A review code was provided, and many thanks to Inlusio Interactive.
The Guardian of Nature is a 2025 adventure game developed by Inlusio Interactive and published in Early Access by Inlusio Interactive and Nexting (Japan).
The Premise of The Guardian of Nature
The Guardian of Nature is a point-and-click adventure game, where we play as botanist Henry, a guardian of the forest, who embarks on an epic adventure to save his magical world by reaching the mythical Tree of Life. It is the first of three planned episodes, for now.
Gameplay
The Guardian of Nature is a classic point-and-click puzzle adventure, where we explore the magical forest above and below ground as Henry, our protagonist. Henry has a backpack that serves as an inventory to collect items for later use. All of the puzzles are logical and nature and solarpunk-inspired. A key ability of Henry is his ability to change sizes – he can shrink, which is very helpful while exploring the forest. It also gives you the ability to see the interior of an ant hill or take a trip on the back of a bird.
While exploring the magical forests, we’ll find nature cards, which reveal new pages from the Book of Nature. These pages will provide us with more information about the guardians of nature and also offer hints about the game. The book also educates us about nature, making The Guardian of Nature a perfect educational game for younger players.
Another interesting feature is the inclusion of solarpunk-inspired technology and puzzles. Out of the punk genres, or movements, solarpunk is one of the least represented in video games, so having it included in the game is quite welcome. Within the game, the guardians of nature have learned how to harness the energy of the mycelial networks underground and have built solarpunk devices.
The Early Access Question
The first three episodes of The Guardian of Nature are being published episodically, allowing players to immerse themselves in the magical world of Henry and provide the developers with valuable feedback. The Guardian of Nature will leave Early Access when the third episode is released, which is expected to be sometime next year. By purchasing the game now, we gain full access to all subsequent episodes as they are released.
The developers have decided to implement players’ feedback into future episodes of the game. Besides the usual Steam discussions page, you can send direct feedback through the feedback tab in the main menu of the game.
Some Other Things
The Guardian of Nature has basic audio and graphics settings. The game features Steam achievements, but does not yet support Trading Cards.
Final Thoughts
While some players might find The Guardian of Nature Episode 1 a bit too short for their taste, I think it’s a perfectly sized little adventure, enough to hook us right into the world of Henry and the guardians of nature. I really liked the whimsical and relaxing atmosphere of the game, and that, coupled with the charming hand-drawn animations, makes the whole experience feel like it’s straight out of a children’s book.
I really like games that include an educational element. It’s practically a crime not to utilize the technology we have, and the popularity of games among younger people is a great way to teach and educate about the world around us. Reading for pleasure, once a great way to learn, has been in decline for the last 20 years, and it’s unlikely that this trend will change. Video games, on the other hand, are increasingly popular, especially among younger people. The Guardian of Nature is a good example of incorporating positive environmental ideas and practical nature information into a game, making it fun to learn.
If you like nature and charming hand-drawn animations, you should definitely try The Guardian of Nature. It’s a precious little game with a lot of promise to become something great.
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