Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling (Steam)

Last month's Joystick Junkies game was Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling, a Paper Mario clone. While the incentive to find the titular Everlasting Sapling is pretty weak, the journey is an enjoyable experience overall. Your party is comprised of three main characters - Kabbu, Leif, and Vi. I was a bit disappointed that there were no additional party members added along the way, but they made up for it with a fair amount of characterization between the three. Their dynamic is not unlike that of a Dungeons and Dragons party, with tangents into their individual storylines, and different classes that align with their personalities. The game is presented through seven chapters, each with their own short story arc which culminates in a thematic boss battle. The music is hit-or-miss to me and overall not on the caliber of it's Nintendo inspiration; the worst tracks are legitimate kazoo music, while the best are energetic electronic tunes. While I don't particularly love games that wear their inspiration so blatantly, I still think Bug Fables is a good game and certainly worth playing for someone looking for more of the Mario RPG formula - even if everything is papercraft with no explanation.

Play it for the:

Cute world and characters
Indie Paper Mario imitation
Toss boss battles

Reviewed on 2026-08-11

I usually went with Kabbu in the front, and the other two as support.