Alba: A Wildlife Adventure

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure looks amazing, sounds amazing, and provides four-or-so hours of perfect, meditative escapism. Who knew taking control of a pre-teen girl as she picks up rubbish and takes photos of animals could be so much fun? But it is. Don’t sleep on Alba; it really is a gorgeous experience that will have you grinning from ear to ear for every moment you spend with it.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure wonderfully recontextualizes the video game sandbox as a wholesome call to action.

Alba is the kind of game that all young people should play. Not only is it a heart-warming romp where you get to look at animals, it’s educational and empowering, inspiring and beautiful. Not only have ustwo created a world that is stunning to look at, but they’ve crafted a narrative that boldly shouts that this girl can. Never underestimate the power of an 11-year-old girl — especially one on a mission to do right by the world around her.

An extremely fun and cozy adventure game that will have any animal lovers smiling in no time. A handful of bugs and performance issues do impact gameplay somewhat but it's easy to overlook given Alba's creative brilliance. I would have preferred a slightly longer story but that aside this is one of the best indie games I've played in years. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not at least giving it a try.

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is the creation of ustwo games, best known for the award-winning Monument Valley. A game that I literally begged my mum to let me install on her iPhone because at the time I didn’t have a phone powerful enough for it. Monument Valley is a gorgeous puzzle game that enthralled me for hours, and I was definitely excited when I learned that Alba was developed by the same team. What I discovered was a game that, while comfy and simple in appearance, was able to instil ...

Though her visit to this island paradise was over long before I wanted it to be, it was a trip I am happy I was able to take. It’s the type of experience that can restore one’s vigor and effect change in us long after we’ve watched the credits roll. Alba: A Wildlife Adventure reminds us all of how easy it can be to transform our world for the better, and after the year that was 2020, it’s a reminder all of us can use.

Alba is an adorable young girl who can’t wait to spend a vacation with her grandparents on a scenic Mediterranean island. However, things take a turn for the dastardly when the small town’s mayor partners with a shady building developer to construct a massive resort on the site of a beloved nature preserve. Armed with her trusty smartphone, Alba embarks on an altruistic quest to photograph the island’s wildlife to remind residents of what’s truly at stake and garner enough support to oppose the resort’s development.

If I didn’t feel the sugary twinge of sentiment in Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, it is down to its pastel starkness.

Ustwo follows up Assemble with Care with more quiet restorative magic.