Bugsnax

All of my kids have enjoyed being backseat drivers, telling me where to go next and which Bugsnax to try to attack. The biggest chuckles have come from the scenes where NPCs get their bodies changed by eating the captured Bugsnax: I just let the children take the reins there and decide whether, for example, Wambus Troubleham should get a watermelon for a nose. [Issue #61 – September/October 2022, p. 76]

This is a wild and weird game that is a welcome addition to the Switch library. There is nothing else out there quite like Bugsnax and while the Switch version is not the best performing version, folks with only the Nintendo console or a desire for portable play shouldn’t have too much to complain about if they decide to journey to Snaktooth Island.

Bugsnax runs really well on Switch, but loses a little magic without the DualSense.

My first romp with Bugsnax back in 2020 was pleasant, but playing it again in 2022 with the free DLC has taken an enjoyable adventure and elevated it to an addicting one. Like many games, the Switch holds the title back ever so slightly in the performance arena but makes up for it in terms of mobility — who wouldn’t want to catch bugsnax on the go? No matter what way you choose to capture and catalog, Bugsnax is still a must-play game even 2 years later. If you’ve played Bugsnax before but have yet to enjoy the free BIGSnax DLC, there’s no better time than now to revisit Snaktooth Island and discover its bugsnax; if you haven’t played at all, then this is your sign to pick up this surprisingly deep (and dark) experience.

The joy of finding something new that flys, crawls, and just looks appetizing is as exciting as discovering a new Pokemon, but instead of battling you get to eat them. So if it’s cute, fun, and a puzzling type of adventure game you’d love to try, then you might just want to play Bugsnax.

Bugsnax’s The Isle of BIGsnax is a great reason to revisit Snacktooth. Whether you’re a seasoned journalist or catching your first Strabby on a new platform, you really can’t go wrong with this delightful adventure.

While the visual and performance cutbacks are ones I expected going from PS5 to Switch, Bugsnax not making full use of the Switch’s unique hardware capabilities is disappointing. I was hoping we’d get gyro control options or proper HD rumble to try and offer more immersion, but neither are present in this release. You do get the complete game with the Isle of Bigsnax right from the start though. If you already played Bugsnax on another platform, you should stick to that one to experience the new content, but for those who haven’t jumped into Snacktooth Island yet, the Nintendo Switch version of Bugsnax is a fine way to do so. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed putting in more than 20 hours into it on Nintendo Switch and Switch Lite.

In one of the most heartfelt adventures I’ve had the pleasure of playing, Bugsnax shines in almost every element. While there is a bit of tedium with later missions, and not all the Bugsnak designs are winners, the treasure here really is the friends you make along the way.

Due to some frustrating issues with the control system, unaddressed technical flaws, and an overall sense of repetitiveness that starts taking over all too early in the game, Bugsnax leaves the impression it could have made a much larger splash but as it is, this adventure/exploration game doesn't quite stand up to its peers.