Spilled! Review (PC)

Emancipate yourself from the monotonous nature of slinking around the dockside in search of seashells and sunken treasure, and think bigger. Think clean waters, healthy fish, and sustainable conservation practices across an entire ocean of nautical miles. If that’s the sort of vision that drives your ambition, then the simple act of removing oil from the equation ought to work wonders for your overall welfare. And as luck would have it, that is exactly what Spilled! offers you on a silver platter: the chance to board a petite vessel and surpass the odds of transforming a polluted ocean into a superior habitat for its peculiar fish and scaly neighbors.

Spilled! is an incredibly simple game, and one that isn’t likely to keep you for any longer than an hour or two at most. As mentioned above, it centers its very existence on wildlife conservation; specifically, marine life and the spillages that pollute the vast open seas. With four unique biomes to traverse, players are given the opportunity to board their vessel and mop up the leftover oil from the shores and, with a pinch of magic, unearth the hidden animals in the depths below. It’s a simple concept, for sure, but one that holds a valuable life lesson for many—a lesson that teaches us the importance of preserving both our own species and those birthed by the oceanic ecosystem.

Perhaps I’m jumping into the deep end here, or maybe I’m just looking too far into it. Either way, I feel as though a bit of context could be of use here. So, let’s dial it back a smidgen and board from the dock. Care to join us as we delve into Lente’s debut indie? Then let’s hoist the anchor and get to work.

Conservation of the Ocean

Spilled! takes you to a miniature archipelago of four biomes: grass, rock, sand, and snow, with each one containing a collection of waterways, bite-sized islands, and a recycling center. The aim of the game is as simple as they come: patrol the open waters aboard your boat, sponge the oil and waste from the water, and exchange it at the nearby recycling centers for coins and other useful upgrades for your boat. It’s a lot like The Gunk, in the case that you’re working to develop your vacuum in order to cover wider areas, and tackle other environmental issues, like wildfires, for example. Herein lies a simple, albeit incredibly rewarding gameplay loop—a cycle that, while not physically taxing in any way shape, or form, will likely leave you feeling relaxed and revitalized for hours.

There’s no denying the fact that Spilled! is a gorgeous-looking game. With cozy quarters, vibrant colors, and an all-round melodic feel to its surroundings, it’s an easy one to unwind to, if only for a short burst of time. It helps, too, that the game also features a small catalog of sixteen discoverable animals—sea creatures that you can unearth by exploring each biome, ticking off recycling tasks, and collecting key items from the coast and oceans. The fact that you can also return to these areas to mop up any leftover treasures or fish for your encyclopedia also adds a good amount of replay value to the mix, too. Again, it isn’t likely to take you an entire weekend to complete, but if you’re the sort of gamer who enjoys soaking up the ambiance, then you might just squeeze a handful of hours out of this one.

A Whale of a Time

Spilled! is the polar opposite of a traditional ARPG, meaning, you wouldn’t want to play it to rekindle the former flames of an online feud with your friends — or anything like that. No, it’s a different kind of endeavor than what you might usually find on the shelves. But that isn’t to say that it’s not worthy of being represented as a viable alternative to your typical IP. And while the game itself is as basic as they come (mechanically speaking, anyway), it’s clear that a whole lot of heart and soul went into its creation. Moreover, the fact that its solo developer, Lente, has an undying passion for nautical exploration and is willing to donate the money from each sale to WDC (Whale and Dolphin Conservation) speaks volumes about how much it means to them. For that, I almost feel obliged to tilt my hat and give extra credit.

Verdict

Spilled! is more than just a cozy love letter to oceanic harmony; it’s a lesson—a vital reminder, even—of how important the preservation of flora and fisheries is. It might don the peaceful atmosphere and simplified mechanics, but there’s a lot more to in than that. It’s an eye-opening expedition that touches base on some very important aspects of wildlife conservation, and while its attempts to fill your head with knowledge are often overshadowed by a simple yet satisfying hook, the subtle tones of oil-smothered creatures also speak a thousand words, truly. Sadly, a lot of folks may not see these issues; rather, they may choose to gloss over the underlying moral and assume that Spilled! is little more than a wholesome boat ride through the biomes. And it is, yet I can’t help but commend its creators for bringing the issue of oceanic pollution into the frame.

It’s highly unlikely that Spilled! will rob you of your entire weekend, given the fact that you could see and find just about everything in its encyclopedia in a single sitting. Yet, with a collection of nautical friends to discover on the side, and not to mention a generous amount of diverse biomes to sail through, I could quite easily think of several reasons why you might want to return to its shores to embark on a second, or perhaps even a third voyage.

It’s a beautiful game, for sure, and one that brings a lot of heart and soul to its chosen theme. Granted, it isn’t massive, nor does it possess the most impressive mechanical design or control system, for that matter. However, for the asking price, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend an afternoon than by mopping up oil spills and befriending Peaches the Aligator.