If a game can put you in a good headspace, that’s great. I love that. If it can do so while also challenging me to think critically, even better. Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime, the latest from Bonte Avond, stars charming characters, features incredible songs, challenges us with the Checkers-like Frogtime battles, and just makes whoever’s playing it feel good. It’s a lovely way to spend a few hours every day for a week, with the strategic element making it feel quite replayable.
Bonnie Bear had a rough year, so much so that she wasn’t even going to celebrate her birthday, but her friends had other ideas. They surprise her with a cape and everyone getting Toad Bags so they can all play their favorite game, Frogtime, together. However, something else seems to be going on. A mysterious shell is also left as a gift by an unknown individual, quickly stolen by bully Rik Spek. (Who also eats her whole birthday cake.) While the group does eventually get the shell back, it leads to an even bigger predicament that leads to Ann being held captive inside of the artifact and puts the fate of Frogtime in jeopardy.
What really struck me about Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is the pacing and progression both in terms of the narrative and gameplay. The scope in both cases gradually grows and develops in such a way that we’re prepared for ramifications. In the case of the story, it’s seeing the way in which the journey develops and takes Bonnie to different places. We go from dealing with a bully to frogkind-saving implications. As for the Frogtime matches themselves, early challenges involve Rik Spek and his deck with a single legendary-tier frog to more competent folks like Botte. Likewise, we see the progression of Bonnie Bear’s self worth both through experience after each battle and due to actions taken throughout the game. But it isn’t just Bonnie, as we see that same sort of character development happen for supporting cast members.
While we can go around and talk to folks, playing Frogtime and beating increasingly more adept opponents drives the action in Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime. I mentioned earlier it is like Checkers, in a way, but it’s more generally a turn-based strategy game and deck builder. Our Toad Bag holds frogs Bonnie’s collected, each with their own unique tendencies and damage-dealing levels. There is a 9×3 grid as the field, with the first and final rows being the starting points for Bonnie and her opponent. There must be six frogs in play at any time, with three from each participant, and you can only fit eight frogs in your Toad Bag at once. The goal is to get to the other player’s endzone so it can deal damage, with the one knocked out first as the loser.
Though I find it easiest to compare Frogtime to Checkers, “jumping” opponents to make further progress and reaching the other side of the field are only part of it. The frog diversity really helps matches feel like a challenge. For example, some frogs’ strong point isn’t jumping! Like a Charger will deal two damage and, after moving twice and charging up, it will dash forward two additional spaces. A Hopper can be a great frog to play once after your initial three are placed, as its skills involve hopping over frogs, dealing a minimum of two damage, and potentially dealing up to five damage if it can perform double jumps. There are even special traits, like Riders, and one like a Dino Sir (frog riding a Brontosaurus-style dinosaur) will deal extra damage if it isn’t the only “Rider” you sent out to fight.
Basically, there’s a lot to think about! It’s handled in a way that gets you thinking about synergy! If you spend a lot of time on it, you could end up spending way more time than necessary to build up a fantastic Toad Bag to tackle foes!
Perhaps not surprising from a Bonte Avond game, but Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime features a phenomenal soundtrack. From silly little asides like, “Rik Spek (Look at My Six Pack)” to more serious ones like “Bonnie’s Theme,” it is fantastic. These are absolute earworms. Even though some got me choked up with some of the more poignant lyrics, they still made me feel great. Clearly, that’s something we need more of nowadays.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime features the same heart and humor as other Bonte Avond games. Even better, it pairs that with a strategy game that might seem simple, but gets more involved as you find frogs. It’s incredibly charming, and Bonte Avond proves adept at making someone smile and tear up within the span of a few hours.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is available on the Switch and PC.
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime
Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime features the same heart and humor as other Bonte Avond games, and combines that with compelling frog fights. Switch version reviewed.