Just Crow Things [Review]
Ca-CAW! Ahem, I mean, Just Crow Things is cozy chaos put into a game developed and published by Unbound Creations. Games like Just Crow Things can always be traced back to games like Goat Simulator or Untitled Goose Game, essentially a game all about causing chaos as an otherwise unassuming animal. In this game, you play as “Crowy” a cute little crow just here to make her place in the world. And that place happens to be pooping on humans, flying around and disturbing everything, and “helping” “innocent” animals by doing their bidding of chaos.
Just Crow Things is a bit more unique in its approach as the game has a sandbox-level system, rather than just an open world that allows for any kind of chaos. It can be a bit restraining at times but it does allow for a lot of different environments to be explored. I enjoy the more open environment similar games have, just being able to roam endlessly and destroy everything. But, with so many games with a similar premise, it is nice to have something different. In Just Crow Things the level system is once you get 100 points you can move on to the next area, but there’s always extra stuff to do if you’d like to stay in a level longer than necessary. Doing so might unlock a new outfit or hat for your little crow friend.
The outfits are a fun change of pace and I like to switch between each level. A lot of the outfits are even references, the game has a lot of fun references. Like the girl at the beginning of the game dressed like Snow White and surrounded by animals, or the sleeping boy dressed in green that looks suspiciously like Link. He even gives you his hat! My favorite area is the campgrounds which have an entire section with black shadowy creatures that possess and throw things at you, only to be stopped by a flashlight shining light on them. Which is the plot of Alan Wake. After exploring this area I was able to find a hockey mask that’s like Jason Voorheese’s.
The game has love put into it with all of its references and lively characters placed throughout the world. However, I think some of the quests can get a bit repetitive. There are a lot of fetch quests. Luckily everyone is slightly different so it doesn’t feel too much like the same all the time. Like how one quest will have you search and collect shiny objects, and another will have you collect dinosaur bones. There are some more unique quests like leading a group of goats into a market and causing frogs to rain down on them to cause the utmost chaos.
In the end, I think Just Crow Things is a really good cozy game, an easy game to play a level and then set it down for a bit. There’s no urgency so no need to complete the entire game at once, it’s a good pick-up-and-play. I’ll be giving Just Crow Things an 8/10. The game is currently available on PlayStation 4/5, Switch, and Steam.