Video game protagonists have a weird relationship with nature. When you come across a wild animal in a typical action game, it normally means you’re going to have to fight the poor critter, or at least stuff it into a tiny ball to fight for you later. At best, animals can be used as your companions, again to fight at your bidding, with the rare exceptions of games like The Last Guardian that make them more equal partners. One game returning to Xbox Game Pass this month takes that gentler approach to its digital animals while telling a thoughtful story about learning to understand an alien culture.
Creatures of Ava starts with its protagonist, Vic, landing on Ava, a planet that’s doomed to be overtaken by a spreading sickness called the Withering. After teaming up with a local member of the native humanoids called the Naam, Vic sets out to capture and save as many of the planet’s animals as possible, eventually turning her sights to curing the Withering completely.
