The Isle of Bigsnax is a new, free DLC for the popular PlayStation 5 launch title Bugsnax. Developed by Young Horses, the new DLC launches on April 28th alongside the Xbox Gamepass and Nintendo Switch editions from the full game.
The Isle of Bigsnax follows The Journalist because they join several residents of Snaxburg in traveling to a brand new location which was previously unknown. The DLC features Triffany, Chandlo, Floofty, and Shelda all with brand new adventures and storylines. Like with the quests in the main game, each adventure in The Isle of Bigsnax is written with utmost care. It comes with an excellent mix of sincerity and absurd humor that make the storyline content incredibly enjoyable from start to finish.
Along with adding new story content, the primary highlight of The Island of Bigsnax may be the inclusion of the Bigsnax themselves. If you, like me, found yourself chuckling in the names and appears of a few of the original Bugsnax, the new Bigsnax is going to be an absolute delight. The most popular may be the Clawbsteroni, a lobster made out of macaroni, as well as others such as the Deviled Eggler and Spaghider. There's also some really neat story beats that center around the mythology of the Bigsnax and how the Grumpuses like Triffany respond to their existence.
Since these Bigsnax tend to be bigger than the standard Bugsnax, players want to use the Shrink Spice to capture these funny little critters. The mechanics for catching each of the new Bigsnax are intriguing, notable and challenging, adding to the already excellent variety of gameplay. There's also lots of new puzzles accustomed to unlock new critters and locations that only increase the fun, even if they could be a little frustrating to figure out initially.
The inclusion of a brand new island and the Bigsnax may be the highlight of the new DLC, but honestly, they may not even be the good thing. The home being built in Snaxburg for the Journalist has been finished, and with it comes another game within the game. Completing requests for the residents of Snaxburg will unlock new ways to decorate your house, with each resident giving items which fit with their very own distinct personalities. I discovered myself spending most of my time focusing on my new home rather than solving the mystery from the Bigsnax, which isn't something I would typically find myself doing inside a game. It's a testament to how well-done the design of all of the individual characters is, and getting to spend more time helping them is incredibly rewarding on multiple levels.
The final new addition, not counting some minor standard of living changes like fast travel, may be the very best area of the game. In fact, it is so good that it vaults Bugsnax near the top of my all-time favorite list. Two words: Bugsnax hats. That's right, the Bugsnax can wear hats now. Whether it appears like a silly addition, that’s since it is! But it fits very well using the tone from the game and I was amazed at simply how much I loved finding new hats for my favorite creatures. Small things such as the inclusion of hats are part of why is Bugsnax so charming. There is lots of heart put in to even the smallest of details throughout the game, and it's clear Young Horses are enthusiastic about bringing just as much joy as possible to the players.
Like time with the base game, The Isle of Bigsnax was an absolute blast from beginning to end. It's absolutely a game title that anybody who enjoys thought-provoking puzzles and whimsical characters should take the time to play, especially now that it is on so much more platforms.
The Isle of BigsnaxI releases on April 28th on PlayStation, Xbox Gamepass, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
