I Wani Hug that Gator!

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"I Wani Hug that Gator" is a visual novel focused on self-acceptance and second chances. After moving to a new town, player character Inco has the opportunity to shape his final year and form new relationships, including a prehistoric romance with the feisty Olivia. The choices made will impact the development of these relationships and lead to multiple endings.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,223 reviews

story296 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

story
719 mentions
41 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is widely praised for its emotional depth, character development, and engaging narrative, often described as a heartfelt journey that tackles themes of love, personal growth, and self-discovery. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue and the impact of their choices on the story's multiple endings, which evoke a range of emotions from joy to heartbreak. Overall, the game is celebrated as a standout visual novel that resonates deeply with players, making it a memorable experience worth revisiting.
- “The story is amazing, the art is beautiful, and all of the characters are perfect; it's just one of those games that takes you on a journey that you wish you could experience again and again for the first time.”
- “What I got was a shockingly deep story about mutual self-healing and the importance of taking control of your own life.”
- “This game is the best for its gameplay, story, characters, art, and etc. It made me deep, especially ending 3.”
- “The writing is good, but that can't compensate for how slowly the plot moves.”
- “Just so everyone knows this is not a game this is an slightly animated book with very few bits of game play here and there i love all the characters and the story but this is not a game cause i hate reading and was kinda hoping for the 'gameplay' and 'choices' to keep me involved, as im writing this im just about done with it and just kinda start skipping most of the dialog since its mostly not important, some might call it filler which in a normal game would be fine but since theres almost no gameplay other and clicking and reading the filler gets tedious 1/4 of the way through.”
- “My only real complaints is that there feels like despite how long the story is there arent that many different options, granted i dont know if different options in some places would have given you different options in others as i only played through once so far, and not sure if its intentional but it feels like the main character gets more stupid towards the end of it, though that could have just been due to my choices throughout the game even though i felt like i chose the generally more rational choices for the most part.”
emotional
467 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "I Wani Hug That Gator" has resonated deeply with players, many of whom report experiencing intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. The game's well-crafted narrative and character development evoke strong emotional responses, leading to tears and personal reflections on relationships and life experiences. Overall, it is praised as one of the most emotionally impactful visual novels, with players expressing a profound attachment to its characters and story.
- “This game made me feel emotions I haven't felt in years and shed tears that I didn't know I had.”
- “I have never been this emotional over a game before.”
- “This game is by far the most emotional game I have ever, and I think will ever, play.”
music
206 mentions
51 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in this game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere of the story, with many players praising the soundtrack as memorable and beautifully composed. While some noted that certain tracks may not be as memorable as others, the overall quality and fitting nature of the music were highlighted as significant strengths. Many players expressed a desire to purchase the soundtrack, indicating its lasting impact and enjoyment beyond gameplay.
- “The music is excellent, creating the right atmosphere in different parts of the game.”
- “The music helps so, so much with the mood.”
- “The soundtrack is outstanding and many of the songs are making it to my playlist.”
- “It has music, but it’s not very memorable.”
- “There is no main soundtrack to this game, mostly just groups of royalty-free tracks that can be used anywhere.”
- “Heard there was an issue with the music composer, and honestly that is the only gripe I have with the in-game songs; I found them having looping parts too often, but overall a good job on that part as well.”
humor
103 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is a blend of well-crafted jokes and heartfelt moments, striking a balance between lightheartedness and emotional depth. While it features colorful characters and witty dialogue, the game also explores serious themes, making the comedic elements feel genuine and impactful. Overall, players appreciate the humor for its ability to evoke laughter while simultaneously delivering poignant storytelling.
- “The humor is well crafted, and the romance between the two protagonists feels natural and makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”
- “It's funny, it's pleasant, it's sad, it's sappy, it's beautiful and Olivia is the fucking goat.”
- “The writing is great and somehow manages to go from hilarious and goofy moments to serious and impactful scenes without compromising the quality.”
- “Snoot game may have been caveman's equivalent to 'what is a woman?', but this game is their unfunny 'lady ballers'.”
- “I'm glad I played it before all the references became unfunny and outdated.”
graphics
73 mentions
48 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming art style, which enhances the storytelling and character engagement. Reviewers highlight the stunning animations and expressive character designs, noting that the visuals create an immersive experience that captivates players. While some mention minor inconsistencies, the overall consensus is that the artwork and animations significantly elevate the game's appeal.
- “The artworks and art style are just gorgeous - the animations look breathtakingly good and I could stare at still scenes for ages with how great they appear.”
- “The art style is vibrant and charming, perfectly complementing the quirky and delightful plot.”
- “Absolutely amazing, stunning art and visuals with dope animations here and there, a major step up from snoot game in production value.”
- “The graphics of wani are deceiving.”
- “The drawn ones do look great, however, there are also several stock photos with filters applied that look jarring and certain character portraits that don't match the other characters in the art style.”
- “Lunara should have been designed visually to be more like Kiara in that she doesn't stand out visually in the way that someone important to the story does; someone like Morgan, who, although visually very distinct due to her species and the art style she's rendered in, fades into the background due to her showing up for like 3 frames in the whole game.”
character development
31 mentions
48 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players noting the well-crafted relationships and unique character designs that enhance the storytelling. While most characters are engaging and their growth is compelling, some antagonists are criticized for lacking depth and motivation. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke strong emotions and create relatable, human experiences through its character arcs.
- “Character development was pretty good, though my only hang-up was that a few antagonizing characters seemed very shallow and without motive, making it hard to pick up on a few bits of their individual stories.”
- “From absolutely soul-shattering to genuine joy, the storytelling and character development is both relatable and human. The characters felt alive in a way that not many pieces of media have ever been able to convey to me, and experiencing this game was worth every cent I spent.”
- “If you're looking for a visual novel that brings to the table actual character development, a love story that will warm your heart, and a not-so-straightforward 'me make girl happy, girl love me and me get best ending' choose your own adventure visual novel, this is definitely one of the best by far.”
- “New information getting introduced at the end of the game without any real way to feel it out, character development ending suddenly, and no real follow-up on other curiosities that came up throughout the game.”
- “I loved them still, but I wished they played a bigger role when it comes to character development.”
- “The character development for Inco and Olivia is out of this world.”
gameplay
21 mentions
14 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a visual novel experience, characterized by simple mechanics that involve clicking and reading through dialogue, with some players finding it tedious due to filler content. While the choice-driven elements can create impactful decisions and multiple endings, some users feel that the gameplay lacks depth and variety, leading to mixed reviews on its engagement level. Overall, it offers a decent amount of content for its price, but may not satisfy those seeking more interactive gameplay.
- “This game is the best for its gameplay, story, characters, art, etc. It made me feel deeply, especially during ending 3.”
- “The choice-driven gameplay keeps you hooked, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “Several hours worth of gameplay with four endings means you'll feel good, sad, and everything in between, and get your money's worth.”
- “Just so everyone knows this is not a game; this is a slightly animated book with very few bits of gameplay here and there. I love all the characters and the story, but this is not a game because I hate reading and was kind of hoping for the 'gameplay' and 'choices' to keep me involved. As I'm writing this, I'm just about done with it and just kind of start skipping most of the dialog since it's mostly not important. Some might call it filler, which in a normal game would be fine, but since there's almost no gameplay other than clicking and reading, the filler gets tedious 1/4 of the way through.”
- “Gameplay gets a 1/10; you click, that's it.”
- “Gameplay is obviously very simple; it's a visual novel.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with excellent music that enhances emotional depth and storytelling throughout various scenes. The combination of a well-crafted original soundtrack and striking art contributes significantly to creating an immersive experience, effectively setting the tone for both uplifting and somber moments. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enriching the narrative and emotional engagement.
- “The music is excellent, creating the right atmosphere in different parts of the game.”
- “This game has outstanding art, story, and atmosphere.”
- “The music and the way it can stop suddenly or switch up significantly builds the atmosphere, definitely helping with hitting the nail during the more emotional scenes.”
- “The music and the way it can stop suddenly or switch up significantly builds the atmosphere, definitely helping with hitting the nail during the more sad scenes.”
- “The original soundtrack also adds up well to the atmosphere.”
- “The art brings a whole atmosphere of both emotion and story.”
replayability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability primarily through its four distinct endings, which change based on player decisions, particularly in the late-game. However, some players feel that the differences between the endings are limited, mainly affecting the epilogue, which may reduce overall replay incentive.
- “My only complaint is how there's not much in terms of replayability other than getting the four endings, which only change the epilogue and late-game content.”
- “With four endings, there's definitely replay value to see how one small decision can snowball into a totally different outcome.”
- “There's four endings to get in this game, lending itself a lot of replay value.”
stability
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to be buggy, with some users experiencing crashes on startup that require a reinstall to fix. However, it runs smoothly on the Steam Deck when using the Steam Linux runtime.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck (just use Steam Linux Runtime).”
- “The game can be buggy, which might lead to crashes on startup until you reinstall.”
- “I frequently experience crashes that disrupt my gameplay.”
- “Stability issues make it hard to enjoy the game without constant interruptions.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, as it heavily relies on reading and minimal gameplay, leading to a sense of filler content that detracts from engagement. While the story and characters are appreciated, the lack of meaningful interaction makes the experience feel more like an animated book than a game, resulting in players skipping through dialogue to alleviate the monotony.
- “Just so everyone knows, this is not a game; this is a slightly animated book with very few bits of gameplay here and there. I love all the characters and the story, but this is not a game because I hate reading and was kind of hoping for the 'gameplay' and 'choices' to keep me involved. As I'm writing this, I'm just about done with it and just kind of start skipping most of the dialogue since it's mostly not important. Some might call it filler, which in a normal game would be fine, but since there's almost no gameplay other than clicking and reading, the filler gets tedious a quarter of the way through.”
- “There are few things to complain about, none of which is actually important; there is some slow pacing at the beginning making a certain scene tedious.”
optimization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received positive feedback, with users noting that its performance is impressive and well-executed.