Release Date: November 16, 2023
Developer: Moon Lagoon
Platforms: PC (Reviewed), Switch
Price: $19.99

I think as humans we find ourselves constantly fascinated by the deep blue. The depths below that we still have yet to fully uncover leave a lot of wonderment to both the imagination and the mysteries of life, and it's because of that that I believe we have this strange yet understandable affinity for it that we can play around with when it comes to any medium tackling the setting. Loddlenaut does a wonderful job choosing to go the cute and cozy route, taking the player to another planet, sent there to do a routine cleanup on any pollution and gunk leftover by a previous company who had settled prior for research.

While the story isn't particularly deep, it doesn't need to be, and it works to its benefit here as Loddlenaut has a straightforward gameplay loop that complements its relaxation. It's just enough to give purpose to the setting and players actions without having to focus too hard on the narrative or feel lost in case you happen to miss some of what's being said by a text box in the corner as you communicate with your companion.

Going through various biomes players will cleanup a variety of objects that seem like the norm - soda cans, water bottles, microplastic, jars, etc. - and gradually lead into more "complex" scenarios in which you'll need to do some basic upgrading to equipment to polish and decontaminate. These upgrades come in the form of an enhanced laser akin to No Man's Sky, a more refined suit to help dive deeper, a larger oxygen tank, and more. These aren't particularly difficult to acquire and playing the game normally will eventually see an unlock on just about everything available. Even with limited boost and oxygen capacities, Loddlenaut still remains a relaxing experience as these don't feel like they're there to penalize any exploration or casual playing since air bubbles can be found throughout, as well as rings that can be crafted and placed in any location that immediately replenish everything back to 100% in an instant. The worst thing that can happen is if you do run out of oxygen (and you may want to do it at least once to at least get an achievement), is you lose a couple of resources that you may have acquired that are still on your person, but it's nothing detrimental. Resources are all around you and plentiful, so while you can go back to the last place you were before depleting your oxygen to retain everything lost, it's nothing that you should feel pressured to do.

Loddlenaut also helped me realize that bundles are certainly a benefit to the exposure of some games, and aren't just a way to "throwaway" some titles that I think some people would be led to believe when they acquire X number of games in a cheap bundle that seems too good to be true—there's a strategy here. That said, while I'm a fan of indie titles, this is one of those that simply just never hit my radar, so when it was offered in May 2024's Humble Choice Bundle, it immediately caught my attention and became the first game I played and installed within the bundle - a bundle that, mind you, also included the likes of Hi-Fi Rush, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and Steelrising.

For those looking for a calming time in the deep blue, Loddlenaut is a wonderful way to do so. Being a mix of a collect-a-thon and exploration gave me vibes of Tinykin (which I also loved and couldn't put down), so if you're a fan of that type of stuff with little-to-no dangers or frustrations, Loddlenaut will give you an incredible time that also won't ask too much of you. Even if you're the type that's limited in free time, Loddlenaut lends itself nicely to this as you can save at any point wherever you'd like, and the game itself likely won't take longer than a couple of hours to complete (about 4 1/2 for me, though I can see it being done in about 3). If you're aiming for all achievements, I can't imagine it being an extra hour or two to a standard playthrough.

I'm a big RPG, Action/Adventure, Hack-and-Slash guy, but lately I've been jumping into more cozy titles as a currently existing restrictive and stressful schedule can easily turn a basic 25-hour title into a 3-month trek, so games like Loddlenaut are exactly what we need when we want to unwind, keep things simple, and still have fun all the same. It's cute, it's cozy, it's rewarding, and damn wholesome to boot.

PROS:

Relaxing atmosphere that flows with the player as they swim around
A vibrant color palette that really pops and brings the underwater environment to the forefront of the screen

CONS:

The story is rather shallow and doesn’t contribute much of anything to what’s going on in the game other than a set goal of cleaning the place up.

Loddlenaut Review