Relax with Peaceful, Easy-to-Play Adventure Game

Lil’ Gator walks across a telephone wire to reach new heights. (Courtesy of Playtonic Games)

By Sean Penn*
Staff Writer

Come one, come all, and enjoy one of the best games of 2022—“Lil’ Gator Game.”

An action-adventure game made for Nintendo Switch and PC, “Lil’ Gator Game” takes place on a beautiful island full of bright colors. In this happy environment, you complete a variety of fun missions. These can range from defeating little cardboard monsters to having to appear in court (oddly enough). There are no end-of-the-world stakes or intense storylines, just a peaceful and relaxing gaming experience.

At heart, this is a child-friendly “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” but instead of fighting monsters, you are fighting cardboard cutouts.  Instead of trying to take down bosses, you make friends. This was an amazing change of pace for me. College is a high-stress environment, and games can be too. With this game, it is all about just sitting back and enjoying the ride without the fear of dying or losing your progress.

“Lil’ Gator Game” is all about connection and the bonds we make with our family and friends. A young alligator boy, Lil’ Gator, is fond of the memories he shares with his older sister, but she is now in college and no longer has time to hang out with her younger brother.

Therefore, he embarks on a journey to convince her to spend time with him.

The story really is the heart of this game. I highly recommend this game for anyone who misses home.

As a college student, this resonates deeply with me. It reminds me of my younger brother and how he said he could not wait for me to get done with school so I could hang out with him all day long. These themes coupled with the gorgeous design and breathtaking music make it an instant classic.

“Lil’ Gator Game” costs $20, and basic storyline completion takes about 3.5 hours, putting it squarely on the shorter end of the gaming spectrum.

Personally, I enjoy quicker games, but there are many players out there who want their games to be 50 hours long, especially if they pay that much for it. If this is a problem for you, I would recommend holding out for a sale. Most games on Steam and Switch go on sale quite frequently.

As the spring semester kicks off, the stress and anxiety that comes with new classes (and a new year for that matter) is nothing new. I highly recommend it for anyone who would like a break from the high stress, or intense worlds, that gaming can bring. Take a break from the average grind of gaming and go pick up a copy of “Lil’ Gator Game.”

As Tom, one of Lil’ Gator’s friends, says, “Courage be with you, my most radical pal! Go forth and collect the hearts of the world!”

*writes under pseudonym