Alba: A Wildlife Adventure

Ustwo follows up Assemble with Care with more quiet restorative magic.

Enjoyable gameplay, charming writing, and a chill atmosphere promote an important message without beating players over the head with it.

Though her visit to this island paradise was over long before I wanted it to be, it was a trip I am happy I was able to take. It's the type of experience that can restore one's vigor and effect change in us long after we've watched the credits roll. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure reminds us all of how easy it can be to change our world for the better, and after the year that was 2020, it's a reminder all of us can use.

With so many games featuring death and destruction, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a breath of fresh air. Much like Pokémon Snap, its focus on observation is a welcome change of pace, and it never feels like the underlying message is being shoved down our throats. At 2-3 hours in length, our only wish is that it lasted a bit longer, but with its relaxing tone and simple gameplay, this is one we suspect you’ll go back to again and again.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is about as wholesome a game as it gets. You play as young Alba, first taking steps as a toddler alongside her grandparents on a small island. You learn how to control Alba in this flashback sequence. There you learn how to walk, run, and take photos. At the end of each day, all Alba will need to do is shake her head in agreement or disagreement when asked a question. After the short tutorial sequence, you time jump and play as teenage Alba tasked with cleaning up the island. Along with clean-up, it is Alba’s mission to get enough signatures from neighbors to stop the building of a large tourist high rise.

‎Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is an educational title for the little ones that does not give up reaching the most adult players. Its strong environmentalist message is present continuously, but it does not deprive us of having a colorful, relaxing and very beautiful adventure in which we will feel tenderness and nostalgia. If there's one game to recommend this summer, it's this one.‎

Relive the joys of discovering nature as a child with this beautiful but brief story of conservation and exploration set on an enticingly warm Mediterranean island. Highly recommended for kids with a nature conservationist bent, but also for adults who want to relax in the warmth of the sun in the company of an adorable cast of characters.

This game is all about observing and taking photos of wildlife in the island within the mediterranean. The story is somewhat well threaded but you can still enjoy the game like as if you’re on a peaceful vacation. The purpose of the wildlife photos aren’t just for your personal collection, it’s to preserve the habitats of each species you encounter. The entire gameplay time is a little short but the contents you get to absorb are plentiful and grow awareness about various ways of protecting our wildlife.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a heartwarming tale of being kind and looking out for others and the world around you. A game that isn’t afraid to challenge our perceptions, with its message of conservation and how we can impact the world for the better. All of that is wrapped up in a sweet and cute style with a strong and enjoyable memorable story and relaxing music that you will lose yourself in. It makes it a perfect family-oriented game that everyone from the youngest to the oldest will enjoy and discover that small actions can make a huge difference in the world around us!

Alba is not a revolutionary or ambitious game, but it is an enjoyable experience from start to finish. It sends a positive message while being fun, as a game originally designed for a mobile platform, it fits perfectly on the Nintendo Switch. It's a good recommendation for children up to 10 years old, but it also works for adults, thanks to the nostalgia that the game conveys in its representation of childhood.