Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

 Switch
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 133 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 110 out of 133
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 133
  3. Negative: 17 out of 133

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  1. M1sfiT
    Sep 3, 2023
    7
    Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!!!! bug fables
  2. Lenny_
    Jul 12, 2023
    0
    i wrote a whole comprehensive review before meta critic just deleted it for no reason, and i'm not wasting my time writing that again, so instead i'll just say...

    The art is ugly, the writing and story telling is bad, the combat is lacking, and the game is overall just overrated nostalgia bait.
  3. ORD3R
    May 20, 2023
    10
    I can’t recommend this game enough. Is it perfect? Not at all. The medals could use some tweaking, and a few of the side quests are just downright stupid, but everything else is done so well I don’t care.
  4. Spencerperior
    Dec 19, 2022
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bug Fables is an attempt to copy another famous Adventure RPG. Beware of games in which almost every review mentions one other game not even in the same series or developer etc. The concept in game mechanics is great! As you would hope from a game that copies another. Turn-based action battling is exciting and engaging. This is one of the few places where Bug Fables excels. Unfortunate technical issues plaque the adventure. There are so many "bugs" the game is hardly playable on Switch. Multiple times in the 7 hours I could stand, a cut-scene was supposed to run, but never did. We were stuck sitting on a screen, with no option to press any button. I had to quit the game and come back, but of course; all progress had been lost. This problem is compounded by the game’s strict save system. Which I normally don’t mind. I, like many older gamers, remember when games were extremely punishing and we kind of just got used to it. But if the game breaks and I have to quit and reopen it, losing so much progress is unacceptable. I tried to power through but eventually enough is enough. This game takes your money and wastes your time. I wouldn’t be too hasty to blame the hardware either. I’ve cleared nearly 70 games on the Switch and never once ran into a game with such frequent issues. Even Skyrim crashes less often. Skyrim! Characters have over-world actions they execute in order to puzzle-solve your way through dungeons and/or zones. There is an enormous design flaw, however. After performing their action, the characters will always change direction to their default direction. So, you cannot perform the same action in the same direction twice in a row. Unless, coincidentally, it is in that character's default direction (a 1/4 chance). I don’t have to tell you, that is unnecessary and makes dungeon crawling needlessly frustrating and tedious. I mean, honestly, how can you program that into a game? Was this never beta-tested? The music is pretty solid but seems to rip off other Nintendo songs. Close your eyes and listen to the soundtrack for yourself. Veterans of popular Nintendo franchises should spot the suspiciously similar melodies. The Snakemouth Den theme is the most obvious offender, ripping the melody note-for-note from the Tail Cave theme in Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. The art is pretty uninspired, graphics are mediocre. Somewhat standard for indie games, but certainly worse compared to Cuphead, Hollow Knight, or even Hyper Light Drifter and Dead Cells just to name a few.… Expand
  5. Bunnyoven
    Dec 9, 2022
    9
    Bug fables from the very beginning is a beautiful love letter to Paper Mario, from the art style to the music and everything in between it brings me back to what I remember that game being on the Nintendo 64. That's what makes this such an amazing game it makes me feel like I'm a kid again, but there are so many quality of life features that I am not even going to begin to try to listBug fables from the very beginning is a beautiful love letter to Paper Mario, from the art style to the music and everything in between it brings me back to what I remember that game being on the Nintendo 64. That's what makes this such an amazing game it makes me feel like I'm a kid again, but there are so many quality of life features that I am not even going to begin to try to list them. If you're looking for a light turn-based RPG with a pretty great story and really fun writing then I would suggest this game for your next play.… Expand
  6. Third_Era
    Oct 11, 2022
    9
    Better than Paper Mario, but not quite as good as Paper Mario: Thousand Year Door. Great cast of characters and a well done story. Includes a Hard Mode if you want a more difficult challenge.
  7. ophone
    Aug 1, 2022
    7
    A cute game with likeable characters.
    But it suffers of a few badly implemented mechanics I thought wouldn't exist anymore nowadays.
    Three examples: - The approximative controls when interacting with the environment, especially when using the bee's weapon. - The problem you can't buy items in bulk. You have to restart the buying process for every single unit of an item. - The missing    A cute game with likeable characters.
    But it suffers of a few badly implemented mechanics I thought wouldn't exist anymore nowadays.
    Three examples:
    - The approximative controls when interacting with the environment, especially when using the bee's weapon.
    - The problem you can't buy items in bulk. You have to restart the buying process for every single unit of an item.
    - The missing of a combat restart option. When you're in a combat and you see in advance you'll lose it, you whether have to restart the whole game to get back to the last save spot or wait until every member of the team died.

    Although it's got those technical anachronisms it's still a nice game to play.    … Expand
  8. stupidopinion
    Jul 20, 2022
    9
    A pretty great turn based RPG with some great characters and a fun story that prods at the imagination. The combat system is good, providing a neat challenge both in strategy and actual gameplay. It is very derivative of the old Paper Mario games, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I do feel more could be done to distinguish its combat from those titles. The humor and worldbuildingA pretty great turn based RPG with some great characters and a fun story that prods at the imagination. The combat system is good, providing a neat challenge both in strategy and actual gameplay. It is very derivative of the old Paper Mario games, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I do feel more could be done to distinguish its combat from those titles. The humor and worldbuilding are great and feel unique to this world, and the plot twists that amp up toward the latter half of the game make for an experience I won't soon forget. There are some graphical issues and some issues with pacing, but it's a surprisingly great first game for Moonsprout and I'm excited for their next one.

    40 hours to complete and Vi is the best    … Expand
  9. nz500
    Jun 27, 2022
    10
    One of my favorite games ever! A perfect love letter to the original Paper Mario series.
  10. ResetButton
    Jun 5, 2022
    7
    Bug Fables is pleasant all around, but it really loses steam. The chapters all go on a little too long and things become tedious. I frequently found myself thinking, “oh no, not again” when activities/tasks would arise. I enjoyed the game, but the tediousness really brought the overall experience down.
  11. TheLinkgirl
    May 17, 2022
    9
    Bug Fables is a game that takes a simple concept, playing as bugs, and perfectly demonstrates how well one can execute such an idea. The giant world feels brilliant, taking place entirely in a garden, while you're so small that sand pits become sprawling deserts. Combat feels brilliant, as the characters compliment each other perfectly, with strengths and weaknesses for every situation.Bug Fables is a game that takes a simple concept, playing as bugs, and perfectly demonstrates how well one can execute such an idea. The giant world feels brilliant, taking place entirely in a garden, while you're so small that sand pits become sprawling deserts. Combat feels brilliant, as the characters compliment each other perfectly, with strengths and weaknesses for every situation. The characters are also a joy to witness in the story and world, and make every moment of this game feel great from the writing alone. It's difficult to properly sum up a game that you love, but for me Bug Fables is a near perfect execution of what Paper Mario attempted to do.… Expand
  12. GilArenas
    May 1, 2022
    0
    Bug Fables: The Everlasting **** This game is so boring it feels like its everlasting. There are more bugs in this game than Richard Parker growls at Pi through 227 days at sea. Heck, there's more bugs in this game than Macbeth kills people. Its kinda buggy. The only smidge of positivity in this game is that the main character is a wasp, and they may be a common ancestor to the GeospizaBug Fables: The Everlasting **** This game is so boring it feels like its everlasting. There are more bugs in this game than Richard Parker growls at Pi through 227 days at sea. Heck, there's more bugs in this game than Macbeth kills people. Its kinda buggy. The only smidge of positivity in this game is that the main character is a wasp, and they may be a common ancestor to the Geospiza Fortis. This game is too buggy for me and gets a 0, just like the Biology class average.… Expand
  13. Okie_Doki
    Apr 19, 2022
    0
    Way too buggy. I'd rather be in biology class and learning about the finches on the Galapagos. Darwins HMS beagle is 100X more interesting than anything in stupid fug bables. Bug fables clearly had some recessive alleles in it, and they weren't the good kind. If I were to draw a punnet square for this AFWUL game, it'd be bad game dominant allele, with stupid moth recessive allele. MothivaWay too buggy. I'd rather be in biology class and learning about the finches on the Galapagos. Darwins HMS beagle is 100X more interesting than anything in stupid fug bables. Bug fables clearly had some recessive alleles in it, and they weren't the good kind. If I were to draw a punnet square for this AFWUL game, it'd be bad game dominant allele, with stupid moth recessive allele. Mothiva took away 3 points by themselves. Don't buy this game unless you're trying to punish your biology class.… Expand
  14. TSNintendogamer
    Apr 1, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. omg, it's become one of my favorite games of all time. I love the music. I listen to it almost every day. It's very much like paper mario which I love all while it's doing it's own thing. The story is great as the characters are great along with a plot twist. Lastly they fixed some things that the paper mario games had like back tracking and I like how there are side quests in the game too. Just watch out for the 7th chapter. Very nerve racking.… Expand
  15. Elite_Institute
    Mar 5, 2022
    9
    "All in all, Bug Fables is an excellent title that I would recommend to everyone. RPG fans, particular those who like Paper Mario should especially grab this at their earliest opportunity. The game is so good, however, that I am pretty sure non RPG fans like myself will also have a damn good time. It may not be very replayable, as is the case with the genre, but there’s certainly a lot of"All in all, Bug Fables is an excellent title that I would recommend to everyone. RPG fans, particular those who like Paper Mario should especially grab this at their earliest opportunity. The game is so good, however, that I am pretty sure non RPG fans like myself will also have a damn good time. It may not be very replayable, as is the case with the genre, but there’s certainly a lot of bang for your bug (sorry)."

    https://theeliteinstitute.net/2021/01/07/bug-fables-the-everlasting-sapling/    … Expand
  16. fanmadeendings
    Feb 15, 2022
    9
    It takes everything that makes TTYD good and evolves the heck out of it! Love the narrative and the characters, and the new battle system is so much fun!
  17. Herovero
    Jan 15, 2022
    10
    1. Without a doubt, bug fables is an indie game that surpassed the quality of Nintendo games, many fans assume it as a paper mario rpg and I completely agree their nonsense lmfao
    2. It's pretty cool to see how the main menu screen added more characters as you advance through the story
    3. The menu codes are well-founded for pros who seek for tougher challenges, MYSTERY? is my fav of all    1. Without a doubt, bug fables is an indie game that surpassed the quality of Nintendo games, many fans assume it as a paper mario rpg and I completely agree their nonsense lmfao
    2. It's pretty cool to see how the main menu screen added more characters as you advance through the story
    3. The menu codes are well-founded for pros who seek for tougher challenges, MYSTERY? is my fav of all because the location of medals are randomized which lead to infinite replay value
    4. Vi, Kabbu and Leif interactive conversations > Goombario and Goombella's overworld ability
    5. Front back line gimmicks and relay system
    6. Hard mode medal, there's no need to say more
    7. Backtracking from side quests aren't as annoying as PM series
    8. The card system, I played it over 50 times
    9. Boss rush and 50 rounds trial
    10. You can unlock a pet and name it Chomp
    11. Promising originality (characters, enemies, world themes, etc)
    12. Chapter 5 Wasp kingdom, Chapter 7 ice puzzles and arcade games are the only flaws
    13. Ummmmmm out of context, TOK sucks compared to it    … Expand
  18. zenn22
    Nov 23, 2021
    0
    How can you release a game that constantly stutters?
  19. tonymagz
    Oct 19, 2021
    9
    I am a MASSIVE Paper Mario 64 and TTYD fan. Replayed both of them many times. Like many I have been more than disappointed with what Nintendo has done with that series.
    Bug Fables came out of left field for me. I had somehow never heard of it but suddenly it was released on the Switch, and it popped up on my radar.
    This game is a spiritual successor in every sense of the phrase. It takes    I am a MASSIVE Paper Mario 64 and TTYD fan. Replayed both of them many times. Like many I have been more than disappointed with what Nintendo has done with that series.
    Bug Fables came out of left field for me. I had somehow never heard of it but suddenly it was released on the Switch, and it popped up on my radar.
    This game is a spiritual successor in every sense of the phrase. It takes many of their mechanics and does them even better. It has really great lore, and wonderful story telling. Instead of many partners, you're just three bugs which does allow a lot more focus on their individual stories and arcs.
    Battles can get HARD. I beat the whole thing on hard mode but had plenty of trouble in doing so. The medals (badges) allow you to make some pretty elaborate builds.
    I plan on going back for the side quests and to complete the optional bosses.
    If I have to nitpick, the controls are a bit awkward at times in the overworld, like with Vi's boomerang. Also, I like the soundtrack but the instruments feel very MIDI-ey at times. I feel like taking the same soundtrack with some better instrument MIDI could have been better.
    Overall I adored this game and would recommend it to any Paper Mario or Mario & Luigi fan.    … Expand
  20. iMustang
    Oct 12, 2021
    8
    Bug Fables delivers on the exact promise it stands for - Paper Mario 3. This game is truly the sequel we've waited nearly two decades for as it takes all the concepts of Paper Mario and pushes them to the next step, expanding upon the formula we know and love. The developers clearly knew their target audience as well; not only does this game call back to a nostalgic formula, it was createdBug Fables delivers on the exact promise it stands for - Paper Mario 3. This game is truly the sequel we've waited nearly two decades for as it takes all the concepts of Paper Mario and pushes them to the next step, expanding upon the formula we know and love. The developers clearly knew their target audience as well; not only does this game call back to a nostalgic formula, it was created in such a way that the difficulty itself would have aged with it's audience. This game can be downright brutal at times, yet always remains fair and gives it's player a chance to succeed. In many ways this game is even better than any Paper Mario with a heavier focus on story and lore, a vibrant cast of characters with great depth and growth, and a large amount of side-quests and optional areas to explore. You can spend anywhere between 25-100 hours playing this game depending on how much you want to put into it, and it always feels rewarding to play.

    If I have any complaints, aside from the difficulty curve, it's that some of the best parts of this story is hidden. To learn about one of the main character's pasts requires a side quest line, which leads to the story focusing on this plot point for a bit until they shelve it unless you want to pursue the answers on your own. Same with resolving the plots of two other characters, which is a shame because they're more interesting than the main narrative, so I would have rather they incorporated those journeys into the main plot. There is also a lot of unresolved plot points, which may or may not be explained in the hidden lore books (which notably I did not collect), but either way it feels odd to end a journey with so many unanswered questions. Also sometimes the witty dialogue the characters say disappear too quickly, which is a shame to those of us who don't read very fast. These complaints are very minor in the grand scheme of things however; at the end of the day, Bug Fables is a journey every Paper Mario fan should go on. If you can handle a greater challenge, you will be greatly rewarded.    … Expand
  21. Haman2628
    Sep 6, 2021
    10
    Well thought out game with a ton of great content. It took me 40 hours to finish the main game and all of the side quests. Excellent value!
  22. WhoDaDev
    Aug 6, 2021
    10
    The best recent Paper Mario game, honestly I'm kinda worried Nintendo might send them a cease and desist this is so close to the original Paper Mario games.
  23. Denvers
    Jul 5, 2021
    10
    I've never played an RPG Paper Mario game, and yet, this game blew me away. It is an absolute masterpiece of a game. Everything you come to expect out of a great RPG is here - fantastic characters, a charming world, and a story that is surprisingly touching. I can not recommend this game more.
  24. chriswenzel
    Jul 2, 2021
    10
    Completely superior to the latest Paper Mario game in every way, Bug Fables is what Paper Mario fans wanted and sadly never got.
  25. Yeoldemillenial
    Jun 30, 2021
    10
    This game is a f*cking blast! If you loved mario rpg, paper mario and paper the 1000 year door you gonna LOVE this spiritual successor. If nintendo doesn't want release a paper mario with true rpg elements, these developers pulled something amazing off! The characters, and the fighing elements are engaging and just pure gun to play. I can recommend it to paper mario fans, rpg loverd andThis game is a f*cking blast! If you loved mario rpg, paper mario and paper the 1000 year door you gonna LOVE this spiritual successor. If nintendo doesn't want release a paper mario with true rpg elements, these developers pulled something amazing off! The characters, and the fighing elements are engaging and just pure gun to play. I can recommend it to paper mario fans, rpg loverd and gamers of all kond! Just love it… Expand
  26. CheezeeButter
    Jun 29, 2021
    10
    This games story, lore gameplay, world, side quest and all have been a damn great experience I’ve not had ever before! I cannot wait to see what else Moonsprout Games has in store!
  27. Daitya
    Jun 27, 2021
    10
    Es imposible no cogerle cariño a los protagonistas de este juego debido a la personalidad tan marcada y graciosa de cada personaje. Los diálogos entre los personajes y la repercusión que tiene en su mundo/aventura es muy fluída y natural. En cuanto a dificultad tiene una muy buena si escoges el modo difícil, te pasarás un buen rato ideando diferentes estrategias para derrotar al boss deEs imposible no cogerle cariño a los protagonistas de este juego debido a la personalidad tan marcada y graciosa de cada personaje. Los diálogos entre los personajes y la repercusión que tiene en su mundo/aventura es muy fluída y natural. En cuanto a dificultad tiene una muy buena si escoges el modo difícil, te pasarás un buen rato ideando diferentes estrategias para derrotar al boss de turno y sentirás una enorme satisfacción al vencerlo. Es un juego único donde las horas pasarán volando.… Expand
  28. danxz5
    May 11, 2021
    10
    Better than paper mario! It has better dialogue with characters, better RPG elements, a more lively world.
  29. Z3ROV
    May 8, 2021
    10
    Le doy un diez ya que aparte de ser mi segundo videojuego favorito solo está hecho por tres personas, el juego merece un gran apoyo ya que es un juegazo y no es muy conocido en la comunidad hispana.
    Tiene unos gráficos buenos, no son increíbles pero eso es lo que menos me importa a mí, la música es espectacular, de la mejor que he escuchado en un videojuego con la de Super Mario Galaxy 2,    Le doy un diez ya que aparte de ser mi segundo videojuego favorito solo está hecho por tres personas, el juego merece un gran apoyo ya que es un juegazo y no es muy conocido en la comunidad hispana.
    Tiene unos gráficos buenos, no son increíbles pero eso es lo que menos me importa a mí, la música es espectacular, de la mejor que he escuchado en un videojuego con la de Super Mario Galaxy 2, la historia es muy buena, la dificultad es asequible pero puedes ponerte más dificultad si eso deseas, la duración es de más de 40 horas y si haces todas las sidequests son más de 80 horas, hablando de ellas, son muy entretenidas y hay algunas con jefes muy desafiantes como Madame Scarlet, el juego es lo que los fans de Papel Mario piden, yo amo los 3 últimos Paper Mario pero admito que no son ni de lejos lo que la comunidad queria, si no habéis jugado este juego hacedlo ya, esta es m    … Expand
  30. Ishrod24
    Apr 18, 2021
    10
    Wow! Great game! Got it on sale for 17$ and it’s worth the price of a full game! Beautiful art style! This game did what Mario origami king couldn’t ! Awesome combat! Get the game thank me later!
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Awards & Rankings

11
#11 Best Switch Game of 2020
22
#22 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Aug 29, 2020
    85
    Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling shattered my skepticism through its amazing main characters, quirky NPCs, challenging battles and interesting locales, and I sincerely hope more players will give it a shot. [Issue #47 – July/August 2020, p. 26]
  2. SpazioGames
    Jun 18, 2020
    84
    Bug Fables is much more than a loving tribute to the first two episodes of the Paper Mario franchise: it is a beautifully crafted rpg adventure that any Switch owner should not miss.
    Read full review
  3. Cubed3
    Jun 16, 2020
    80
    Everyone that is excited over the prospect of the upcoming Paper Mario: The Origami King needs to pick this up. While Sticker Star and Colour Splash took the series in quite unwelcomed directions, this fully embraces the original. The combat system keeps things constantly engaging, the world is inviting, and the trio of main characters utterly charming. This is a world that deserves to be further explored and returned to, and it will hopefully see future instalments. The Origami King has some genuine competition here.
    Read full review
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