Back when the PlayStation 5's lineup of launch games were announced, Young Horse's Bugsnax was definitely an unexpected but oddly pleasant addition to the list. Taking place on an island full of half-bug, half-snack creatures, the player is tasked with venturing to the bizarre location to aid its residents in catching its delicious wildlife.
Due to its catchy soundtrack and completely off the wall concept, Bugsnax soon became something of a viral success, with fans seeming pretty excited to get stuck into the bizarre adventure game. With the PlayStation 5 set to launch in just a few days' time, it seems the opportunity to finally see what Bugsnax is all about is nearly here, with the game debuting on the same day as Sony's next-generation hardware. Better yet, it'll be free for PlayStation Plus subscribers on the new console during November.
Those who want a more detailed look at the game before fully committing to playing it at launch are in luck, however, with the review embargo on Bugsnax lifting today. As such, a number of major publications have weighed in with their thoughts on Young Horse's upcoming title, posting lengthy deep dives into the quirky new release. So, without further ado, here's what some of gaming's biggest outlets are saying about Bugsnax.
The Sixth Axis (Nic Bunce)
"Bugsnax is a unique and wonderful experience, and a must-play for anyone who can get their hands on it. If you’re lucky enough to have secured a PS5, make sure you make the most of PlayStation Plus and pick up your free copy while it lasts. If not, this game is still well worth your hard-earned cash."
Score: 9 / 10
IGN (Simon Cardy)
"Bugsnax is a light-lifting puzzle adventure that is elevated by its strong story and characters that I enjoyed until the very end. Despite some simple mechanics, the laughs outnumbered the groans significantly as I found myself surprisingly invested in the events of the island and its inhabitants. With over 100 Bugsnax to discover and catch there’s plenty here to entertain the completionists, alongside those just looking for a well-told six-hour mystery that will keep you guessing until after the credits roll. All of this while making you feel emotionally connected to the characters, something you previously might have thought sounded impossible. Until you saw a carrot crawl, that is."
Score: 8 / 10
GAMINGBible (Imogen Donovan)
"The overall experience of Bugsnax is incredibly moreish. Maybe it's the vivid colour palette, maybe it's the adorable titular animals, maybe it's the morbid mystery at its nutty core. Maybe it's the fact that it's an eight-hour game, which is refreshing, and required to let the story baste to the fullest degree. Maybe it's because I battled a giant dragon made out of sushi."
Score: 8 / 10
Gamespot (Mike Epstein)
"Unsurprisingly, Bugsnax' best qualities are its cleverness and charm. The surprise and delight you feel when you see a Bugsnak wiggling around or watch someone eat one and change their arm into food never goes away. That alone would make Bugsnax worth your time, but creative puzzles and thoughtful story give it the body and depth to make a Snak feel more like a meal."
Score: 8 / 10
VG24/7 (Malindy Hetfield)
"More importantly, while not explicitly marketed towards children, I worry how those who do end up playing it are going to come away from this. Bugsnax has PEGI and ESBR ratings of 7 for mild violence, which I simply don’t agree with for its ending alone, and isn’t that a strange thing to have to say. Bugsnax is a pleasant little gem of a game, but I don’t think I’ve ever encountered another title that came so close to ruining it all for me so close to the finish line."
Score: 4 / 5
GamesRadar (Sam Loveridge)
"But, it's quite unlike anything else. While the gameplay loop will resemble that of something like Pokemon, the world of Snaktooth is an endearing place that I can't quite get enough of. I've become very attached to its characters and the Bugsnax themselves, priding myself in the knowledge I've obtained along the way to becoming quite the Bugsnax catching expert. It's a fantastic blend of bizarre and brilliant, with gameplay offering up plenty of puzzle-solving and detective sleuthing in between the laughs and the raising of eyebrows. Get yourself down to Snaktooth immediately."
Score: 4 / 5
Screen Rant (Zackerie Fairfax)
"Bugsnax may not have what it takes to be a chart-topping hit, but it does have the makings of an instant cult classic. Its goofy nature won't be for everyone, but players who take Elizabert Megafig up on her offer will be pleasantly surprised by Bugsnax's interesting gameplay mechanics and loveable characters. If nothing else, one thing is for sure: Bugsnax's ending is bound to surprise anyone who dares brave Snaktooth Island."
Score 4 / 5
TheGamer (Eric Switzer)
"There's a moment at the end of the game where each of the characters sums up what they learned about themselves and their relationships and how they intend to move forward and grow. While narratively the scene flies in the face of the conventional wisdom "show don't tell," I actually found that putting a nice little bow on everyone's stories was the most gratifying thing about the game. Helping the Grumpuses reconnect with each other and overcome their character flaws is a worthwhile experience. I may not have loved catching bugs, but I came away smitten by Beffica Winklesnoot, Chandlo Funkbun, and the rest of the Snaktooth Island Grumpuses."
Score: 3 / 5
All in all, it seems Bugsnax is ultimately a big success for Young Horses, who has managed to make yet another whimsical adventure following its work on the Octodad series. Most complaints seem to be somewhat unanimous, with critics claiming the game's core gameplay loop is a little underwhelming. Yet, the story and interactions between Bugsnax's characters allegedly make it flaws pretty forgivable, with strong writing and voice acting assembling an endearing experience overall. It seems all the viral hype surrounding Bugsnax was well-earned, with the game managing to succeed in creating a quirky experiencing befitting of the insane marketing surrounding it.
As for Bugsnax's Metacritic score, it's currently sitting at a 79 on PlayStation 4 and a 74 on PlayStation 5, with both seeming likely to change based on other critics yet to post their reviews. As it stands though, it's currently just being outpaced by its fellow PlayStation 5 launch counterparts, with Astro's Playroom scoring a respectable 82 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales bagging a strong 85. With Demon's Souls reviews yet to drop, it'll be interesting to see where Bugsnax stacks up against the full next-generation lineup.
Bugsnax will hit the PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 on November 12.
