Common Sense Media Review
By Chris Morris
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
"You are what you eat" adventure gets stale quickly.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Bugsnax
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 4 parent reviews
Based on 22 kid reviews
Kids say that while the game may appear child-friendly with its colorful characters and comedic elements, it delves into darker themes such as cannibalism, existential dread, and explores LGBTQ relationships that might not be appropriate for all ages. The game is considered a fun experience with great representation, but many reviews caution parents about its horror elements and some underlying mature themes that may be alarming for younger kids.
- dark themes
- representation
- age concerns
- fun experience
- horror elements
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's It About?
In BUGSNAX, players take on the role of a reporter who's invited to Snaktooth Island by explorer Elizabert (Lizbert) Megafig, who claims to have discovered Bugsnax, a half-bug/half-snack creature. When you arrive, though, she has vanished and her followers are scattered across the island. You'll work to reunite them and find Lizbert, as you capture a variety of Bugsnax using a combination of bait and tools provided by the island's inhabitants. This can be anything from setting a trap and waiting for the Bugsnax to wander into it to luring them to an area using a slingshot and ketchup. Some Bugsnax will take or move your traps, so there's some strategy involved in the capture of each creature. As the game progresses, you can customize your new friends with different outfits, etc. as you continue to feed them.
Is It Any Good?
This is an adventure game that is perfectly suited for a new console launch or casual game players looking for a light adventure. Bugsnax is charming, fun, and not too challenging, but ultimately, something that will likely be forgettable in a few years. The game does a wonderful job of creating a vibrant world, filled with imaginative characters and critters -- and it has more emotional depth than you would expect as you reunite the colony and search for Lizbert. The developer should also get big points for inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters without being preachy. But ultimately, the title is plagued by repetitive gameplay that takes away from the overall experience. (Fetching Bugsnax to feed villagers before you can go on to the next task is entertaining at first, especially given the challenge in collecting certain creatures, but it gets old very quickly.)
On the PlayStation 5, the game (like Astro's Playroom) is a showcase for the DualSense controller, using haptic feedback as a way to make the game more immersive and adapting the triggers to the onscreen situation (i.e. you feel the tension when you pull back a slingshot's band). Don't misunderstand: Bugsnax is a fun game and certainly one that you won't regret playing. But it's the videogame equivalent of eating a bag of chips. It will bring joy when you play, but you'll crave something more substantive when you're done.
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Windows
- Pricing structure : Free (Free with PlayStation Plus Membership)
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Young Horses
- Release date : November 12, 2020
- Genre : Puzzle
- Topics : Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate