Islanders Reviews
Not everyone will appreciate the mind-numbing effect that comes with playing Islanders: Console Edition but if you're in the market for a game that'll put you to sleep then I recommend checking it out. Those looking for a challenge won't find one here, though.
This budget title, at first glance, looked like it may be a sim of sorts... but if that's what got you excited, be warned, that isn't what you'll find here...
Islanders is a game you can play either in short bursts or hours at a time if the mood for a longer session strikes you. The entire product is a thoroughly enjoyable exercise in creation, the mechanics layered on top make the game a complete and compelling experience, while the core gameplay remains simple – and at £4.79, the hardest part is finding a reason to not own it already.
ISLANDERS: Console Edition is an exercise in relaxation. Unlike most of its peers, the experience here has no set challenge or competitiveness, it's rather based on laying down buildings in certain patterns and getting points for it on procedurally generated islands. While this is certainly very appealing for players looking for a game that offers nothing but a relaxing time, those hoping for something more challenging will have a hard time finding that in ISLANDERS.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
ISLANDERS: Console Edition is a unique strategy game that has you building up your own island city. Grizzly Games have done a good job of keeping things simplistic and approachable for newcomers whilst also keeping it challenging for fans of the genre. Its relaxing and minimalist approach will have you spending countless hours with your randomly generated islands; being the mastermind behind your own creations and thinking strategically will be the difference between success and failure.
Overall Islanders is a game that I was not expecting to like - at all. It didn’t take long for it to sink its hooks into me and gently coerced me down a winding path of tranquillity. Genre be damned, in a world full of elevated heart rates and perpetual soul-crushing stress, Islanders is a nice break from reality. Its gaminess can be a bit off at times, but for the most part, this is a fantastic hybrid of a game.
An almost perfect game within its context, it transports us to a world of introspection and relaxation while we play it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Islanders is a great addition to the strategy or even the puzzle genre on the Switch. A lovely game to play a short session with over a cup of tea or coffee. For longer gaming sessions and for more of a challenge you can try to beat the highest score of the online leader board. For the few pounds or dollars, the game is in the eShop it is definitely worth trying out Islanders you won’t be disappointed!
While it is my firm belief that ISLANDERS should be enjoyed by all gamers, I’d first recommend the PC version over the Switch port. If your only option is the Switch, then please — get this game. But if you have a PC, I’d start there instead (honestly, it’s so cheap you might as well buy it on both platforms). ISLANDERS is fantastic for a few minutes of play to chill out during lunch or wind down before bed. No matter which platform you choose to play it on, ISLANDERS is a simple, soothing strategy game that’ll make you rethink city builders — one island at a time.
Even with simple gameplay and a small variety of game modes, Islanders manages to present a pleasant puzzle that will make you relax during the quick matches. The visuals and the soundtrack take you into these small worlds and help you forget about problems at least for a moment. The difficulty, that is high in some islands, is not a problem, since the progression will depend on what you learned in previous moves and on the chosen strategy. In the end, Islanders is an excellent option to play in short moments of rest.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
In a few hours of play, you will see almost everything this game has to offer you, but I doubt you’ll be done with it. It’s easy to boot the game and temper your stresses for anywhere between minutes and hours. ISLANDERS is a wonderful excursion into a simple world of city building, puzzle fitting, and high scores.
Islanders looks like an idyllic snowglobe, but it belies gears of efficiency and competition. Its islands are fun to tinker with, before you inevitably throw them away and start over.
At five dollars, ISLANDERS is a steal. What it lacks in permanence, it more than makes up for in replayability thanks to its point system for score chasers and procedurally generated landscapes. I only wish I could zoom in to get a better look at what I’ve made, but that’s a quibble against something really fantastic and cool. Beyond that, this is a game I keep coming back to for how laid back it is, for it relaxes me between games I’m playing. ISLANDERS is simply wonderful, a micro game for macro enjoyment.