Sony’s August State of Play event was held recently, and while viewers were forewarned there wouldn’t be any major PlayStation 5 announcements, many were excited to see another preview for Bugsnax, a colorful, quirky adventure gaming experiencing that takes place on the unique and tropical Snaktooth island.
Created by Young Horses Games, a small indie Chicago studio responsible for the 2014 game Octodad: Deadliest Catch, Bugsnax are adorable little half-bug, half-snack creatures that share the title’s name. As the name may suggest, they are sought after by the inhabitants of Snaktooth Island for their cuteness and taste.
The trailer for Bugsnax features different Bugsnax that come in a variety of shapes and sizes, such as strawberries, pineapples, sandwiches, carrots, tacos, and watermelons — all equipped with insect-like legs and googly eyes. The NPCs are fuzzy, Dr. Seuss-meets-Muppets-like beings with vivid, distinct, and funny personalities.
Capture Species of Bugsnax & Solve The Mystery of SnakTooth Island
Players assume the role of a journalist whose cranky boss, C. Clumby Clumbernut, reluctantly allows them to accept a strange invite from a walrus-looking explorer, Elizabert Megafig, and go on “another monster hunt.” However, upon arriving at Snaktooth Island, the mayor greats the player and informs them that Lizbert is missing. Not only that, but her followers are scattered across the island all alone. It’s up to the player to bring them all back and find out where their host is.
In this first person mystery-adventure game, players must solve the different mysteries within the island, answering such questions as: What are Bugsnax? Where do they come from? And most importantly, “Why do they taste SO GOOD?” In a way that is almost reminiscent of Pokémon, players can seek out and capture 100 different species of Bugsnax using various contraptions and bait. Tasks include rounding up a Bunger — a type of burger Bugsnak with curly-fry legs — by using ketchup to lure it in a pin, or discovering what an islander's favorite Bugsnax is.
Users can also feed their new friends different Bugsnax to give them unique, customizable looks. They will discover different puzzles and obstacles along the way, as players must follow every lead possible to obtain different Bugsnax, learn more about the secrets of Snaktooth Island, find Lizbert and her scattered misfits, and bring everyone back to Snaxburg. The game is vibrant and whimsical, but the trailer hints at the presence of darker scenes such as coming across a broken bridge in a dim, rainy setting while a giant moth-like creature looms overhead.
Designed for players of all ages, Bugsnax is set to release for PC, PlayStation 4, and the highly-anticipated PlayStation 5. This snack-heavy game is expected to launch around the 2020 holiday season.