Delayed from its original 2021 release, Drinkbox Studios’ action RPG Nobody Saves the World has finally made it into the hands of fans. Available both as a separate purchase and as part of Xbox Game Pass’ ever-expanding and impressive lineup, Nobody Saves the World is a combination of Drinkbox’s trademark irreverence and classic elements of a dungeon crawler. Any gamers that are fans of the genre, or of the studio’s tongue-in-cheek humor, should definitely give Nobody Saves the World a look.
Players were eager to see what the studio would come up with after the success of its previous titles like the popular Guacamelee! and its sequel, and it seems like early reviews for Nobody Saves the World have been positive. Critics have praised the game’s playfulness, its fun shape-shifting aspect, and its homage to earlier games in the dungeon crawler genre. With plenty to recommend it, it seems like players who have enjoyed games in a similar vein would be far from wasting their time if they gave Nobody Saves the World a chance.
What Nobody Saves The World Is All About
In the tradition of a classic action RPG, Nobody Saves the World starts players off with a fairly basic character who progresses over time, attaining new abilities as they battle enemies and move through the different stages of the game. Where Nobody Saves the World mixes things up a bit is when it allows gamers to transform into a variety of different forms — from horses and dragons to robots and magicians — each with different attributes and stats as well as aesthetics.
Characters are unlocked as the game progresses, and they must complete their own quests in order to raise their stats. Although this does mean repetition of quests and levels, it’s a chance to try out different forms and test their own unique abilities.
Played from a top-down perspective, gamers explore the various procedurally-generated dungeons and the areas of Nobody Saves the World’s overworld as they complete quests and earn experience. The procedurally-generated dungeons come complete with all the aspects that dungeon crawler fans would come to expect, like hidden treasure chests, a boss to slay, and deadly traps to navigate.
This set up is reminiscent of various other games in similar genres, such as some of the Legend of Zelda titles, and will feel familiar to many players. However, Drinkbox mixes this and other classic dungeon crawler elements like exploring labyrinthine environments with a quirky and cartoonish art style that freshens up these aspects.
Why Players Should Give It A Chance
While by no means a perfect game, Nobody Saves the World populates its environments with well-designed and creatively-realized 2D sprites and scenery, as well as plenty of action to keep players satisfied. The silly humor and uncomplicated story are entertaining but leave room for gamers to focus on the customizable combat and array of increasingly bizarre characters.
Although each form starts off with its own abilities, when new ones are unlocked they can be equipped to any form, allowing a degree of flexibility in combat and a way for players to avoid having to switch too often between characters if they have a few favorites. By mixing and matching different combos between the variety of forms, players can create a whole array of different approaches to combat.
The worlds are varied enough and the dungeons distinct enough with the procedurally-generated elements that exploration feels rewarding. The dungeons fit in perfectly with Nobody Saves the World’s quirky and off-kilter design aesthetics, as players can explore UFOs, a witch’s candy house, and even the insides of a giant whale. Whether gamers choose to go it alone or make use of the game’s multiplayer, Nobody Saves the World is the fun new hack-and-slash that’s perfect for dungeon crawler fans.
Nobody Saves the World is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
