Matthew arrives at his friend’s lakeside log cabin with the intention of putting his feet up, and taking a break from his busy life in the city. A nearby sign warns not to mess with the beaver that lives in the local area, but Matthew accidentally destroys the little critter’s dam. Thinking nothing of it, Matthew returns to the cabin only to find out that he should have taken the warning sign seriously. With the beaver out for revenge… and blood… Matthew has to try and survive his nighttime ordeal, and avoid coming face-to-face with the vengeful beaver.
“Don’t Mess With Bober” sounds like a crazy idea for a game, and honestly it is. The first-person survival horror game is a relatively short adventure – you can complete it inside of an hour – but there’s plenty to love about it. While the voice acting may be a little creaky, the game’s strength lies in its absurd premise and its ability to build a chilling atmosphere. As Matthew, you have no idea how much trouble you’ve caused when you destroy the beaver’s dam and soon an idyllic lakeside vacation turns into a hellish nightmare.
As is par for the course with first-person games, you see everything through the eyes of Matthew and you must explore the environments around him and solve puzzles to progress. These start off relatively simple, cleaning up trash in the cabin and locating various items. A trip to a nearby cabin starts the nightmare off, and you experience the full rage of the beaver for the first time as he rolls a tree down a hill to crush you. From that point on, you have to keep your wits about you and avoid the beaver at all costs, if you don’t want to end up dead.
While the game may be incredibly simple, it is a whole lot of fun. From the beaver burning your cabin down to being forced into underground tunnels, you’re really put through your paces as you try to survive. The game’s final act sees you navigating around a sawmill, trying to avoid the red-eyed beaver so he doesn’t stomp over and kill you. It’s easier said than done, and it’s one of the more challenging moments in the game.
“Don’t Mess With Bober” isn’t going to be remembered as a classic game but it’s a fun way to spend an hour. It’s nice to find a game that doesn’t take itself seriously and it does exactly what it needs to – entertain you! The whole premise is silly, the game is more intense than it has any right to be and I had a thoroughly good time playing it. Who knew that escaping from an angry beaver could be so much fun?
Publisher: Axyos Games Reviewed on: PS5 Also available on: PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch Release date: 13th March 2026
