With whimsical characters, colorful backdrops, and creative customization, the developersofLil Gator Gameset out to recreate that feeling of coziness and adventure thatThe Legend of Zeldainspired in them as kids. Drawing inspiration from otherindies such asA Short Hike, the December 14 release aims to fill players' hearts with childlike whimsy.
Lil Gator Gameis a newindie titlethat started out as a proof of concept by Scott Slucher calledPlayground Hero.Though it was originally just a tech demo, the circulation of a GIF of Lil Gator running in circles soon caught the attention of publishers. The demand for a game eventually became big enough to skyrocket the project into full production. Game Rant spoke with artist and director Connor Patrick Quinn about that process and how they hope to achieve the casual, childlike tone developer MegaWobble set out to establish.
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Lil Gator Moves with Wonder
Lil Gator Gameis rife with imaginatively animated characters. Brimming with a childlike sense of wonder, everything from their appearance to their actions has been carefully crafted. The team describesLil Gator Gameas a game about movement, and Lil Gator hasplenty of ways to get around the islandon the lake. Players can craft a new shield and slide down a hill, or ascend a steep, rocky incline only a kid would dare climb. It’s even possible to glide across the island using only a shirt.
Every step and every action was created with care, and according to Connor, they didn’t need expensive motion capture equipment to get the job done—a simple mirror did the trick.
“You practice an action in the mirror, sketch out some basic keyframes, push them until they look cartoony, and then add some extra flourishes and secondary movement. It’s not Pixar, but I think it has a nice identity.”
Using this technique for reference, Connor was able to give life to Gator’s animations. With a waddle here and a bounce there, their movements are full of cute, childlike character. Despite the game’s cartoonish style, the realism of the movements still shines through.
Explore the World of Lil Gator Game
Kid-like exploration is also a major theme inLil Gator Game.Players will be able to explore the island inhabited by Gator and their friends. When putting the world together, it was important to make sure thatthe terrain lined up neatly with the mechanicsof the game. From climbing trees to walking a tightrope, the world around Lil Gator has to be ready to receive whatever they have to dole out.
No matter where one wanders, there is always a new friend waiting for help. Whether it’s beating down cardboard bad guys or helping scare off a bird from the top of a tree, there are plenty of adventures and secrets to uncover on the island. Connor adds thatthe real fantasy adventure feeling comes from explorationand the wandering that happens between points of interest. It doesn’t matter where one has been or where they’re going, the MegaWobble team ensures there is something to catch the player’s eye atop every hill and around every corner.
“We made sure that there’s a path forward and fun stuff to find on it. That’s what a fantasy adventure is all about.”
Customization Lets You Explore Yourself
Players can also turn their exploration inward, helping Gator explore their own identity. When asked about Lil Gator’s biodisplaying “they/them” pronouns, Connor’s response was that it felt “obvious” to make Gator non-binary. After all, it’s a game about experimenting with identity.
Avariety of character customizationswill be available as well, to help explore Gator’s identity further. Connor says dress-up is “core to the Lil Gator experience.” Lil Gator will be able to get crafting ideas from other characters they meet in the game that can be swapped out at any point during gameplay. Using papers collected throughout quests and island exploration, players can craft loads of new items such as hats, shields, swords, and more.
Lil Gator Gameis coming to PC and Switch on Jun 10, 2025.
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