Bugsnax Review Roundup

This week marks the start of a new console generation, with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S / Series X coming out. But while fans await their next-gen systems, there are still some current-gen games dropping--Bugsnax being one of them, available on PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Check below to see what critics are saying about the cutesy puzzle adventure.

Bugsnax arrives on November 12 and reviews have started publishing online. The general consensus around Young Horses' latest puzzle-adventure title is that it's a cute experience with a quirky premise that can be occasionally unsatisfying but makes up for it with its light-hearted storytelling. Critics largely found themselves entertained with the whole snack of it all.

Some have compared the game to both Ape Escape and Pokemon Snap, titles that hold a lot of memories in the hearts of gamers familiar with them. Even without these reference points, reviewers found Bugsnax to be both lovable and endearing. Critics also pointed out that the game follows a similar tone to Young Horses' last project, 2014's Octodad: Dadliest Catch.

• Game: Bugsnax
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Developer: Young Horses
• Release Date: November 12
• Price: $25 / £19 / $34 AUD

Below are a selection of some review excerpts to give you an idea of what critics think about Bugsnax. Head over to GameSpot sister site Metacritic for more reviews on the game.

GameSpot - 8/10

"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." -- Mike Epstein [Full Review]

Game Informer - 7/10

"As a game, Bugsnax seems delighted by its own ridiculous premise, and hopes its players climb onboard as well. I appreciate its genuine and childlike themes, but much of the humor never really lands, and some late-game story threads around depression and abandonment are especially incongruous. With quests and puzzles that feel less like discoveries and more like errands, I'm left applauding a particularly entertaining idea, but one that never coalesces into a great time." -- Matt Miller [Full Review]

IGN - 8/10

"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." -- Simon Cardy [Full Review]

Inverse - 8/10

"While its visuals and gameplay remain firmly rooted in current-gen, it's hard to stay mad at Bugsnax for long. The capturing mechanics hit that sweet spot between Pokemon Snap and Ape Escape that I didn't know I needed, and it's all held up by loveable characters and smart writing that will keep you laughing and grinning from ear to ear." -- Tomas Franzese [Full Review]

Polygon - Unscored

"Ultimately, it's that modern-day Mr. Rogers moralism that saves Bugsnax in the end. I'd happily recommend it to any family, and to any parent looking for a few hours to themselves--either in front of the screen for a bit of casual gameplay, or in the next room while the kids enjoy it all on their own." -- Charlie Hall [Full Review]

USGamer - 4/5

"Bugsnax sees Young Horses building on the strange sense of humor it developed with Octodad while embracing some familiar, less adventurous gameplay hooks at its core. I let out an involuntary "aw" when I saw my first Kwookie scuttling across the ground, but the real heart of Bugsnax is its cast of lovable Grumpuses. It has great characters, an entertaining story, and all the Bugsnak catching is just varied enough to keep the experience interesting to its end. All that talk about Bugsnax over the past few months wasn't misguided: it's a flavor-blasted joy." -- Mathew Olson [Full Review]

VentureBeat - 3/5

"Still, I don't dislike Bugsnax. Its fun goofiness carries it past many of its problems. When you feed someone a Bugsnax, it replaces one of their body parts. It's hard to hate a game where you can feed someone a s'mores-themed bug and then watch their nose turn into a toasted marshmallow. And if you're a completionist, you can get some extra fun by challenging yourself to capture every kind of Bugsnax in the game. I applaud Bugsnax's creativity. It's not the most stimulating puzzle game, but it's worth checking out if you can't get that theme song out of your head." -- Mike Minotti [Full Review]

The Washington Post - Unscored

"But then the game itself interferes with these relationships. As well-rounded and thoughtfully executed as the characters, world and story are, I found myself both frustrated with the complexity of the controls and tiring of the repetition that comes with trap-setting and luring the Bugsnax into my clutches. The mystery of Lizbert's whereabouts and the compelling job you have as a journalist with something to prove aren't enough. The gameplay has to reach the same high bar as the rest of the pieces of the video game puzzle. Perhaps they will refine and simplify the gameplay in a sequel, because I'd like to spend some more time with these characters outside of this game's encumbrances." -- Harold Goldberg [Full Review]