As a lifelong gamer, it’s exciting to see my niece and nephews take an interest in video games. Because of that, I’m always on the lookout for games they might be interested in, and especially games that are appropriate for younger age groups. One game I recently came across that caught my attention was Alpaca Stacka, released on PC in July 2021.
In Alpaca Stacka you play as Paz, a kind alpaca. Paz agrees to help Mama Hen find her chicks after Streusel, a troublesome squirrel, lets them out of their pen. You can climb hills, bounce across mushrooms, and cross bridges in search of the scattered chicks, stacking them on your back as you go.
The graphics in Alpaca Stacka are simple but effective, giving the game a cute, almost soft, and fluffy appearance. The music is also appropriately lighthearted and matches the relaxed vibe.
When I originally played Alpaca Stacka, it checked off a few boxes for me. One, it’s relaxing, something I’m always looking for in a game, and two, it’s age-appropriate for my 7-year-old niece and nephew. However, when I looked up more information about the publisher, Spookulele Games, I discovered another reason behind its design. On their website, they state that “the core of our company is accessibility. Accessibility means avoiding unnecessary barriers that prevent people with a range of impairments from accessing or enjoying our games. We believe ableism is often neglected in gaming, and we’re here to set it right.” The calm graphics and music, easy-to-follow plot, and simple controls would allow gamers of any age and ability to enjoy Alpaca Stacka.
“…it’s relaxing, something I’m always looking for in a game”
At around 15 minutes to complete, Alpaca Stacka would be a great intro to gaming for younger children, as well as a fun platformer for gamers of all ages and abilities.
As Alpaca Stacka is unlike any other game I’ve reviewed before, instead of giving it our usual “so many coffee cups out of 5” rating, I’d just like to say that I have a much better appreciation for the choices Spookulele Games made when developing this game, and I respect their reasons behind those choices.
“Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.” – Philippians 2:4