Nara is new to the environment on this space station, so as the player, we get to learn and discover along with her. Growbot takes a unique direction on its gameplay. As you point and click your way around the station, you will discover that there is an abundance of plant and spiritual life everywhere. In the world of Growbot, it seems like nature takes the place of technology in its many marvels. Bees can produce energy from the backs of water dragons, Bioengineered blooms power robotic life, and even a psychic octopus can go through an identity crisis, just like us!

The game consists of collecting items and solving puzzles that focus around plants, music, and the many curious and adorable creatures you will come across. It could be that your long noodly-armed Starbelly friend may be a bit hungry, or that the light sprites have some surprise guests to usher out. Whatever puzzles you come across, they are unusual in the most fantastical of ways. The atmospheric sounds and music meld perfectly with the cute illustrative art style, and once you start thinking like a true biopunk, the puzzles become much easier to solve. They will challenge your problem-solving skills while leaving you thinking “Wow, that was a really cool concept!”

Sometimes the puzzles can seem a bit too out-of-this-world, and there aren’t any help menus or hints to guide you if you feel lost. The only thing remotely close to this is your squeaky Brainapillar who sits inside your head to talk and guide you around the ship for a time. So you must listen well to those you talk to, and pay attention to what you see to find your way forward.

Growbot is just like some curious kind of fever dream, and I like that about it. So much of it needs to be experienced to be believed. It is beautiful and whimsical, while also holding some kind of vaguely dark and ominous touch to it. I still haven’t wrapped my head around HOW yet, but maybe that just adds to the charm of this artist’s vision brought to life.