Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling

Lore & Background

Bug Fables takes place in Bugaria, a land entirely within the backyard of an abandoned house. Sentient insects were uplifted by a mysterious force after humans disappeared in an unspecified cataclysm, while other insects remained feral. Bugaria is divided into several kingdoms: Ants to the center, Bees to the West, Termites to the South, and Wasps to the North. The land includes features such as a vast desert (an old sandbox) and a lake formed by a leaking pipe. Bugaria is a rare safe haven due to a magical crystal, while other lands are at the mercy of unknown giant beasts.

The land contains relics and ruins left by the Roaches, the first insects to gain sentience. One legendary relic is the Everlasting Sapling, said to grant eternal life. Queen Elizant I arrived from a faraway land, established the Ant Kingdom, and searched for the Sapling until being placed in magical stasis. Her daughter, Queen Elizant II, took over and created an Explorer's Association to fund expeditions for artifacts that could unlock the Sapling.

The three main playable characters are Vi (a young, fiercely independent bee), Kabbu (a chivalrous warrior beetle with survivor guilt), and Leif (a moth explorer with a corpse-like appearance who wields ice magic). Leif is later revealed to be an advanced form of cordyceps created by the Roaches for immortality experiments, who inherited the original Leif's memories. A fourth playable character, a baby carnivorous plant named Chompy by default, can be unlocked. The true villain is the Wasp King, Hoaxe, who found an ancient Roach crown that controls Wasps and manipulates fire.

Reader's Guide

Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling is notable for its deliberate homage to the first two Paper Mario games, which the developers felt later entries in that series had strayed from. The game's combat system uses turn-based mechanics with timed button-press minigames, similar to its inspirations. The party shares Teamwork Points (TP) for special attacks and Medal Points (MP) for equipable medals that enhance attributes, grant resistances, or unlock special moves. Winning battles awards Exploration Points (EXP); earning enough increases the party's explorer rank, allowing players to choose stat increases or new moves.

The game received positive reviews from critics, who praised its characters, combat system, presentation, and amount of content, though some criticized control issues. Development began in 2015 under the tentative title Paper Bugs, with the final name revealed in January 2018 alongside an IndieGoGo campaign and a playable demo. The game was developed by Panama-based Moonsprout Games, consisting of Panamanian writer/programmer Jose Fernando Gracia and Brazilian programmer Marcio Cleiton Jr., who met on a Pokémon Nuzlocke forum. The game's story follows Team Snakemouth as they collect artifacts, confront the Wasp King, and ultimately face the withered Everlasting Sapling, which the Wasp King consumes to become the Everlasting King before being defeated and transformed into a tree.

Did You Know?

• The game was originally titled Paper Bugs before its final name was revealed in January 2018.
• The developers met on a Pokémon Nuzlocke forum.
• Leif is actually an advanced form of cordyceps created by the Roaches as part of immortality experiments.
• The Everlasting Sapling was withered after being without sunlight for ages when the team finally reached it.