Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge Media
Critic Reviews for Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is a uniquely fun farming sim fueled by heart, a message of conservation, and a whole lot of frogs.
While cute and cozy, Kamaeru can definitely become frustrating if played for longer periods of time with little variation in gameplay.
The game feels like an escape into nature where players are also able to make meaningful change at their own pace, and is a lovely way to wind down at the end of a long day. It's certainly not a cozy game that can be played indefinitely - or, in truth, even for more than perhaps 10 hours at the very most, depending on how fast players opt to progress - but the time that is spent is overall quite endearing. With charming visuals, calming music, and a bevy of adorable frogs to be adopted and given silly names, Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge offers a fun, amphibious twist on a well-trodden format.
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge combines cute frogs and wetland development to create a refuge management experience you will never forget. The frogs are adorable and collecting them all is enjoyable. Customising your frog refuge and the extremely low chance of failure let you pursue your goals as you wish. While the game is not at all challenging and doesn't have the best UI in late-game areas, it's still fun to play. By far the cosiest frog simulator you will ever encounter, Kamaeru is perfect if you're wondering how you can save our planet.
Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge blends its real-world science with a method of show-don’t tell that makes it less intimidating than Apico, a game which I adored and which also reminded me how much I’d forgotten from my science classes so many decades ago. It’s also committed to a soft, comfy aesthetic that, even if you’ve never looked at frogs as cute before, this game will teach you why so many people just love froggies. I think my only silly quibble is the lack of audible ‘ribbits;’ just give me a vague background cacophony of happy, croaky little noises. It’s possible it’s something I’ll find as I get even deeper into the game! But that’s so minor and specific to me and isn’t a real complaint at all. The prettiness of this game and its lack of interest in stressing you about time is going to make it a soothing experience for a lot of people. The only way in this game is forward, but at the pace you choose. Pick up and play, or hyper-focus on it; it’s all entirely up to you! The frogs will love you to bits no matter what.
Adorably cute in every way, Kamaeru: A Frog Refuge is the perfect game for relaxing and indulging your inner child as you play with frogs and restore their home in the wetlands. Gamers who need a break from the endless grind of other games will love Kamaeru.
If you enjoy games like Neko Atsume, are a lover of frogs, or are interested in wetland conservation, Kamaeru offers an enjoyable, adorable, and meaningful experience. One can appreciate the diversity of the characters and the way they interact with each other, as well as learn more about the mechanics of paludiculture and how to raise carbon capture. While there are some features that can be expanded upon, Kamaeru is without a doubt a worthy creature collector title.
