I Wani Hug that Gator!

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,092 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.

Play Modes

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,092 reviews
story276 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • story667 mentions

    The story of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is widely praised for its emotional depth, well-developed characters, and impactful narrative that explores themes of personal growth, love, and the complexities of relationships. Players report being deeply moved by the various endings, which reflect the consequences of their choices, and many describe the experience as a rollercoaster of emotions, often leading to tears. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, elevating the game beyond typical visual novels and resonating with players on a personal level.

    • “The story and endings stir up a storm of emotions, making you reflect on everything, especially the first and third endings.”
    • “Great storytelling with well-written characters and a handful of various endings depending on dialogue choices.”
    • “A masterclass in character-driven storytelling that really tugs at the heartstrings!”
    • “The story just dragged me in and refused to let go.”
    • “The story along with its endings kept me hooked the entire time.”
    • “The story made me so emotional, accompanied with the perfectly placed illustrations and music.”
  • emotional448 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "I Wani Hug That Gator" is overwhelmingly praised, with players describing it as a profound and heartfelt experience that evokes a wide range of emotions, from joy to deep sadness. Many reviewers noted that the game's writing, character development, and multiple endings create an emotional rollercoaster, often leading to tears and personal reflection. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most touching visual novels, capable of leaving a lasting impact on players' lives.

    • “This game has made me feel so many emotions in 6 hours than I have in 4 years.”
    • “I never thought I would have genuinely found myself so deeply and emotionally invested in a visual novel/dating sim.”
    • “This game made me cry, through the absolute guilt and pain from ending one to the tears of joy at the extra credit scene I've never seen a game better written than this.”
  • music192 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and atmosphere of the story, with many players praising its beautiful composition and fitting integration into various scenes. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack is memorable and impactful, often evoking strong feelings and nostalgia, making it a standout feature of the game. Overall, the music is described as a significant contributor to the game's success, with many players expressing a desire to purchase the soundtrack separately.

    • “The music is excellent, creating the right atmosphere in different parts of the game.”
    • “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.”
    • “The soundtrack is outstanding and many of the songs are making it to my playlist.”
    • “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.”
    • “The music that is designed to be 'noticeable' does not come off as overbearing and is generally used with restraint, giving it a more impactful feel when it is used.”
  • humor90 mentions

    The humor in "I Wani Hug That Gator" is a blend of absurdity and heartfelt moments, effectively balancing comedic elements with emotional depth. Players appreciate the clever writing and character interactions that evoke laughter while also delivering poignant messages, making it more than just a lighthearted visual novel. The game is noted for its ability to transition smoothly between humor and serious themes, creating a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “It's a wonderful, funny, and sometimes sorrowful ride.”
    • “The writing is great and somehow manages to go from hilarious and goofy moments to serious and impactful scenes without compromising the quality.”
    • “It's funny, witty, it's touching, the music is an absolute blast and I never expected a game of this quality for such a meme title.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics66 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork, vibrant character designs, and expressive animations, which significantly enhance the storytelling experience. Many players noted the unique art styles and attention to detail, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the emotional depth of the narrative. However, some critiques mentioned inconsistencies, such as the use of stock photos that detracted from the overall visual cohesion.

    • “The visuals instantly drew me in and the beautifully written dialogue kept me going. As my introduction to the genre, this game has set a very high standard.”
    • “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 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.”
    • “In wani, it's needed more as the graphics for the characters are a little more complex than those in snoot, being made up of several parts; if I try to look for Olivia's graphics during her metro/limo rides (she's really cute during these) her hair, various facial features, and clothing are all meant to be put together by the game during gameplay, so if I want to get her metro graphics I won't be able to do so easily as I myself need to stitch these various parts together from the game's files.”
  • character development31 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.”
  • gameplay18 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily a visual novel experience, characterized by a simple interaction model that involves clicking and reading, which some players find tedious due to the abundance of dialogue and perceived filler content. While the choice-driven mechanics offer a sense of impact and lead to multiple endings, the overall gameplay is minimal, leading to mixed reviews; some appreciate the narrative depth, while others feel it lacks substantial gameplay elements. Overall, players report a range of experiences, from enjoying the story and character development to feeling disappointed by the limited interactivity.

    • “I recently just 100%'d the game, and it is worth it. However, I'd recommend to people who just bought this, or who are going to buy this: do the endings in order from worst to best; it will make your gameplay experience a lot better.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere7 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 sad scenes.”
    • “The original soundtrack also adds well to the atmosphere.”
    • “The art brings a whole atmosphere of both emotion and story.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers moderate replayability primarily through its four distinct endings, which change based on player decisions, allowing for varied outcomes. However, some players feel that the differences between the endings are limited, mainly affecting the epilogue and late-game content.

    • “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.”
  • 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 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.”
  • 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
20hAverage play time
15-30hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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