Apico

Apico (2022) is a simulation game where you play a beekeeper and conservationist. You explore environments, breed rare bees and release them into the wild while growing your business. There are no enemies, time constraints or set objectives so you can focus on learning through play. Add to this real bee species and facts, and the bonus that some profits go towards bee conservation, and you have an unusual game on many fronts.

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You return to Port Apico after several years away to take up the family tradition of beekeeping. As you explore the island's varied biomes, you collect different bee species and bring them to your beehives, where you can cross-breed them to make new species and sell honey and other produce to expand your business. There are over 30 species of bee to collect, some real, others more fantastical, each with a different rarity.

To progress, you chop down trees to make space for your operation and use the timber to create houses and buildings, but only if you want to; you could also choose to live out in the woods as a hermit. Either way, you steadily meet various diverse characters on the island with whom you interact and build relationships.

You craft tools which allow you to gather other resources like stone, then complete mini-games to turn them into usable materials. These are novel in that they mimic real-life action. Maybe moving your mouse back and forward to saw wood into planks, or clicking to chip away at stone with a hammer.

The result is an open-ended game you can play at your own pace and style. Real-life bee species and information mixed with fantasy elements create a unique educational (and tranquil) experience that balances learning with fun, relaxation and, of course, lots of bee puns.

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Our examiner, Ben Kendall, first checked Apico 20 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 3 months ago.