Botanicula

Botanicula is a whimsical point-and-click adventure game. Set in a vibrant, surreal world, players guide a group of tiny creatures on a journey to save their tree's seeds from dark forces. With its enchanting visuals, atmospheric sound design, and charming puzzles, Botanicula offers a delightful and imaginative gaming experience for players of all ages.

Awards

*IGF Excellence in Audio Award

*Game of the Year

*IndieCade: Best Story/World Design Award

*IGM Readers' Choice Award: Best Sound / Music

*Mac App Store Best of 2012

Story

"Botanicula" begins with an animated sequence that sets the stage for the story: a monstrous spider is devouring the elven trees of Botanicula, and five warriors embark on a quest to rescue the Elven Tree in order to save the last of the elven trees. The five warriors are Poppy Head, Mr. Feather, Miss Mushroom, Mr. Twig, and Mr. Lantern.

Each one has their own unique abilities - Poppy Head is strong and good at knocking down hard objects; Mr. Feather can fly up to collect items; Miss Mushroom has a soft body that bounces well; Mr. Twig can ignore gravity and walk on walls; and Mr. Lantern's stomach can hide things. While some players may find this setup boring, it's worth noting that these five warriors are not your typical magical heroes. In fact, they're more like a gang of misfits. They shout and cheer as they jump back and forth between branches, celebrating over trivial matters and cowering in fear when faced with monsters bigger and fiercer than themselves.

Although the five warriors are prominently featured in the game, most of the puzzle-solving isn't done by them but rather by interacting with various bizarre and imaginative creatures that appear throughout the game. And if you're smart, you'll take the time to "dalliance" with each one, even if they don't seem to hold any immediate clues to solving a puzzle. Not only will you get to see each creature's unique life, but you'll also add them to your wizard book. So while the five warriors do play a role in the game, they're not necessarily the ones who will solve the mystery. This aligns with the game's name, which means "All Elves." The real protagonists are the elven tree inhabitants themselves.

Ethereal Game Style and Imaginative Design

Visual Aesthetics

Botanicula's game style is ethereal and clear, with bold and harmonious colors. The elf tree features a slightly transparent green body, allowing the interwoven veins of its branches to be clearly visible. Every corner of the leafy tree is inhabited by grotesque elves. Despite their varying colors, these elves blend seamlessly with the overall picture.

Three-Dimensional Effect

Each branch and leaf is meticulously processed, creating a strong sense of depth and three-dimensionality. This meticulous detailing immerses players in the lush elven trees.

Imaginative Creatures

The design of each creature is highly imaginative. While a few spirits may resemble living creatures or objects from reality, most elves have fanciful and unique appearances. The style may initially appear rough, but it evokes a fantasy world crafted by a naive child. This less sophisticated, yet sincere and playful approach adds to the charm.

Melodious Background

The background music is melodious and perfectly rendered, enhancing the experience and bringing players closer to nature.

Engaging Puzzle-Solving in a Fairy World

Immersive Exploration

In this vibrant world of fairy ice, players experience puzzle-solving reminiscent of real-world challenges in Botanicula. You can explore unique environments, such as crawling into the stomach of a large insect or diving into a dark beehive. Additionally, elves can engage in whimsical activities like racing with a seven-star scoop pest, adding an element of surprise and excitement.

Creative Puzzles

The overall puzzle-solving experience is not overly difficult. However, the diversity of puzzles and their occasional departure from common sense require players to engage in imaginative thinking. While the puzzles themselves may not be challenging, the real difficulty lies in matching the correct answer to the corresponding puzzle.

Whimsical Problem-Solving

This unique approach of Botanicula to puzzle-solving allows players to understand the game's content while encouraging whimsical and creative thinking. The journey through this colorful fairy world is filled with unexpected twists, making the puzzle-solving experience both enjoyable and thought-provoking.

Green-Themed Puzzle and Environmental Message

Storytelling Through Imagery

Botanicula features a green theme and tells a universally understandable story through fairy tale imagery, without using any text. Set in the wizard's world within a massive elven tree, the landscape includes lakes, caves, and low-lying mountains, making the tree itself a world. Elves, akin to humans of different races and colors, inhabit this diverse ecosystem.

Symbolism of the Five Warriors

The five seemingly insignificant warriors in the story might symbolize small forces that, while individually weak, collectively embody the spirit of environmental protection. These characters represent the idea that every individual, no matter how small their contribution, has a role in defending and preserving the Earth.

Environmental Advocacy

Botanicula draws a parallel between the vastness of the Earth for humans and the expansive elven world. It highlights how the human living environment has been progressively damaged, often unknowingly. Whether ecological destruction stems from human activity or natural disasters, the story emphasizes that, despite individual limitations, collective effort can overcome significant challenges and heal the damaged Earth. It underscores the responsibility of even the smallest beings to protect their homeland, advocating for environmental consciousness and collaborative action.

Attracting features:

– Relaxed game perfect for hard core gamers, their partners, families and seniors.

– More than 150 detailed locations to explore.

– Hundreds of funny animations.

– Incredible amount of hidden bonuses.

– Award winning music by Dva.