Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling isn't just a love letter to the early Paper Mario games. It’s a masterclass in how to build a world through a tiny, six-legged lens. When people go looking for a list of bug fables all characters, they usually expect a dry wiki-style breakdown of stats and abilities. But that's not what makes Bugaria feel alive. It’s the constant bickering, the tragic backstories hidden in side quests, and the weirdly deep political tensions between different insect kingdoms.
Honesty time: the first time I played, I thought Vi was just going to be the "annoying healer" trope. I was wrong. She’s a greedy, traumatic mess, and I love her for it. The game thrives because the trio—Kabbu, Vi, and Leif—don't actually like each other that much when the game starts. It feels real.
The Core Trio: More Than Just Classes
Most RPGs give you a blank slate or a "hero of destiny." Moonsprout Games went a different way.
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Kabbu: The Heart with a Heavy Past
Kabbu is the "tank." He’s a Beetle from the North, and he takes his knightly honor incredibly seriously. You’ve seen this character before, right? The stoic protector. Except Kabbu is incredibly prone to over-thinking and carries massive guilt over his past failures in the Northern Kingdom. He isn't just a wall of HP; he’s a guy trying to redeem himself for people who aren't even around anymore. His Understrike ability is great for flipping enemies, sure, but his real value is being the emotional glue when Vi and Leif start at each other's throats.
Vi: The Bee with an Attitude Problem
Vi is a runaway. She’s younger than the others, wielding a Beemerang with terrifying precision. While she acts like she’s only in it for the berries (the game's currency), it’s pretty obvious early on that she’s overcompensating for being the "disappointing" sister back in the Bee Kingdom. She’s the glass cannon. High damage, low defense, and a multi-hit set that can shred bosses if you time the action commands right.
Leif: The Literal Cold Case
Then there’s Leif. Leif is weird. He’s a moth who was trapped in magic ice for way too long. He wakes up with ice magic he didn't have before and a very disconnected way of speaking. He refers to himself as "we," which is a huge hint toward the body-horror elements of his backstory involving the Cordyceps fungus. If you haven't finished his personal quest in the Snakemouth Lab, you’re missing the darkest writing in the game. He’s the crowd control expert. Freezing enemies isn't just a mechanic; it’s a necessity for survival in the late-game Hard Mode.
The Royal Players and Political Rivals
Bugaria isn't just a forest. It’s a collection of sovereign nations with some pretty messy history.
Queen Elizant II is the current ruler of the Ant Kingdom. She’s under a lot of pressure to live up to her mother, the first Queen Elizant, who united the bugs. She’s not some distant NPC; she’s actively involved in the search for the Everlasting Sapling because she believes it’s the only way to keep her kingdom from collapsing.
Then you have The Wasp King. He’s the primary antagonist for a reason. He isn't just "evil." He represents the disenfranchised wasps who were pushed out of the united kingdoms. He’s ruthless. His boss fight is notorious for a reason—the guy does not stop attacking.
And we can't forget Vanessa, the Bee Queen. She’s basically a corporate CEO running a honey empire. Her relationship with Vi is strained, to say the least. It adds a layer of "family drama" to a world where you’re also fighting giant spiders and mechanical birds.
The Side Characters That Steal the Show
If you only focus on the main party, you miss half the charm. The bug fables all characters list has to include the weirdos in the background.
- Chompy: You find an egg. You hatch it. Suddenly, you have a baby Great Creeping Plant as a fourth party member. She doesn't take up a slot, but she adds extra damage every turn. She’s adorable and deadly.
- Maki and Kina: These are the elite knights. Maki is the stoic master, and Kina is his over-eager sister. Their presence reminds you that while your trio is good, there are "pro" adventurers out there who operate on a totally different level.
- Zaryant: A recurring ant warrior who is basically the "rival" character. He’s arrogant, but he’s one of the few NPCs who actually develops a respect for the team over time.
- Professor Honeycomb: The guy obsessed with lore. If you want to understand why there are humans-sized artifacts (like the giant fridge or the "metal mountain"), he’s your guy.
The game uses these characters to drip-feed the lore. You aren't told the world ended for humans in a cutscene; you figure it out by talking to a fly in a bar who found a "divine tooth" (which is just a plastic comb).
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Why the Villains Aren't Just Cardboard Cutouts
The Wasp King gets the spotlight, but the Everlasting Trio (heavy spoilers if you haven't played) serve as a dark mirror to our protagonists. They are what happens when adventurers lose their way and become obsessed with power instead of the journey.
The game also features The Beast, a massive entity in Snakemouth Den that sets the tone for the entire adventure. It’s a reminder that no matter how organized the bug societies are, the world is still a terrifying place for something three inches tall.
Understanding the "Hard Mode" Characters
The "Hard Mode" badge is something you get almost immediately from a mysterious bug named Morrie in the Ant Kingdom. This changes the game. It makes the enemies smarter, not just tankier. It turns characters like Motley (the entertainer boss) from a fun distraction into a genuine tactical nightmare.
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Actionable Steps for Exploring the Cast
If you’re trying to see everything these characters have to offer, don't just rush the main quest. You'll miss the soul of the game.
- Use the Tattle feature constantly. Leif has unique dialogue for every single enemy and most NPCs in the game. It’s where the best writing is hidden.
- Complete the "Leif’s Request" quest early. You can trigger this after Chapter 3. It’s vital for understanding who he actually is (and why he uses plural pronouns).
- Find all the Lore Books. Give them to the librarian in the Ant Kingdom. This expands the backstories of the various queens and the ancient war.
- Do the Bee Kingdom side quests. This is the only way to get the full picture of Vi’s estrangement from her family. It makes her ending far more impactful.
- Cook with Fry. Experiment with items to unlock recipes. Certain characters have favorite foods that provide massive buffs, which is a neat way of showing personality through mechanics.
The beauty of the bug fables all characters experience is that everyone feels like they have a life outside of your quest. They have jobs, grudges, and favorite snacks. It’s a small world, but it’s incredibly dense.
To truly experience the character depth, prioritize the Medal Merchant quests. These often lead to unique combat encounters that force you to use the trio’s abilities in ways the main story never does. Focus on the synergy between Kabbu’s taunts and Vi’s multihits. That’s where the gameplay and the characters truly merge.