Game Review: Alpaca Evolution (Mobile – Free to Play)

Every so often while trawling the depths of the free to play market, I come across something that stands out. Something that is either incredibly impressive or incredibly strange. Alpaca Evolution falls in the latter category. In fact it might be the strangest free to play game you’ll ever play.

However, that doesn’t make it good. In fact, it’s terrible but for a short period of time most will be fascinated by it.

You control an alpaca in a field that takes up most of the screen. Your alpaca isn’t alone though, it is one of many bounding around. However, your one is different as it can knock out the others and assimilate their bodies into its own.

That is the core mechanic of the game. Kick the crap out of the other alpacas and then absorb their bodies into your own. As more bodies are absorbed, your alpaca will begin to undergo transformations. What starts off as cute and funny looking descends into nightmarish body horror. Each new transformation witnessed with a wry smile and wide eyes.

It really is as odd as it sounds and you’ll find yourself wanting to see the next stage of your alpaca’s evolution. Unfortunately it quickly becomes monotonous and forgettable. The entire game is simply knocking the other alpacas out then absorbing them. Once the screen is cleared, you’ll have to wait a few minute for the field to fill back up. Or watch an ad to fill it back up instantly. This gets even more monotonous the higher the transformation as more and more alpacas are needed to evolve further.

Spend a handful of seconds knocking out and assimilating the bodies, then put your device away until it’s time again. Over and over again. It is a tedious as it sounds. The strangeness of the game doesn’t excuse how little actual gameplay there is.