Creatures of Ava

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 89 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Creatures of Ava Game Cover
Overall, Creatures of Ava will, without a doubt, go above and beyond to get you hooked on its story and visuals, but it’ll just keep adding on as you explore and see more of Ava.
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In "Creatures of Ava," become a nature explorer and save unique creatures on planet Ava, who are succumbing to an infection. Play as Vic, exploring 4 distinct ecosystems, taming over 20 creatures with a musical flute, and discovering the secrets of Ava and Vic's past. Your mission is to instill peace and save the planet's inhabitants from the withering.

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Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 89 reviews
story22 positive mentions
monetization3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a vibrant world that is a joy to explore.
  • The story is engaging and emotional, with well-developed characters and a meaningful narrative.
  • The creature designs are adorable, and the mechanics of taming and interacting with them add a fun and heartwarming element to the gameplay.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive and lacks depth, with some players finding it mechanically boring.
  • There are significant design flaws, such as the inability to return to previously explored areas, which can lock players out of content and collectibles.
  • The game has several bugs and technical issues that can disrupt the experience, including problems with creature spawning and camera controls.
  • story83 mentions

    The game's story is widely praised for its depth, emotional impact, and engaging characters, with many players finding it meaningful and beautifully intertwined with the gameplay. While the narrative explores themes of empathy and human nature, some players noted issues with progression and missable content that can hinder the experience. Overall, the story is considered a standout feature, making the game a worthwhile experience for those seeking a rich narrative alongside exploration.

    • “It has a very meaningful story and wonderful characters and dialogue, and you're sure to have a blast.”
    • “The story was beautiful and made me cry at the end.”
    • “What begins as a wholesome mission to save a planet evolves into something grander as human ignorance and blinding empathy are slowly swept away through understanding the cultures of the naam and ava.”
    • “Unfortunately, as the story progresses, you slowly realize that it is not all that happy and you are assailed by a sense of sadness that culminates in a depressive ending that makes you wonder to yourself how lousy people we really are.”
    • “In addition, entire zones of the open world are locked out as the story progresses, meaning that if you don't get 100% completion of these zones before progressing the storyline, you miss out completely - including on permanent character upgrades.”
    • “And if there's a story item or something you need to interact with for story progression - you're just screwed and your game progression is locked forever.”
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a blend of creature control, exploration, and puzzle-solving, reminiscent of metroidvania titles, with a focus on environmental challenges and a unique non-violent combat system centered around healing creatures. While the mechanics are generally enjoyable and the world is beautifully designed, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and are divided on certain mechanics, such as using music to tame animals. Overall, the game offers a charming and immersive experience, though it may not be groundbreaking in depth or complexity.

    • “The mix of puzzle-solving, creature-taming, and environmental challenges keeps the gameplay fresh and engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is a marriage between Beyond Good and Evil, Pokémon Snap, and classic Legend of Zelda.”
    • “Fun gameplay, beautiful environments, cute creatures.”
    • “The first is that the main gameplay starts to overstay its welcome after a bit.”
    • “The one gaming mechanic that I'm seeing an increase in is using music to tame animals; it's a mechanic I hate because, as a person who doesn't know music notes by sound, it's hard to tame the animals when I don't know what note they are using or which one for myself to use to tame them.”
    • “The game's creatures are pretty cute, and I like that you can pet them and that they have skills you can use for exploration, but sadly it's mechanically pretty boring.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many players noting its beauty and emotional impact. While some found the mechanics involving music to tame creatures challenging, the overall soundtrack is described as relaxing and enjoyable, with players expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack. The integration of music into gameplay enhances the connection between players and the game's whimsical creatures, making it a standout feature.

    • “I was swept away by the atmosphere, art style, music, story, and characters.”
    • “A huge compliment on the music in this game, been humming the grassland main theme a lot and often stood still to listen.”
    • “The soundtrack to this game is relaxing and soothing.”
    • “The one gaming mechanic that I'm seeing an increase in is using music to tame animals. It's a mechanic I hate because, as a person who doesn't know music notes by sound, it's hard to tame the animals when I don't know what note they are using or which one for myself to use to tame them.”
    • “We're not all music savants, lmfao.”
    • “You can turn on settings in the options menu to help guide you in playing melodies if you're not as musically inclined like myself.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their beautiful watercolor-inspired art style and immersive creature designs, creating a charming atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience. However, players have expressed frustration with the limited graphical options available on the Steam Deck, contrasting with the extensive settings offered on PC. While the visuals are not technically groundbreaking, they are considered gorgeous and engaging, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “From the art direction with those beautiful watercolor-inspired graphics, the relaxed gameplay makes you interact and befriend little (and not so little) creatures, and a plot that hits harder than it looks at first glance and makes you root for the characters you meet along the way.”
    • “I’ve really enjoyed this game so far, the creature designs, the graphics, the mechanics, the world, it’s all amazing and immersive!!”
    • “The graphics are not overly technically impressive, but the art is gorgeous - I was particularly enamored by the designs of the eponymous creatures of Ava, by the naam, and by the beautiful environments.”
    • “The largest issue comes with the reduced graphical option settings on the Steam Deck version of the game.”
    • “It automatically runs in Steam Deck mode, making it so you can't change any of the graphic settings.”
    • “There's so much potential here, but it feels like a PS2 game with the graphics of a PS4 game.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Creatures of Ava" is highlighted by the deep bonds players form with the creatures, the poignant journey of the protagonist Vic, and the impactful narrative that evolves from a simple mission into a profound exploration of empathy and cultural understanding. Players frequently mention the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears by the end, thanks to its heartwarming interactions and beautifully crafted world. While some wished for more voice acting to enhance emotional moments, the overall experience is described as a touching and unforgettable adventure.

    • “The bond you create with the creatures is one of the game's highlights, especially through the ability to tame, pet, and help them recover from 'the withering.' Vic’s journey adds emotional depth to the exploration, with her past unraveling as you progress through the game.”
    • “I cared so much about the world and its characters and creatures that I cried at the ending.”
    • “What begins as a wholesome mission to save a planet evolves into something grander as human ignorance and blinding empathy are slowly swept away through understanding the cultures of the naam and ava.”
  • monetization3 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of effective advertising, making it difficult for potential players to discover new content. Users feel that traditional advertising methods are insufficient in reaching audiences, highlighting a struggle for companies to promote their games effectively.

    • “No one really sees ads anymore, so how do you find out about new content?”
    • “The advertising of games and how to do it efficiently remains a struggle for companies.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game is reportedly poorly optimized, particularly for lower-end PCs, as it defaults to ultra settings, which can hinder performance. Despite claims of being verified on Steam Deck, users have experienced significant performance issues, indicating a need for further optimization.

    • “The game requires some optimization adjustments, especially for players with lower-end PCs who may need to tweak settings for better performance.”
    • “There is a need for improved optimization to enhance the overall gaming experience.”
    • “While the game offers stunning visuals, it could benefit from better optimization to ensure smoother gameplay on various hardware.”
    • “It claims to be verified on Steam Deck, but the performance is very poor.”
    • “The game isn't really optimized well and forces you to start out with ultra settings, so if you have a lower-end PC and need it to run properly, be prepared to adjust settings early.”
    • “It also needs more optimization.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is characterized by minor bugs and pacing issues, leading to a somewhat rough experience. However, it performs well on the Steam Deck, despite some concerns regarding player respect.

    • “A little buggy, a little weirdly paced, a little rough around the edges.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and witty writing, significantly enhancing the overall experience. Many users feel that the comedic elements exceed expectations, adding a delightful layer to the gameplay.

    • “There's lots of funny stuff built in, and it makes the overall experience that much better.”
    • “Clever and funny writing that is way better than it needs to be, or has any right to be.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players highlight the game's engaging story and note that it offers significant replayability, encouraging multiple playthroughs.

    • “Such an amazing story and lots of replayability.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting its captivating art style, immersive music, engaging story, and well-developed characters that collectively create a compelling experience.

    • “I was swept away by the atmosphere, art style, music, story, and characters.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

Buy Creatures of Ava

Play time

23hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
23-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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