Lil Gator Game [PC] | REVIEW

Sometimes, it’s nice to get a chilled out and charming fix when playing video games, and believe me, you certainly get that with Lil Gator Game. It is guilty of being a little bit too simple in places and anyone who expects a challenge won’t find one here, but the whole experience was so wholesome and pleasant that it was hard not to have a big smile on my face as I embarked on the imagination-fuelled adventure.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Lil Gator Game puts players in the role of a young alligator (who I named Gator) who wants nothing more than to play with their older sister. Unfortunately, her playing days are behind her thanks to the woes of getting older and having more responsibility, so our hero forms a plan with their pals to grab her attention by making a grand and sensational adventure out of their island home.

It’s a super endearing premise and one that I haven’t seen embraced so well in a video game. You know how when you were younger, your parents might have said ‘get off your game console and go outside and play’? Well, it kinda feels like a video game form of that. It’s really sweet though, whilst seeing Gator and their pals come up with all these creative ideas was always fun to be a part of. What felt particularly cute was the self-awareness of the island’s inhabitants that they were playing a game, but how they roll with it and use their imagination to make it work.

The core gameplay experience is very much platforming driven, with Gator able to run, jump, swim, and attack ‘enemies’ (more on those in a bit), whilst new abilities are unlocked as you progress that open up the island to the player. Some of these just provide extra forms of playful weaponry (such as a paint gun), but other objects (like the bubble-gum that makes you float) help you get around to reach inaccessible areas. There’s plenty of variety offered by the game’s main objectives to keep the player busy, whilst the open world offers plenty of neat little collectibles to find.

“Sure, it wasn’t challenging, but that’s not what it’s meant to be about… it’s all about having fun and being part of a cute and creative world.”

It is worth noting that the combat in the game isn’t your conventional kind. Yes, there are enemies to defeat, and yes, there are multiple ways to do so. However, the enemies are just static cardboard cut-outs that pose no threat to the player. They won’t attack back, but instead are simply destroyed by hitting them. Now this is something you can look at from two perspectives: one, it fits the tone of the game perfectly, but two, it means there’s next to zero challenge to be found. If you were hoping Lil Gator Game would be a conventional platforming-adventure, you might find yourself feeling a little disappointed. At the same time, if you’ve been looking for the ideal game to introduce a youngster to gaming, it’s perfect.

That same low level of difficulty applies to just about everything else in Lil Gator Game. Whilst there are plenty of different objectives to complete, they’re all made up of simple tasks that don’t require much effort from the player. There’s no risk when platforming either, with no health bar to worry about, no bottom-less pits, and no fall damage – it’s just easy-going, with this imaginary game everyone is playing bringing with it no worries. Again, this is perfect for youngsters, but those hoping for a typical 3D platformer might be underwhelmed.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Despite this, I REALLY enjoyed my time with the game. Sure, it wasn’t challenging, but that’s not what it’s meant to be about… it’s all about having fun and being part of a cute and creative world. I loved seeking out different characters to help, exploring each part of the environment to find goodies, and playing around with all of the cool little gadgets I found, whilst the narrative was wholesome and reminded me of playing with friends as a kid. Lil Gator Game knows what kind of experience it’s trying to deliver and it absolutely nails it.

It looks lovely too, with the characters all charmingly quirky in design and the environment packed to the brim with attractive detail and colour. Everything about Lil Gator Game gives off feel-good vibes, but the game’s aesthetic is probably the most heart-warming aspect of it all. Add to that a pleasant soundtrack that complements everything you’re doing in the game and it’ll be hard not to be completely won over by the wonderful adventure.

Developer: Scott Slucher
Publisher: Playtonic Friends
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), Nintendo Switch
Website: https://www.playtonicgames.com/game/lil-gator-game/