Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Bugsnax - Brief Thoughts

Bugsnax - Wikipedia

Bugsnax is a vibrant, poppy world, populated with delectable monsters. On a deeper level, this game offers a metacommentary on the monster catching genre, asking players to contemplate what monsters represent and the purpose of collect-a-thons more generally. Collecting fills an existential void, allowing characters to confront their insecurities. As characters gradually morph into an assemblage of foodstuff, it becomes clear that snacks are a diversion rather than a solution. 

While the interplay between its cutesy aesthetic and sinister plot could have resulted in tonal dissonance, the two halves of Bugsnax are surprisingly compatible. Video games do not have to be fully escapist, nor do they have to confront dark realities directly. Bugsnax has created a world that is both whimsical and tragic, allowing players to reckon with difficult truths while still deriving enjoyment.

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