Creatures 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.

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews

story19 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

Creatures of Ava features stunning visuals and a beautifully crafted world that immerses players in its vibrant ecosystems.
The game offers a rich and engaging story that explores themes of empathy and the consequences of human actions, making it emotionally impactful.
Gameplay is enjoyable with a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and heartwarming interactions with adorable creatures, providing a cozy gaming experience.

Players have reported various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with creature respawning and soft-locking in certain areas.
The game can become repetitive over time, and some players feel that the mechanics lack depth, leading to a less engaging experience.
There are design flaws that can lock players out of content if objectives are completed in the wrong order, which can be frustrating for completionists.

story
79 mentions
24 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story in "Creatures of Ava" is praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players appreciating the rich world-building and character development that encourages investment in the narrative. While some found the gameplay repetitive and encountered minor bugs, the overall storytelling is described as engaging and thought-provoking, culminating in a bittersweet conclusion that resonates with themes of empathy and human nature. Despite some frustrations with progression and missable content, many players recommend the game for its captivating plot and beautiful presentation.
- “The worlds you explore are really pretty and the game has a rich story which I didn't expect at all.”
- “Where a lot of games fail to make you feel invested in the setting, Creatures of Ava takes the time and quest space to build stories in its world, giving you the breathing room to get invested in the people and creatures in it.”
- “The story was beautiful and made me cry at the end.”
- “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.”
gameplay
38 mentions
37 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of puzzle-solving, creature-taming, and exploration, offering a fresh and engaging experience despite some repetitive elements and minor bugs. Players appreciate the charming creature designs and the unique mechanics, such as using music to tame animals, although this aspect can be polarizing. Overall, the game is described as fun and immersive, with a well-integrated story that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “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 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.”
- “No seriously, it's an annoying mechanic and the reason I stopped playing Paleo Pines.”
music
22 mentions
14 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received high praise for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many players noting its beauty and soothing nature. While some found the mechanics involving music to tame creatures challenging, the overall soundtrack and musical elements were celebrated for enhancing the gameplay experience and fostering a deep connection with the game's world. Players expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack, highlighting memorable themes that resonate long after playing.
- “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.”
graphics
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their beautiful watercolor-inspired art style and immersive creature designs, creating a captivating atmosphere. 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 enhance the overall experience.
- “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.”
emotional
15 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative 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 game's exploration of themes like empathy and cultural understanding. Players report feeling a strong emotional connection to the story and characters, often leading to tears by the end, while appreciating the heartwarming interactions and beautiful world design. Despite some critiques regarding voice acting, the overall experience is described as a touching and wholesome adventure that resonates deeply with players.
- “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.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express concerns about the game's monetization strategy, highlighting a lack of effective advertising that makes it difficult for players to discover new content. They suggest that companies need to improve their marketing efforts to reach potential players more 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.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative 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 further optimization to enhance the overall gaming experience.”
- “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.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative 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 an enjoyable 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.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative 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.”
stability
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it runs smoothly. However, some users have expressed concerns about certain design choices that may not align with player expectations.