Creatures: The Albian Years

The games that started it all! Your first experience with the Creatures games will involve shuttling cute little "Norns" around, trying to teach them words and the skills necessary to survive on their own in their simulated little worlds. But once you spend some time with them, you'll realize that the "virtual life" engine goes way deeper than the veneer of cuteness -- these games intentionally allow you to peek behind the curtains and play around with the underlying "genetics" and scripts that make these little creatures tick. Creatures 1 is a simpler engine with fewer words and items to interact with, and somewhat less intelligent Norns. But don't be fooled: there is plenty to explore and a ton of fun to be had guiding these Norns around! Be wary of unfamiliar plants, and unless you know what you're doing, try to keep your Norns away from the Grendel, for both of their sakes! Creatures 2 introduces a bigger world space, smarter norns (well, kind of...), many more objects, some new ...

Aaah! I'm so unbelievably happy to see the Creatures series on Steam! These games were a huge part of my childhood. They're incredibly unique and still to this day (20 years since the latest entry in the series released!) have an active modding community putting out new objects, species, and even areas for your creatures to live in! The creatures are also still one of the most realistic simulations of life out there (possibly still THE most realistic), they have simulated brains, digital DNA, they can catch illnesses, mutate in a huge variety of ways, and perhaps most importantly, they look absolute adorable! (I've played these games for countless hours before they came to Steam by the way, pay no mind to my small number...)

I used to play this game as a kid and still can't help coming back to it every now and then. I wish more people knew about it and that someone would pick up to continue the franchise, because to this day I haven't found another game like it. I love games like this where you raise, teach and help things or people to survive through generations.

Part of my childhood

I loved these games when I was younger, I'm happy to see it on steam! The camera can be a hassle to work compared to newer games, but I like finally catching up with community notes and seeing these games as an adult. Nexus mods even has sections for all three games, but it looks like most of the mods from the 2000s are gone now. I recommend trying it if you want to see an older AI in action, and there is a wonderful documentary by Alan Zucconi that covers some of Creatures 1's game functions.

Creatures: The Albian Years is a compilation package that includes Creatures 1 and its standalone expansion, Creatures: Life Kit #1. This collection provides an opportunity for both new and nostalgic players to experience the origins of the Creatures series. Let's delve into a review of Creatures: The Albian Years. Creatures: The Albian Years faithfully replicates the gameplay mechanics of the original Creatures 1, offering a virtual pet simulation experience with genetically engineered creatures called Norns. Players are tasked with caring for and guiding these adorable creatures, ensuring their well-being, and observing their behavior as they navigate their digital ecosystem. The game's genetics system, which was innovative for its time, remains intact in Creatures: The Albian Years. Breeding and genetic manipulation allow you to witness the hereditary traits passed down through generations of Norns, adding a layer of depth and experimentation to the gameplay. It's a joy to observe...

Game is a little buggy but can't deny that it's my favourite video game of all time and the logic is priceless

Such a fun game. It started all my gaming and enjoyment of simulation type games. I love the retro feel that doesn't detract form the actual fun of the game. I highly recommend this game.

Great games, though with a few issues due to age. Still worth the time and money.

My friends hated this game when I made them play it :( Listen to their shitty opinions on The First Hour Podcast (www.thefirsthourpod.com)