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Beasts of Maravilla Island

A calm and serene adventure through a mystical island, Beasts of Maravilla Island feels like a cross between Pokémon Snap and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure.
77%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
stability, replayability
88% User Score Based on 271 reviews
Critic Score 63%Based on 8 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5Steam DeckSteam DeckWindowsWindowsXbox OneXbox OneXbox Series X|SXbox Series X|SPlayStationPlayStationXboxXbox

About

"Beasts of Maravilla Island" is a 3D adventure game where you play as an aspiring wildlife photographer, Marina Montez, exploring the magical island of Maravilla. Your mission is to restore the island's waning magic by finding and photographing its extraordinary creatures, solving puzzles, and interacting with the island's flora and fauna to reveal their unique behaviors. Save Maravilla Island and uncover its hidden secrets as you document the enchanting beasts in this family-friendly game.

Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
Beasts of Maravilla Island screenshot
+10

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 279 reviews
story28 positive mentions
stability22 negative mentions

  • Beautiful graphics and charming creature designs create an enchanting atmosphere.
  • Relaxing gameplay allows players to explore at their own pace and enjoy taking photos of unique wildlife.
  • The game features a simple yet engaging story that emphasizes the importance of nature and conservation.
  • The game is very short, taking only about 2-3 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Numerous bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, including issues with controls and getting stuck in the environment.
  • Lack of depth in puzzles and gameplay mechanics may make the experience feel repetitive and simplistic.
  • story
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Beasts of Maravilla Island" is generally described as simple, short, and heartwarming, focusing on themes of nature and wildlife conservation. While some players appreciate its charming and whimsical elements, others find it superficial and linear, lacking depth and engagement. Overall, it serves as a pleasant backdrop for exploration and photography, appealing particularly to younger audiences and those seeking a relaxing gaming experience.

    • “The story is wholesome and captivating, but very superficial.”
    • “A lovely, relaxing little game that goes for the right amount of time to enjoy the story and not grow tired of the gameplay.”
    • “I would highly recommend this game for the graphics are beautiful, the music is so pleasing to listen to, the story is captivating, and each section adds new things that are wonderfully crafted to make the whole experience come together.”
    • “There are creatures posing, scenes cultivated, and you, moving mindlessly through a story already told on your behalf.”
    • “The story itself is linear, maybe not so thrilling or overly exciting, yet it does not let a player be indifferent to it or experience boredom.”
    • “You pretty much just walk through 3 small linear areas and take some photographs of exotic fantasy animals, with nearly no exploration, lots of handholding, and a not-too-deep short background story.”
  • graphics
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the vibrant art style and cute creature designs, while others criticize the visuals for being simplistic and reminiscent of older gaming generations. Some users find the graphics charming and fitting for the game's nature photography theme, but many express disappointment over the lack of detail and polish, describing them as clunky or reminiscent of low-quality shovelware. Overall, while the game has beautiful environments and a unique aesthetic, it falls short of modern graphical standards, leaving room for improvement.

    • “The graphics are really pretty, loved the colors, the designs of the animals.”
    • “Wonderful graphics and beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The visuals are vibrant and stunning.”
    • “If you like Pokémon Snap and can accept graphics that aren't as smooth as Nintendo's, this one will bring a smile to your face.”
    • “For a game that centers on looking around and taking pictures of all things around you, the graphics are severely lacking.”
    • “I was also quite disappointed at the graphics quality; it reminded me very much of early PS1 games and animations felt quite clunky.”
  • gameplay
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Beasts of Maravilla Island" is characterized by its simple and relaxed mechanics focused on exploration and photography, which many players find enjoyable despite some frustrations with controls and occasional glitches. While the vibrant environments and charming creatures enhance the experience, the gameplay is often criticized for being overly simplistic and lacking depth, with minimal challenge and repetitive tasks. Overall, it offers a soothing adventure suitable for casual play, but may leave more experienced gamers wanting for a more polished and engaging experience.

    • “The gameplay feels nice.”
    • “I love the creative gameplay based on photography and exploration.”
    • “The environments are incredibly pretty, and the gameplay is super relaxing.”
    • “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... and any experienced gamer will tell you, the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
    • “Unfortunately, this is something the developer seems to have phoned in, with little to no apparent gameplay testing.”
    • “The gameplay is frustrating at times with no run button and your character walks pretty slow; there's a crouch button instead which only really comes into play like twice during the game, you don't even need to sneak up on creatures.”
  • music
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its calming and ambient qualities that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some find the soundtrack beautiful and fitting for the tropical setting, others criticize it for being repetitive and potentially grating over time. Overall, the music is generally described as pleasant and suitable for the game's chill gameplay, contributing positively to the immersive experience.

    • “The soundtrack was also amazing!”
    • “The music is really nice too and I enjoyed the moral of the story.”
    • “Beautiful music, interesting creatures.”
    • “The jungle's background music got on my nerves after a while, but the OST is overall very nice.”
    • “The music is generic and gets old long before you're through each area.”
    • “The soundtrack is simple and repetitive, with an ambient feel to it.”
  • emotional
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming experience, with players appreciating its charming visuals, cute wildlife, and soothing soundtrack. While the story is often described as superficial, it still resonates with themes of nature and exploration, making it a delightful choice for those seeking a stress-free, immersive adventure suitable for all ages. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke feelings of joy and tranquility.

    • “I would highly recommend this game to anyone that is looking for a wholesome small immersive adventure; it is very accessible and truly suitable for all ages.”
    • “Absolutely beautiful game with unique gameplay, and a touching story.”
    • “Lovely music, cute creatures, wholesome story, and I'm always a sucker for games where you take photographs of mysterious animals and fauna.”
  • stability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including visual issues and unresponsive controls. While some players found the experience enjoyable despite these problems, many noted that the frequency and severity of the bugs detracted from the overall enjoyment. However, there is a sense of optimism as the development team appears to be addressing these issues, suggesting potential improvements in future updates.

    • “What a buggy mess!”
    • “The game itself is cute and relaxing - if you can ignore all the glitches and sometimes game-breaking bugs.”
    • “Every feature and corner of the game is either janky or buggy.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability, primarily focused on capturing the "perfect" picture for each slot and achieving all accomplishments. Many players expressed a desire for additional content or features that could enhance replay value.

    • “The replay value is impressive, offering numerous ways to experience the game.”
    • “The game encourages multiple playthroughs with its diverse choices and outcomes.”
    • “However, other than that, there is limited replay value unless your goal is to capture the 'perfect' picture for each photo slot.”
    • “Other than getting all the achievements, there is no replay value.”
    • “I was left wanting more and seeing exactly where they could have added replay value.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, with many noting that achieving all accomplishments is straightforward and not overly tedious. However, some feel that certain gameplay elements could benefit from clearer in-game indications to reduce repetitiveness. Overall, the grinding experience is considered manageable.

    • “You can easily get all achievements, and it's not grindy at all.”
    • “I will say that the gameplay was a bit tedious.”
    • “An in-game indication could have made this central task less tedious.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautiful and immersive environments, particularly in the final area, complemented by stunning graphics. The calming background music enhances the overall ambiance, contributing to a cute and enchanting experience.

    • “The environments were beautiful and atmospheric, especially the final area.”
    • “Wonderful graphics and beautiful atmosphere.”
    • “The background music consists of calm, relaxing tunes that fit the atmosphere.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization of "Beasts of Maravilla Island" is criticized for its $10 price point, which some players feel is excessive given the availability of older AAA games for the same cost. However, the game offers unique features like photo-saving and selfies that enhance the gameplay experience.

    • “Beasts of Maravilla Island has the greedy, cash grab price of $10 USD, for which you could easily get any number of older AAA games.”
    • “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it seems more focused on extracting money than providing value to players.”
    • “I was disappointed to find that many features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully without spending extra.”
  • humor
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the humor in the game primarily through the amusing designs of the Pokémon, which contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.

    • “These Pokémon look hilarious!”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch and keeps me laughing.”
    • “I love the witty dialogue and funny character interactions!”

Buy Beasts of Maravilla Island

2h Median play time
3h Average play time
2-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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