I'm not a Monster: Wanna Live is a free-to-play adventure that explores an origin theory about Huggy Wuggy, the iconic blue mascot from the Poppy Playtime franchise. In this puzzle game from Great Arcade Games, you play as a young girl who enters a dangerous factory to save her childhood friend.

What separates I'm not a Monster: Wanna Live from the rest of the Huggy Wuggy-featuring games is that this actually has a story. Other games where you can see the mascot include Poppy Rope Game or Poppy Game - It's Playtime.

Save Huggy, or watch him fall

I'm not a Monster: Wanna Live features a heartwarming story that sets it apart from other similar games. Not only does it feature familiar elements from the original game, but it also attempts to give players a backstory to the popular mascot. You play as an unnamed little girl who explores Playtime Co, the factory that creates a lot of toys including Huggy Wuggy.

The game is divided into separate stages, each with its own puzzles. However, there are no tutorials nor any guide and you’re left to identify what needs to be done for every level. Your character is also equipped with the familiar Grab Pack: two robot arms that can be used to interact with objects from a safe distance. Instead of increasing difficulty, insane puzzles and easy ones are mixed randomly.

Aside from carefully thought-out stage designs, the game also employs animation that lets you enjoy each event. Whether you successfully solve a puzzle or see your Grab Pack torn to shreds, there are sequences that make everything worth it. Unfortunately, the game has a short playthrough. Whether it was a decision to keep the story relevant and coherent or not, it makes you want to play more of this game.

A refreshing entry

In an app market increasingly saturated by Poppy Playtime ripoffs, I'm not a Monster: Wanna Live is one of the more memorable ones—mainly because of its attempt to explain where the ubiquitous monster comes from. With a classic story archetype binding its great set design and smooth animation, this game is fun from start to finish, although it ends rather quickly.