Scrabdackle preview: A delightfully whimsical retro-inspired adventure 

Magic and adventure go hand-in-hand, and are the foundation of many adventure games; in this way, Scrabdackle isn’t unique. And yet, within its first act, the jakefriend developed title expertly crafts a whimsical world that delights as much as it challenges your skills. Filled with secrets, enemies, unusual NPCs, and a promising tale at its heart, it has just about everything.

Clearly inspired by classic titles, most notably The Legend of Zelda, Scrabdackle feels familiar and yet distinctive at the same time. The Escapist’s Scrabdackle preview found a wealth of entertaining gameplay with minimal complaints to write home about. If the rest of the game maintains this level of quality, a new indie darling could be born upon its full release. 

The Escapist recaps

• Scrabdackle is an adventure game created by jakefriend, a solo developer.
• Scrabdackle Act 1’s release date is December 2 and is the first of three acts in total. 
• It will take players approximately 12 to 15 hours to complete Act 1, which features 10 distinct regions. 
• Initial Scrabdackle gameplay impressions are positive, with the title combining classic The Legend of Zelda elements with Metroidvania mechanics. 
• Scrabdackle is a PC-only experience, available via Steam. 

A world of pure whimsy

Scrabdackle doesn’t just feel whimsical, it’s whimsy personified. Around every corner is a fanciful, hand-drawn secret just waiting to be discovered, sometimes quite literally, as exploration is rewarded for the curious among you. 

In an industry that, sadly, is seeing more AI-generated content infiltrating game development, being able to play through an adventure that utilizes “traditional animation techniques”  is a gift. But it isn’t just the middle finger to AI that makes Scrabdackle’s charming aesthetic so appealing; it’s the way in which it adds depth to the magical story being told. 

The art style complements the narrative; the two work symbiotically to emphasize and enhance each other. The result is a world that has child-like wonder. If you crave more “woodland whimsy”, Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores is another quirky adventure worth checking out. 

Each Scrabdackle region is fluid, with them seemingly blending into one another; however, they each have exclusive details that set them apart. Yet, Scrabdackle’s adventure is far from easy, with its gameplay hiding a surprising soulslike quality. 

A test of mettle or cosily entertaining

Nestled inside the quaint stylings of this Metroidvania-like experience are numerous challenges, some of which are easier to overcome than others. This is where Scrabdackle’s Soulslike quality comes into play. 

Although Scrabdackle allows you to set your preferred difficulty level – unlike Dark Souls – the adversity you face can feel just as hard. Due to this being a non-linear game, you can explore freely, which also means you can run into enemies and dungeons before you’re ready or properly equipped. 

Being able to tailor the difficulty in this way serves to further open up an already generous world, especially because of how easily you can switch between levels at any time. It offers flexibility, something which Dark Souls lacks, but potential players are crying out for. Nothing is rigid or enforced, nor is it too easy or too hard; it’s just right. 

Some may believe this diminishes Scrabdackle, for what’s an adventure without its challenges? However, The Escapist found a balanced system, one which is well-suited to the type of experience jakefriend is trying to establish in the full game. 

Information overload

Even though there’s much to praise the title about, The Escapist’s Scrabdackle preview would be remiss if it didn’t draw attention to some of its niggling issues. No game is perfect, after all, and while Scrabdackle puts on quite the show for an early access experience, there’s room for improvement. 

Chiefly, in the form of information overload. At the beginning of Scrabdackle, a lot of information is fed to you quite quickly; while this isn’t uncommon in video games, it does initially make settling in overwhelming. Thankfully, there are helpful tips via the menu screen, as well as Blue’s trusty notebook, to give you a quick refresher if you failed to take everything in. Still, it’s barebones for such an ambitious adventure. 

Finding the equilibrium between unnecessary hand-holding and total free rein is tough, and is ultimately something Scrabdackle hasn’t mastered just yet. 

In it for the long haul

So, is Scrabdackle worth it?

It’s a reasonable question to ask, especially when dealing with a new game from a solo developer. This Scrabdackle preview is pleased to report that you get plenty of bang for your buck; far more than many bigger budget titles offer when in early access. 

Assuming you play on Poet difficulty, aka happy medium difficulty, players receive over 12 hours of gameplay in Act 1. While no disrespect is meant to short games – every experience has its place – the fact that a solo developer can deliver so much in early access is a credit to the dedication and hard work that’s gone into Scrabdackle. 

This is a game with longevity in mind. By delivering different difficulties, multiple secrets, side quests, and so on, you won’t get the same playthrough twice in a row; something will be different. Perhaps not significantly, but that doesn’t make its diversity any less admirable.

Even though The Escapist can’t speak of the acts to come, Scrabdackle Act 1 has exceeded expectations in almost every way. It’s charming, funny, challenging, expansive, and it’s only just getting started. Although Blue’s future is yet to be determined, Scrabdackle’s future looks bright indeed. 

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