#This lovable indie gem may simply be the cutest survival sport of 2025—and you’ll strive it without spending a dime now – Destructoid

If you happen to’re a fan of survival video games however dream of them being much less murderous and extra cute, you could agree with how Squirreled Away may simply be the cutest survival sport to return out of 2025. It’s an enormous declare contemplating it’s solely March, however I’m standing by it. 

Squirreled Away is a beautiful indie gem from developer Far Seas and revealed by Amplifier Studios, the identical writer who introduced us mecha-powered farming sim Lightyear Frontier. You play as a small pink squirrel, an alien sight to me within the U.Ok. the place they’re all however extinct in 99 p.c of locations regardless of being native to the nation. Within the sport, you’ll be able to change your fur shade, however that looks as if a disservice to the pink squirrel.

Alongside the way in which, you’re tasked with serving to varied forest critters with the issues they face. Armed with varied crafted instruments, you’ll be able to collect all method of sources, corresponding to pebbles and twigs, ultimately working your approach as much as rocks and sticks. I do know that doesn’t sound like an enormous step up, however you’re a squirrel, so all the things is giant to you. 

New recipes are unlocked after discovering new sources and meditating on them at one of many Squirrel Sanctuaries situated on every island. The method is impossibly cute—your squirrel floating into the air and adopting the lotus place with extra ease than I’ve ever been capable of, and I’ve been trying to observe yoga for years. There are Golden Acorns to search out on each island, and discovering all of them on any given island will restore the Sanctuary and improve your stamina.

If all of this sounds good to you (which it completely ought to as a result of there isn’t a single factor to not take pleasure in about this stunning expertise), there’s a demo obtainable without spending a dime now via Steam. The demo allows you to discover everything of the primary island, assembly 4 new squirrel pals and a very buoyant turtle named Terry. You full the primary 4 squirrel quests, after which you’ll be able to discover a tiny a part of the second island.

When you’re on the second island, you should utilize “Squirrel Imaginative and prescient” to see all the varied critter NPCs that you just’ll have the ability to discuss to when the total sport releases on March 28, however you’re blocked off by an invisible wall. You possibly can discuss to at least one NPC—Lotta Land, the seagull—who’s greater than prepared to let you know concerning the constructing system. 

Sure, you’ll be able to construct bases in Squirreled Away, which by some means got here as a shock regardless of this having all of the anticipated hallmarks of a survival crafter. The caveat is you’ll be able to solely construct up within the bushes, which is comprehensible for the squirrel theme, and also you unlock extra blueprints as you go together with the identical Meditation system that’s used to get extra recipes.

The constructing system itself is clean and simple to work with, reminding me a number of the one utilized in Palworld, however with fewer quirks. Every part clicks collectively precisely because it ought to, and there’s no restrict to what you’ll be able to create, so long as you’ve gotten sufficient sticks to see you thru. If not, you’ll be able to take your trusty Pebble Instruments and seize extra sources for constructing functions. 

I’ve all the time been a fan of taking a survival sport and making it cozy. I even managed it with Sons of the Forest, which got here as a shock even to me. Squirreled Away faucets into my weird little area of interest and has executed the arduous work for me, permitting for a remarkably enjoyable gameplay expertise whereas nonetheless scratching that survival itch.