Reviews / 13 September 2023

Lil Gator Game – A Charming Exploration Experience

You won’t believe how excited I was when I checked my emails and saw a code for Lil Gator Game just sitting in there. This game had been on my radar for a while, with its little nods to The Legend of Zelda series and A Short Hike and for just looking downright adorable. With my indie game backlog piling up I didn’t have a chance to purchase the game upon launch, but who could pass up this opportunity? You can’t say no to this Lil Gator.

Lil Gator Game has you playing as the titular character, Lil Gator, as they attempt to remind their older sister, aptly named Big Sis, who is now focused on her university work, the love and magic of once again playing a fantasy game they made up many years ago.

Embark on an adorable adventure, discover new friends and uncover everything the island has to offer. Climb, Swim, Glide and slide your way into the hearts of the many different characters you meet on your travels!

To re-inspire their older sister, Lil Gator believes that befriending everyone on the island by completing ‘quests’ for them will get them involved with the game until their sister can’t possibly refuse to join in. The homemade game that Lil Gator and their friends play is crafted with cardboard, which means there is no combat in the traditional sense, no fall damage, and no risk of getting hurt.

Since platforming is risk-free, it isn’t really the focus of Lil Gator Game, despite how satisfying climbing up cliffs, skating, jumping, and running all around the island feels. Instead, the main focus is on exploring the world and choosing how to interact with it. This is what I found most endearing about Lil Gator Game.

As you collect friends and complete their quests, each of them will give you some new recipes for some variants for your items such as your sword, shield, and glider. A select few of these are cosmetic changes, but a lot of them have unique effects for your items. It is a lot of fun finding new combinations in order to explore the colourful world.

So, was Lil Gator Game everything I hoped it would be? Yes! The game is utterly charming in both aesthetics and vibes and it really gives off a wholesome experience that just makes you smile.

If you enjoy platforming and adventure styled games, especially games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and A Short Hike then I truly believe that Lil Gator Game is right up your street. The combinations of inspirations from other games that the developer loved was very welcomed, and it was packaged together in this adorable game that I really do recommend to players. It is a charming and cosy experience and a perfect way to spend an evening.

I played Lil Gator Game on Nintendo Switch with a review copy. The game is available now on Steam, Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch.