Alba: a Wildlife Adventure

 Switch
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 2 out of 17

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  1. lqstuart
    Jun 14, 2021
    9
    You walk around a European island picking up trash and taking pictures of birds. If that sounds like it could be relaxing and fun, then you will not be disappointed, because it's really well done. It's objectively more like a 7, but it's a 9 for me and I want to offset the "professional" reviewer whose review reads like it was typed one-handed, if you catch my drift.
  2. julevi
    Nov 7, 2021
    9
    Alba is a bit short given it´s price, you can easily get through it within 2-3h.

    BUT - I have to say that I was very positively surprised. The game runs perfectly on the Switch, the island is beautifully designed and executed. My facourite part was striving through high grass searching for ducks as well as striving through the woods, trying to find a special bird by listening to the    Alba is a bit short given it´s price, you can easily get through it within 2-3h.

    BUT - I have to say that I was very positively surprised. The game runs perfectly on the Switch, the island is beautifully designed and executed. My facourite part was striving through high grass searching for ducks as well as striving through the woods, trying to find a special bird by listening to the different bird voices and singing. There is no very deep message, but it is done with love and I really enjoyed playing it.    … Expand
  3. Hanuman04
    Nov 14, 2021
    10
    This is one of the most full of life experiences I have had. The adorable art style also adds on to wonderful sound design
  4. NindieSpotlight
    Dec 17, 2021
    8
    It’s weird how at times in certain genres when it rains, it pours, and exploration-based discovery titles are currently out in force. Alba may not be a very long or meaty game, but its wholesome characters, super-chill wandering and discovering, and even inclusion of the element of getting great snaps of the local wildlife at least makes it a joy. Feeling incredibly well-suited to theIt’s weird how at times in certain genres when it rains, it pours, and exploration-based discovery titles are currently out in force. Alba may not be a very long or meaty game, but its wholesome characters, super-chill wandering and discovering, and even inclusion of the element of getting great snaps of the local wildlife at least makes it a joy. Feeling incredibly well-suited to the Switch, a joy whether in handheld mode or docked, I appreciate its slightly more distinctive sense of style and tone even among its other laid back contemporaries. If you’re looking for something to take a few hours to enjoy, simply taking in nature and a bit of wonder along the way, this is a great option for you on the eShop.

    https://www.nindiespotlight.com/2021/08/mini-reviews-august-16th-edition.html    … Expand
  5. SwitchGameLover
    Feb 8, 2022
    8
    A sweet game with easy gameplay. It's not the longest game but it is really fun and I haven't really played something like this before.
  6. RateKings
    Nov 11, 2022
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love this game! It's wholesome af, the music and graphics are incredible, and it's chill af. Only thing I found annoying was clean up island quest (super hard to find last patch), however you don't need that to finish the game. You can always come back after the main story and finish your tasks. It's a very fun game for any age!… Expand
  7. heybranny
    Feb 19, 2023
    9
    The coziest of titles! Exploration is rewarding without feeling exhausting or overwhelming. The audio is excellent. Ambience galore. It’s definitely a short game, but that rarely bothers me.
  8. luciamelier
    Aug 12, 2023
    9
    I found the game really enjoyable. I had fun exploring the island, it felt like a real adventure. Plus I loved the nostalgic and relaxed vibes. Also a BIG plus for the message that this game sends about pollution, environment and wildlife. The only con of this game is that it is way too short, I wanted more! Lovely, lovely game.
  9. amongus123
    Apr 16, 2023
    10
    This game is very cool. Although the story is fast-paced, it will still give you a lot of emotions. The game promotes the right messages in a playful way. And it's very cool. If you want to play a simple but good and interesting game, then Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is for you.
  10. pepcorn
    Jun 13, 2023
    7
    Nice: Sound design, the general atmosphere. The setting being highly localised adds a ton of flavour. It made me feel like I was coming home. I really love the island and wish I could move there.

    Less nice aspects: Even though I like animals being built entirely out of balls (reminds me of classic games like Oddballz & Petz), it looks odd on some of the animals. The squirrels look weirdly    Nice: Sound design, the general atmosphere. The setting being highly localised adds a ton of flavour. It made me feel like I was coming home. I really love the island and wish I could move there.

    Less nice aspects: Even though I like animals being built entirely out of balls (reminds me of classic games like Oddballz & Petz), it looks odd on some of the animals. The squirrels look weirdly squishy. Don't bother getting a good picture, because your pictures vanish and are instead replaced by a pre-determined game image. I wanted an album that was a collection of photos I took, not one identical to everyone else's.

    Annoying: The camera is clunky at times, and the controls aren't that intuitive. Controls can't be retooled. Clipping through assets happens frequently. The game just doesn't feel very polished, it doesn't feel fully finished. The game doesn't indicate when characters have finished their sentence, and I can agree to hear the next one. It feels haphazard and tiring. I wish they'd just auto talk.

    Bad: There's no saving feature. Supposedly the game auto-saves "frequently". I couldn't find info on how frequently, and there's also no indication on screen of when it's saving. So I just have to shut the game off and hope my last snapshot got saved. Several times now, it didn't get saved, and I had to start that part over. I play in short bursts, not having a saving feature that I can control is just bad game design.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best Switch Game of 2021
96
#96 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2021

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. Ninty Fresh Magazine
    Dec 3, 2021
    85
    Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is finely distilled to a genuinely relaxing tale with an important message. A short but sweet amble through the beauty of nature. [Issue #4, p.65]
  2. GameCritics
    Nov 18, 2021
    85
    Regardless of these minor criticisms, there is little to dislike about Alba: A Wildlife Adventure. Whether it’s the pleasing aesthetic, organic open-world, adorable animals, or the soothing soundtrack, Alba is a title that lifts spirits. It chooses a distinctively optimistic approach to humanity’s environmental crises, and succeeds in making the player appreciate the uniqueness of the ordinary.
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  3. Gamezebo
    Jun 17, 2021
    90
    Alba: A Wildlife Adventure ultimately feels like a great fit for the Switch, and runs perfectly in handheld and docked modes. If you’ve not experienced it via Apple Arcade then make sure you don’t miss it this time round.
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