Review: Bugsnax
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Your progress will be saved in your chosen save slot automatically whenever you trigger a checkpoint. The simplest way to do that is just walk or fast travel to another area. Incidentally, which save slot you use also determines the color of your character. If you need to take a short break from the action, press ESC to bring up the pause menu. Viewing your notebook does not pause the game. Time needed per session:How long you need depends on what you're hoping to accomplish, but as a rule, thirty minutes should be enough for most sessions. Battling the Legendary Snax may require more time.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Some players may have concerns It's likely that the biggest issue most Christians will have with this game is that there are three examples of same-sex relationships among the main cast, though there are some other issues to consider as well. |
Screenshots
Game Overview
Bugsnax is one of the first "creature collector" games I've played on PC, and I'd say it makes for a good first impression. In this game, you'll travel to Snaktooth Island, a remote location in a world populated by Grumpuses and the titular bugsnax. But you're not here to save the world, solve puzzles, or even take part in a huge adventure - you're just a reporter attempting to learn about an exciting new discovery and prove to your boss that you're not as big of a failure as she thinks.
As you've probably guessed, you're not a human either - you're a Grumpus, a colorful creature that resembles an overly generic muppet. Everyone you'll meet here is also a Grumpus, and like so many children's shows these days, they'll find a way to turn the word "grump" into slang for just about anything they need to say. This might get grumping old after a while, but you'll need to live with it.
The bugsnax themselves are adorable animal-like things that resemble puppet versions of different things to eat. In other words, they're like a cross between a bug and a snack. From what I can tell, the most famous of them is the Bunger, which looks like a hamburger with curly fries for legs. On a side note, just like the critters from another popular franchise, bugsnax can say is their own names - and it's also the only thing they can say.
Now, the bugsnax are only part of the reason you've been sent to Snaktooth Island. The main story you're attempting to report on is the fate of Elizabert Megafig's expedition. She's a renowned explorer, and some time ago she sent back a report about her new discovery - the bugsnax themselves. Strangely enough, nobody has heard from her since then, and by the time you get there, everygrump's missing. What was going to be a simple task of interviewing a few grumps and going home has turned into a genuine mystery.
Fortunately, Snaktooth Island isn't very big, so there aren't that many places to search. The bigger problem is that nobody wants to return to Snaxburg. Apparently there was a major fight and now everygrump wants to be left alone. You'll have to find a way to convince them to come back, and that usually involves doing some minor tasks like catching certain bugsnax or trying out a new bugsnax-catching tool.
So far, this sounds like a cute little game - what's the catch?
Well, it turns out that whenever a Grumpus eats a bugsnax, part of their body changes shape to reflect what they've eaten. This isn't even a spoiler, as the first time you see this happen is right at the beginning of the game: after a grumpus named Filbo shows you how to catch bugsnax, he eats the first one you give him and his arm transforms into strawberries. He just shrugs it off as a "side effect" of eating bugsnax and tells you not to worry, but it's not very convincing.
Should you really want to learn the truth about Snaktooth Island, just brush up on your reporter's instincts a bit. Talk to everyone, explore, and go catch more bugsnax. Eventually you'll find out the island's terrible secret, but in the meantime, there's just over 100 species of bugsnax for you to catch, several hidden bosses to battle, a number of large open areas to explore, and even a number of collectibles for you to discover.
Overall, this is a fun game that almost anyone will enjoy, but a word of caution. Things take a dark turn near the end of the main storyline, and this might be a problem for younger players.
As you've probably guessed, you're not a human either - you're a Grumpus, a colorful creature that resembles an overly generic muppet. Everyone you'll meet here is also a Grumpus, and like so many children's shows these days, they'll find a way to turn the word "grump" into slang for just about anything they need to say. This might get grumping old after a while, but you'll need to live with it.
The bugsnax themselves are adorable animal-like things that resemble puppet versions of different things to eat. In other words, they're like a cross between a bug and a snack. From what I can tell, the most famous of them is the Bunger, which looks like a hamburger with curly fries for legs. On a side note, just like the critters from another popular franchise, bugsnax can say is their own names - and it's also the only thing they can say.
Now, the bugsnax are only part of the reason you've been sent to Snaktooth Island. The main story you're attempting to report on is the fate of Elizabert Megafig's expedition. She's a renowned explorer, and some time ago she sent back a report about her new discovery - the bugsnax themselves. Strangely enough, nobody has heard from her since then, and by the time you get there, everygrump's missing. What was going to be a simple task of interviewing a few grumps and going home has turned into a genuine mystery.
Fortunately, Snaktooth Island isn't very big, so there aren't that many places to search. The bigger problem is that nobody wants to return to Snaxburg. Apparently there was a major fight and now everygrump wants to be left alone. You'll have to find a way to convince them to come back, and that usually involves doing some minor tasks like catching certain bugsnax or trying out a new bugsnax-catching tool.
So far, this sounds like a cute little game - what's the catch?
Well, it turns out that whenever a Grumpus eats a bugsnax, part of their body changes shape to reflect what they've eaten. This isn't even a spoiler, as the first time you see this happen is right at the beginning of the game: after a grumpus named Filbo shows you how to catch bugsnax, he eats the first one you give him and his arm transforms into strawberries. He just shrugs it off as a "side effect" of eating bugsnax and tells you not to worry, but it's not very convincing.
Should you really want to learn the truth about Snaktooth Island, just brush up on your reporter's instincts a bit. Talk to everyone, explore, and go catch more bugsnax. Eventually you'll find out the island's terrible secret, but in the meantime, there's just over 100 species of bugsnax for you to catch, several hidden bosses to battle, a number of large open areas to explore, and even a number of collectibles for you to discover.
Overall, this is a fun game that almost anyone will enjoy, but a word of caution. Things take a dark turn near the end of the main storyline, and this might be a problem for younger players.
Points of Interest
Cast of Colorful Characters
All of the characters you'll meet in this game come complete with their personal quirks and special side story, the latter of which is told via a series of side quests. Doing these tasks not only helps you get to know each character better, it also helps advance the main story along and unlocks extra content and cutscenes that you wouldn't see normally.
Bonus material included
The console versions of Bugsnax require you to buy some DLCs in order to have the full experience, but these come built-in on the PC version - they'll automatically unlock once you've progressed far enough into the game. This bonus content includes the ability to locate little hats that you can have Gramble's pets wear and an entirely new "prehistoric" section of the bugsnax world for you to explore.
Customizable house
Since you're going to be staying on Snaktooth Island for a while, Filbo (aka the mayor) sees to it that you get your own house and mailbox. As you play, you'll get interesting new optional quests through the mail system. Completing these quests will reward you with new furniture for your house, and there's a few achievements tied to this quest system too.
Elaborate battles
Catching bugsnax is usually just a matter of knowing which combination of tools to use and where to place them, but there are a few exceptions, namely, the Legendary Bugsnax. The Legendary Bugsnax can initially only be encountered as part of a side quest and function as the game's main bosses. In order to catch these monsters, you'll need to find a way to use the local environment against them in battle.
Steam community features
Like most Steam games, there's a set of Steam trading cards available for players to collect. There are also thirty unique achievements to earn, about half of which showcase your progress in the game. The rest require you to try some silly things like snapping a photo of somebody who just got splattered with sauce, or complete a very difficult feat like catching a bunch of bugsnax within a very short time limit.
Concerns and Issues
Eating living creatures
You can't cook bugsnax, so everyone just eats them alive in a single gulp. As creepy as this is, it might just be an example of an acceptable break from reality in order to keep the game's mechanics working smoothly, so perhaps it's not that important.
Bullying
Filbo may have been left in charge of Snaxburg, but that doesn't mean he gets any respect. Just about everyone is mean to him throughout the game, and after a while it starts getting rather uncomfortable.
Many of the villagers are also very rude or even openly cruel to Gramble, but for a more specific reason: Gramble wants to keep the bugsnax as pets instead of eating them.
Many of the villagers are also very rude or even openly cruel to Gramble, but for a more specific reason: Gramble wants to keep the bugsnax as pets instead of eating them.
Homosexuality
Nobody in this game cares about the gender of their love interest. This results in every permutation being represented at least once, as you have a couple comprised of two men, two comprised of two women, and a single man and woman couple. While a few of them a bit reserved or shy about expressing their feelings, it all comes across the same way.
Of course, since none of the characters are human, it's impossible to say whether or not homosexuality even matters in Grumpus society.
Of course, since none of the characters are human, it's impossible to say whether or not homosexuality even matters in Grumpus society.
Awkward hugging
Two of the grumps you'll meet are a bit more affectionate towards the player than the others and give you hugs. This is shown via the game's normal first person perspective, but the camera doesn't move as it should if you were hugging them back. This makes it rather awkward and possibly even unpleasant for the player.
That said, one of the reasons you'll get hugged is because a certain conspiracy theorist doesn't want the Grumpinati listening in. Or he's actually attaching a small homing device in your fur. It varies.
That said, one of the reasons you'll get hugged is because a certain conspiracy theorist doesn't want the Grumpinati listening in. Or he's actually attaching a small homing device in your fur. It varies.
Potty humor
Literally - once a Grumpus has returned to Snaxburg, they'll occasionally need to make a hasty trip to the outhouse. Everybody does their business behind closed doors, so there isn't much point to this beyond making the NPCs seem a little more alive, but it might bother some stricter parents.
Sacrifice and cannibalism
One of the people you'll meet in this game is an archeologist, and they've unearthed cave paintings and ancient artifacts throughout Snaktooth Island. Some of these show evidence that the grumps who lived here in the distant past ritually sacrificed or nibbled on their own kind.
One of the scientists on the island also tried to secretly eat their own leg after it had turned into food. They didn't manage to hide it well and freaked everygrump out as a result. I'll leave it to the reader to decide whether or not to be concerned about this, as nogrump ever consumes actual Grumpus meat.
One of the scientists on the island also tried to secretly eat their own leg after it had turned into food. They didn't manage to hide it well and freaked everygrump out as a result. I'll leave it to the reader to decide whether or not to be concerned about this, as nogrump ever consumes actual Grumpus meat.
Click to Show Spoilers
You really are what you eat
The big mystery - and the big horror - of Snaktooth Island is that bugsnax aren't really foodstuffs: they're parasites that reproduce by tricking people into eating them. As a Grumpus eats more bugsnax, they slowly become replaced by "snakmatter" and become convinced that eating more bugsnax will magically solve their problems. Eventually there won't be anything left of the original grumpus, and their body will simply fall apart, breaking up into more new bugsnax.
At the story's climax, a horde of bugsnax will attack the city and attempt to force the villagers to eat them. If you can't defend them successfully (and haven't finished their respective side quests) then you'll get to watch as they decompose into bugsnax.
At the story's climax, a horde of bugsnax will attack the city and attempt to force the villagers to eat them. If you can't defend them successfully (and haven't finished their respective side quests) then you'll get to watch as they decompose into bugsnax.
Body horror
In case you're wondering what happened to the famous explorer, she ended up with a terrible fate - instead of breaking up into more bugsnax, she ended up merging with them, becoming something akin to the queen of the bugsnax hivemind. There's nothing the player can do about this.
Your boss knew the truth the entire time
The cutscene at the start of the game makes it abundantly clear that your boss doesn't like you and expects you to fail, but the game's ending reveals that they also knew the truth about Snaktooth Island. In short, they deliberately sent you there to die, and even had you declared legally dead.