I Wani Hug that Gator!

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,886 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • music
I Wani Hug that Gator! Game Cover
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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.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,886 reviews
story391 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • story939 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 rollercoaster of feelings that can evoke both joy and heartbreak. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue and the impact of their choices, which lead to multiple endings that resonate with personal growth and self-discovery. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to tackle serious themes while maintaining a heartfelt and relatable storyline, making it a standout experience in the visual novel genre.

    • “This masterpiece deeply got me; the story is so good I can hardly find words to describe it, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Even while replaying it to get the other endings, it never bores you.”
    • “Even after I completed it, I really wish there was more. I got so invested in the whole story, characters, world-building, everything. It's so perfect that when you actually complete the game, it hurts to say goodbye.”
    • “The story is rich, complex, and very interesting, making me smile, laugh, and even tear up on more than one occasion.”
    • “This wasn't even slow-burn storytelling; this was no burn since 70/80 percent of the dialogue exchanges have no purpose to the overall forward pacing and flow, and are presented only to pad out the scene length for no real reason.”
    • “I admit to feeling bored through various points in the game; I know not every game is going to be crackling action, but the story just wasn't doing it for me.”
    • “The plot of Wani, as well as Olivia's character and growth, also seems very watered down in comparison.”
  • emotional576 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is overwhelmingly praised, with players reporting profound connections to the characters and their stories. Many describe the game as a powerful emotional rollercoaster, eliciting tears of both joy and heartbreak across its multiple endings, which explore themes of love, loss, and personal growth. The heartfelt writing, engaging character development, and impactful music contribute to a deeply moving experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.

    • “I was emotionally invested in a way that makes the conclusion of each ending that much more impactful.”
    • “This masterpiece deeply got me; the story is so good I can hardly find words to describe it, heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time.”
    • “This game made me feel so many emotions in all 4 routes.”
  • music261 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with many players describing it as memorable and beautifully composed. The soundtrack effectively sets the mood for various scenes, often leaving a lasting impact on players, who frequently express a desire to purchase it separately. While some noted minor issues with abrupt transitions between tracks, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional resonance.

    • “The soundtrack was memorable and it really sets the mood during certain scenes/events.”
    • “The music is genuinely beautiful, the ambient sounds setting the tones of which they are played in - not only that, but you find yourself attaching that music to specific scenes and places, reminiscing about those moments even when you're not playing them.”
    • “The music tops everything off and surely sets the mood for the scenes!”
    • “The music is composed in a way that it does not get tiring or old; certain scenes retain their emotion even by sitting still on it.”
    • “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.”
  • humor133 mentions

    The humor in this game is a standout feature, blending absurdity with clever writing that elicits genuine laughter while also addressing deeper themes. Players appreciate the well-paced, snappy dialogue and the colorful characters, which create a delightful mix of comedic moments and emotional depth. While some found the humor to be a bit more subdued compared to its predecessor, it still effectively balances lightheartedness with poignant storytelling, making for a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “The writing is well paced, snappy, genuinely hilarious, and touches on heavy topics without being incessantly dramatic or cynical.”
    • “This game is an absolute gem, it's got immaculate humor, a really interesting cast, and most importantly, it hits me right in the feels.”
    • “The humor is well crafted, and the romance between the two protagonists feels natural and makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside.”
    • “Snoot game may have been cavemanon'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.”
    • “In the deluge of these unfunny, ironic western visual novels that only seek to flood Steam with how embarrassed they are about making a romance visual novel, this wonderful little game comes up and seeks to just keep going from that surprising quality that came from Snoot game, only this time with a cast of genuinely likeable characters in a similar setting they make their own.”
  • graphics94 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and unique art style, which beautifully complements the engaging story and well-developed characters. Many reviewers highlight the stunning animations and expressive character designs, noting that the visuals significantly enhance the overall experience. While some mention minor inconsistencies, the overwhelming consensus is that the artwork and animations contribute to a captivating and emotionally resonant visual novel.

    • “The art style is vibrant and charming, perfectly complementing the quirky and delightful plot.”
    • “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.”
    • “Absolutely amazing, stunning art and visuals with dope animations here and there, a major step up from snoot game in production value, complex well-written characters but still not as lovable as snoot's cast.”
    • “The graphics of [i]wani[/i] 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, spacedimsum's OC who although is 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 development39 mentions

    Character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the well-crafted relationships and individual growth of characters like Olivia and Inco. While most characters are engaging and relatable, some antagonists are criticized for lacking depth, which detracts from the overall experience. The combination of stunning character designs, compelling storytelling, and impactful choices creates a rich narrative that resonates with players, making it a standout visual novel.

    • “I highly recommend giving this game a try to see the character development and putting yourself in their shoes.”
    • “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.”
    • “The character development for Inco and Olivia is out of this world.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay26 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a classic visual novel format, offering a mix of emotional storytelling and character development, with players experiencing a range of feelings throughout the 13-24 hours of playtime. While many appreciate the depth of choices and the impact of decisions on the narrative, some criticize the gameplay for being overly simplistic and filled with filler dialogue, leading to a tedious experience for those seeking more interactive elements. Overall, the game is recommended for its engaging story and characters, though it may not satisfy players looking for traditional gameplay mechanics.

    • “With the classic visual-novel gameplay format, I highly recommend it for both newcomers and veterans.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the excellent music and art that effectively enhance emotional depth and storytelling. The soundtrack, both original and non-original, plays a crucial role in setting the mood, particularly during poignant moments. Overall, the combination of music and visual artistry creates a compelling and immersive experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Plus, using a translator to look up unknown words would’ve ruined the whole atmosphere for me.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability through its four distinct endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and their consequences. However, some reviewers feel that the replay value is somewhat limited, as the variations primarily affect the epilogue and late-game content. Overall, while the multiple endings provide incentive for replay, the depth of changes may not be sufficient for all players.

    • “There's four endings to get in this game, lending itself a lot of replay value.”
    • “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 is some replay value for different outcomes due to the multiple endings, which you will need to explore if you want the full story of the game.”
  • stability2 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 experienced frequent crashes that made it nearly unplayable.”
    • “The stability issues are frustrating, as the game often freezes during critical moments.”
  • grinding2 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 traditional game, resulting in players often skipping through dialogue.

    • “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 1/4 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.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is primarily driven by memes and advertisements, indicating a reliance on viral marketing and promotional content to attract players.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
    • “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending real money.”
    • “The constant barrage of in-game purchases and ads detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization has received positive feedback, with users noting that its performance is impressive and well-executed.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

21hMedian play time
53hAverage play time
15-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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