On This Day in Gaming
January 18 has always been a quietly important date for gamers. In past years, it’s seen the arrival of memorable indie gems and co-op adventures. Notably, in 2022, DrinkBox Studios added another staple to that legacy with the release of Nobody Saves the World. Nearly a decade after the studio’s breakout hit Guacamelee!, this whimsical action-RPG offers a fresh spin on dungeon crawling and character building.
Storyline & Setting
You play as “Nobody,” an unremarkable hero drawn into an epic quest when an ancient calamity reawakens and threatens the world. Guided by the eccentric Archdruid, you’ll transform into 15+ magical Forms—from a curious Slug to an ethereal Ghost or mighty Dragon—to unlock new powers. Along the way, you’ll complete quests for quirky inhabitants and, ultimately, stop The Calamity once and for all.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Transform into 15+ Forms
- Each Form—from Rat to Rogue to Robot—boasts unique abilities and playstyles. Moreover, switching Forms on the fly encourages strategic thinking and adaptability in combat.
- Mix & Match Abilities
- Experiment with over 80 skills to craft hilarious or devastating combos. Ever seen an Egg that slimes foes and shoots fireballs? In doing so, this mechanic fosters creative experimentation and player expression.
- Unconventional Quests
- Every Form brings its own set of challenges—rescue a hedgehog bard with your Slug’s sticky trail or hide in plain sight as a Ghost. As a result, quests feel consistently fresh and character-driven, keeping players engaged throughout.
- Shape-Shifting Dungeons
- Procedurally generated levels scale with your power, keeping exploration unpredictable and replayable. Because of this, no two runs ever feel the same, maintaining a high level of excitement and variety.
- Local & Online Co-op
- Team up with a friend to combine Forms, solve puzzles, and tackle tougher foes together. Additionally, this added multiplayer dynamic significantly enhances replay value and social fun.
- Endless Endgame
- Dive into an infinite dungeon that refreshes every run, unlock a secret Form, and earn a grand statue to honor your skills. Consequently, there’s always a new challenge to face and new strategies to explore.
- New Game+
- Remixed modifiers and tougher enemies await those ready for another round with their favorite builds. Ultimately, it rewards mastery, replayability, and the thrill of pushing limits even further.
Visuals & Art Style
DrinkBox’s signature hand-drawn aesthetic shines with vibrant colors and expressive character designs. Also, each Form feels distinctive in Nobody Saves the World. Whether you’re oozing through corridors as a Slug or soaring above lava pits as a Dragon, the world reacts to your presence with playful animations and lively backgrounds.
Audio & Soundtrack
Acclaimed composer Jim Guthrie delivers an upbeat, memorable score that matches Nobody Saves the World’s whimsical tone. From jaunty village tunes to pulse-pounding dungeon themes, the music keeps you engaged—especially when switching Forms mid-battle and hearing how each ability triggers unique sound effects.
Community Reception
Nobody Saves the World has earned overwhelmingly positive feedback from players. Obviously, the numbers speak for themselves:
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Recent Reviews: 93% Very Positive (74 reviews)
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All-Time Reviews: 91% Very Positive (5,231 reviews)
Fans praise Nobody Saves the World’s creativity, polish, and endless replay value. Many highlight how the Form-mixing system encourages experimentation and personal expression. A few point out that the desire to unlock every ability can feel grindy, and that later dungeons ramp up difficulty sharply, but most agree these are minor quibbles in an otherwise delightful package.
Impact on the Industry
By blending action-RPG conventions with Metroidvania-style exploration and a playful “build-your-own-hero” approach, Nobody Saves the World stands out in a crowded indie market. In particular, its emphasis on co-op discovery and procedural design has not only elevated its gameplay experience, but also inspired other studios to rethink how character customization and level generation can work together. As a result, it continues to influence the evolution of genre hybrids in meaningful ways.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a seasoned adventurer or new to the genre, DrinkBox Studios delivers a cozy, creative treat that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down. From the first Slug sprint to the millionth dungeon dive, Nobody Saves the World invites gamers of all skill levels to unleash their inner hero—one form at a time.
