Creatures of Ava unleashed on PC and Xbox platforms

• Announcements by Jack Allin
• Published:

Cozy "creature-saver" on an alien world available now on Steam, GOG, Epic, Game Pass and the Xbox store

With so many of our planet's animal species now endangered, entertaining stories of compassionate conservation are always welcome, even if we have to travel to alien worlds to find them, like in Inverge Studios' newly released action-adventure game, Creatures of Ava.  

Players assume the role of Vic, an enthusiastic 22-year-old nature adventurer who crash lands on the titular planet along with her friend Tabitha, a "composed and astute researcher." Tragically, a devastating infection know as "The Withering" has begun to spread here, decaying everything it touches and causing the normally peaceful fauna to behave aggressively. With limited time available, it's your job to explore Ava's diverse environments to "tame, befriend, and save" as many creatures as you can. To succeed you'll need to solve puzzles and learn more about these animals from the suspicious local peoples known as the Naam, even as you come to question what it means to truly "save" something. Is protecting the weak and vulnerable always in their best interests? And if we can't achieve everything we want before time runs out, are we able to let go and "swallow the bitter taste of walking away" when necessary? 

Creatures of Ava is presented as a third-person, open-world 3D adventure that sends players through four beautifully vibrant biomes, from the "colorful Nari jungle [to the] mysterious Mâruba swamp." Throughout this interconnected world you'll discover over twenty unique species, each with its own distinct characteristics and playing "a vital role in the planet’s natural balance." As you progress, you'll need to take research photos and upgrade Vic's equipment and skills, allowing the young protagonist to take on new side quests, venture into formally inaccessible areas and overcome more complex environmental problems. Freeing creatures from their affliction involves a "nonviolent combat system," after which a variety of "magical flute" melodies learned from the indigenous Naam will help you tame them. But while the gameplay can be described as a combination of the "creature-collecting of Pokémon ... with the exploration, puzzle-solving and more of The Legend of Zelda," there's a much deeper, more meaningful narrative level to unpack in the process. In a story co-created by Rhianna Pratchett, your goal isn't just to save as many animals as you can, but to "step out of the human-centric point of view and learn about the real toll it takes to preserve the primal beauty at the very roots of Ava."

If you're up for some thoughtful animal rescuing, you can begin your hunt right away as Creatures of Ava is available now on Steam, GOG and Epic for Windows PC, along with a console version for Xbox Series X|S on the Xbox Store or via Game Pass. The store versions also offer a cosmetic "backpack trinkets" set as DLC, purchased separately or as part of the Digital Deluxe Edition, for which all net proceeds will be donated to the WDC charity for the protection of whales and dolphins.

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