your face and, long after finishing the main storyline, you'll want to return to Snaktooth Island to round up more snax and hang out with your new furry friends. You might not be a Grumpus yourself, but Bugsnax certainly leaves you with a fuzzy feeling inside.

It’s just a shame that the core gameplay here is so dull. Everything else in Bugsnax would make it a strong GOTY contender, but the sheer repetitiveness of the game’s main task drags it all down. Still, given how high the rest of the game flies, there’s only so far down it can go — and as it stands, that still means you’re left with one heck of a game.

A perfectly portioned final course. Just as witty as everything that came before, with plenty more to chew on. Sometimes bigger really is just better. [Issue#15, p.82]

Finding and collecting the many Bugsnax is as much fun as discovering the island and immersing yourself in the lives of the Grumpuses. The result is a humorous and entertaining adventure that will keep you interested until the end.

A performance cleanup thanks to PS5’s added juice coupled with some well-implemented usage of the DualSense controller means that Sony’s newest console is the best place to play Young Horses’ second indie offering, and it ensures that we’ll be ‘talkin’ ‘bout Bugsnax’ for a while yet.

We should have expected nothing less than this level of surrealism from the developers of Octodad: Dadliest Catch. Bugsnax is about as weird as they come. Yet, underneath all the cutesiness, strangeness and edible bugs there is a surprisingly deep, heartfelt storyline with a mystery worth solving.

Bugsnax is the ideal game to play between long triple A, but is also one of those that maintains itself in your memories. The characters upgrade what could be a curiosity to a remarkable game.

While far from pushing PS5 to its technical limits, this is definitely one of the most delightful launch titles. Dial ‘D’ for ‘different’ to learn how you can begin your own Snaktooth adventure. [Issue#182, p.134]

Bugsnax is a delight in the most unexpected of ways. Despite its cartoonish and exceptionally goofy exterior, it’s got deep messages of community, relationships, and belonging. Though there are certainly missed opportunities for a bigger gameplay loop around catching the various Bugsnax, everything about Bugsnax is a joy, perhaps the reason that I wanted more from it. It may not be an obvious showcase of the PS5’s power and capabilities, but it’s certainly a unique game that shouldn’t be missed.

Whether it’s the super-catchy theme song, the nostalgia-evoking gameplay, or simply the very basic fun of hunting new Snax to transform the Grumpuses, Bugsnax is a game that is well worth your time. Its simple yet addictive challenge of catching the cute yet strange creatures coupled with some wholesome storytelling delivers a well-rounded and fun adventure.

Bugsnax is a strange, satisfying and utterly engrossing journey into another world – one that is never afraid to embrace its stranger side even if it means leaving your mouth agape in amazed confusion. While the act of capturing and eating Bugsnax is a frequent delight, the finer qualities of Young Horses’ latest outing comes in its story and characters. Underneath the otherworldly designs sits a beating heart of close-knit relationships and relatable issues I found myself growing immeasurably fond of.

Bugsnax is a light-lifting puzzle adventure that is elevated by its strong story and characters that I enjoyed until the very end. Despite some simple mechanics, the laughs outnumbered the groans significantly as I found myself surprisingly invested in the events of the island and its inhabitants. With over 100 Bugsnax to discover and catch there’s plenty here to entertain the completionists, alongside those just looking for a well-told six-hour mystery that will keep you guessing until after the credits roll. All of this while making you feel emotionally connected to the characters, something you previously might have thought sounded impossible. Until you saw a carrot crawl, that is.

Unsurprisingly, Bugsnax' best qualities are its cleverness and charm. The surprise and delight you feel when you see a Bugsnak wiggling around or watch someone eat one and change their arm into food never goes away. That alone would make Bugsnax worth your time, but creative puzzles and thoughtful story give it the body and depth to make a Snak feel more like a meal.

Bugsnax will be remembered for its brilliantly-crafted world, characters and titular Bugsnax for many years to come, despite some repetition and frustrating load times.

There may be a lot of games you want to try on the new PS5 console, but if you're looking for a palate cleanser between the bigger, flashier games, Bugsnax is the perfect aperitif to your next-gen feast.

A surprisingly strong story carries you through this colourful adventure, that constantly manages to find new ways to keep the act of catching Bugsnax interesting. The graphics are a bit disappointing, though... but did that ever stop anyone from having a good time?

If you want to catch them all and check off the full list of side quests, Bugsnax takes about 10 hours or so to complete. The gameplay can feel a little clumsy here and there, but it makes up for it with the silliness and creativity of it all. There’s a lot of joy to be had with these bizarre critters, and there’s more to the story than you might guess. So if you’re curious about where this adventure ends up, pack your bags for Snaktooth Island, and be sure to bring a healthy appetite.

Beyond its rather ugly aesthetic (so it's not really going to bring out the capabilities of PS5), Bugsnax has been a fun and original game that you arrive at by capturing its more than 100 Bugsnax and you stay for the story and character development.

A simple-yet-fun game about collecting... weird, half-animal and half-food hybrid creatures: a Pokémon-style game that shines thanks to one of the best uses of DualSense and Game Help that we've seen so far on PS5.

In Bugsnax, the bugs are snacks and that's quite cool. Beyond that, its relaxing open-world objective-based gameplay is solid for winding down with after a long day but it doesn't really have much else going for it.

Bugsnax in a narrative adventure with some interesting ideas, an unforgettable cast of characters, lovely designs and a great script... that fails as a showcase of PS5 technical power, with come trial and error loop in its gameplay that can be frustrating at times.

Bugsnax's story is a step backward for Young Horses, but the gameplay mechanics are a true triumph in terms of brilliance.

Bugsnax delivers a good time regardless of platform, but it excels on PS5. It benefits from much shorter loading sequences, improved performance, and the DualSense's unique features. All this makes for a more enjoyable excursion to Snaktooth Island. If you play Bugsnax at all — and you absolutely should — do it on PS5.

Bugsnax will leave a lot of players behind because of its hunting mechanics sometimes lacking in precision, or even by its assumed childish side and its strange artistic direction.

With a repetitive quest structure, too many loading screens, and a sense of humor that might not be for everyone, Bugsnax is not a game with the universal appeal its cutesy characters might suggest. That being said, the game’s absurd world and creatures are utterly charming and unique, and the wide variety of bug-catching mechanics are exactly the kind of evolution I had been hoping Pokémon would make for at least 10 years now.

Bugsnax is memorable for its writing, world, and creative premise, but its more gamified elements somewhat spoil a delicious meal. Bugsnax isn't the best version of the game it could have been, but it's still a really fun adventure.

Young Horses has created a silly but heartfelt story and adventure game, but the creature-capturing gameplay never really hits its stride.

Bugsnax is a fun and light adventure, suitable for a young audience but able to intrigue even the most grown up players.

While the concept behind Bugsnax is fun and whimsical, the game comes up short in its execution. Hunting for the many different types of walking food begins as a charming exercise, but quickly devolves into a slow grind as you work to find out which of the game's many tools will solve the next tedious puzzle.

As cute and clever as its creatures are, the puzzles just aren't deep or interesting enough. Still, I don't dislike Bugsnax.