Game: Megaquarium + Freshwater Frenzy DLC
Genre: Strategy, Simulation
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam, (Windows, macOS & Linux) PS4 & Xbox One)
Developers | Publishers: Twice Circled | Auroch Digital
Age Rating: US E | EU 3
Price: US $9.99 | UK £8.09 | EU € 9,99
Release Date: March 3rd, 2022
Review code used, with many thanks to Auroch Digital.
Freshwater Frenzy DLC has been released for the strategy simulation game Megaquarium. Auroch Digital was kind enough to send us a review code for the DLC and the full game. So this review will cover both the game and the DLC as you can’t have one without the other.
Megaquarium
Megaquarium was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2019. It’s a simulation game with a tycoon twist. You open up your own oceanic aquarium in the game and run it efficiently to make a profit.
There are two modes to do this: campaign and sandbox. The campaign mode which I played first eases you into the game. It’s broken down into scenarios, where you start with just a handful of different fish and tanks, slowly teaching you the basics as you progress.
Build Aquariums
The first aquarium you build will be small, but as you gain access to more livestock or equipment, you start to build bigger aquariums.
However, taking charge of an aquarium and making it profitable requires a few things. Firstly you need aquatic life, and each species has its own needs. Some are cold or hot water fish. Some aren’t that friendly and will eat other fish. Some need room to grow; others need a shoal to swim together.
Different Types of Fish
The type of fish you are putting on display will decide the tank type and the equipment you’ll need to run the tank. The game does a great job of detailing the fish needs, so it keeps you on the right track.
After you have built your fish tanks, it’s time to decorate them. Some fish like to hide, so they may need caves, rocks or vegetation to live in, and coral will need lights to stay alive. Once you have all your tanks set up correctly, it’s time to hire some staff after all the fish need looking after and fed. You also have to correctly place feeding containers and zone sections of the aquarium for your staff to look after.
Open the Aquarium to Vistors
Then it’s time to open the aquarium to the public to earn some Prestige points. You’ll need prestige points to expand your aquarium and keep providing a thrilling experience for your visitors. Once you have your feet wet and set up your aquariums, there’s always plenty more to do.
With Megaquarium being a tycoon game, there is more to making money than just making a profit. You also need to collect ecology points earned from your customers viewing your various tanks. These points unlock more fish. They’ll also give science points that allow you to unlock different kinds of tanks, filters, pumps, and more. It’s a lovely blend of relaxing gameplay, as well as learning the need of the fish you have in the aquariums.
Freshwater Frenzy DLC
The campaign mode takes place over ten levels, and the first six introduce new game mechanics each time. The latter levels then give you owners looking for specific things you must supply. There are one hundred different marine species, including sharks, crustaceans, corals, jellyfish, in Megaquarium to learn to care for.
The DLC Freshwater Frenzy adds a heap of extras to the game. Such as breeding fish and their requirements. Learning about pH scales as some of the new animals introduced need specific pH in their tanks to survive. New tanks to display the fish in and thirty new species of fish.
Reptiles included
Being someone who has owned Tropical fish in the past, I felt right at home in the main game. In addition, the DLC adds in five more campaign modes with a focus on Freshwater fish. They require different set-ups to the tropical fish, like less heat.
However, what delighted me the most with the DLC was the addition of a few reptiles. Such as a sea turtle and crocodile, as they require water and land to dwell on it adds a nice mix to the game. Being a reptile owner, I enjoyed the addition of reptiles to the game, though there could have been more than three added.
Visuals and Controls
Megaquarium and the DLC Freshwater Frenzy is pretty easy to control on the Nintendo Switch. You use the d-pad to select menus and the thumbsticks to navigate your aquarium. You can also zoom in close enough to see the details of the fish in your aquarium.
As for the visuals, I found them to be okay, though they are a little underwhelming. Since the idea of the game is a showcase for your aquarium, I’d have liked to have seen a little more detail in the fish themselves as they are blocky and basic looking.
Conclusion
All in all, I’ve had a blast playing Megaquarium and the Freshwater Frenzy DLC. The DLC will be a welcome addition for those who already own the main game, bringing new types of fish for them to keep. For newcomers to the game like myself, you will find a brilliant management simulation game with an interesting subject, just don’t forget to feed the Fish!
Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot 
You must log in to post a comment.