Game: Alba: A Wildlife Adventure
Genre: Indie, Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam, Xbox, PS4, 5, & Apple Arcade)
Developers | Publishers: UsTwo Games | Plug In Digital
Age Rating: US E | EU 3+
Price: US $19.99 | UK £16.74 | EU € 19,99
Release Date: June 9th 2021
Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a sweet and short slice of wholesome gaming. Brought to most formats by developers UsTwo Games.
Alba visits a Mediterranean island
You join Alba as she visits her grandparents on the gorgeous Mediterranean island of Pinar del Mar. Alba is ready for a peaceful summer of exploration with her best friend Ines and spending time with her grandparents. Alba’s grandfather gives her a camera phone and a nature guide for the island and encourages her to take notes and photos of as many of the species on the island as she can. Then when Alba sees an animal in danger, she and Ines realise they need to do something about it.
Sadly the local wildlife sanctuary is in a state of disrepair. A corporation for a new swanky tourist hotel wants to build on the site of the sanctuary, Alba and Ines set out to put paid to the corporations’ plans and help the local wildlife as well.
Take Photos
Thus begins your quest as Alba to help out the townfolk and the environment of the island. In the hopes of restoring the Wildlife sanctuary back to its former beauty. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is such a chill, adorable game. Who knew skipping around a Mediterranean island as a young child taking photos of birds and animals could be so enjoyable. I had a smile on my face every time little Alba skipped out of her Grandparents house as I played the game.
Taking photos of the local wildlife couldn’t be easier. With a quick snap of Alba’s mobile phone, the animal is recognised and added to Alba’s Fauna encyclopedia. In it, you can check out the animals’ photo and hear the cry they make. I can imagine a family playing this game with their children as it would be a great educational tool for young wildlife enthusiasts. Even for an older gamer like myself, I learnt a few things while playing the game about the wildlife that surrounds us all.
Help Others
You’ll investigate sick squirrels and find out that pesticides from a nearby orange farm are making them sick. When you talk to the man who sells the oranges, he lends a sympathetic ear, exclaiming that it’s terrible the squirrels got sick and that he’s glad they’re fixed now. However, all this is done without him ever being made aware that his oranges are a part of what caused the damage. Helping the townsfolks bring beauty back to the island by tidying up the litter or helping the wildlife is a very satisfying feeling as you play through the game.
Short but Sweet
The idea of the game is walking around and taking photos as you’re trying to document everything you can. It is not a large island as Alba can skip across it in a short time. However, the island is pretty densely packed with wildlife with over 62 species of birds and mammals, so there is plenty to see and photograph.
Unfortunately, this all means that you can pretty much 100% the game in around three hours. I would have liked it to be a longer playtime. That being said, this isn’t a game you’re going to forget any time soon. Alba is the kind of game that sticks with you for a good while after you have finished playing it.
A different kind of Adventure
What defines Alba: A Wildlife Adventure and makes it different from your average adventure game is a commitment to helping the wildlife you encounter. There’s no battling or fighting here, it’s all peaceful gameplay. Instead, you’ll work with the other townsfolk, restoring animals to their home and making the world around you a better place in general.
Alba: A wildlife Adventure deals with topics like the destruction of wildlife and touches briefly on the many things that cause it. Despite this, it always has a sense of humanity and compassion for the world around Alba at its core. It focuses on the actions of one person, Alba, but it really deals with the actions of the many.
Visuals and Controls
The music and art of Alba both add to the game’s spell. It’s an original score by Lorena Álvarez that captures the spirited and buoyant atmosphere of the game and young Alba herself.
You’ll visit various areas of the island and see everything from sandy beaches and rice paddies to a nature park and a castle on the hill, the island really has it all. The game ran fine on my Nintendo Switch and the controls via the joy-cons worked as they should.
Conclusion
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!
Final Verdict: A Well Deserved Two Thumbs Up 
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