Under the Island [REVIEW] – A Slapshot of Wonderful Nostalgia 

I love coming across a proper, top-down adventure title that genuinely nails the classic formula. While the massive 3D open worlds of today are all well and good, sometimes you just want to wander around a charming 2D map, solve some brainteasers, and… well… smash some pots, right? Thankfully, Under the Island is here to scratch that exact itch, delivering a wonderfully nostalgic romp that manages to throw in a few modern surprises to ensure that it doesn’t rely on its inspirations alone to feel special. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

The core setup of the game is pretty straightforward, with players stepping into the shoes of Nia, a fairly ordinary teenager who gets dragged away from her usual life when her archaeologist parents decide to relocate to the remote Seashell Island. And, of course, it doesn’t take long for things to take a dramatic turn – after teaming up with a local girl named Avocado, Nia discovers that her new home is actually an ancient, failing ark that is dangerously close to sinking into the ocean. To stop the impending disaster, you have to scour the island to find four missing mechanical gears… a big responsibility, really. 

Right from the jump, the game looks absolutely gorgeous. It perfectly blends a colourful, chunky 90s pixel-art aesthetic with the quirky energy of your favourite Nickelodeon cartoons. The island itself is packed with diverse areas to poke around in, from frosty peaks and lush forests to sandy dunes, whilst simply scavenging across the map is a genuine treat – mostly because the developers have packed every corner with oddball secrets, hidden collectibles, and side activities to get stuck into. Whether you fancy doing a bit of fishing, filling out a monster encyclopaedia, or just find yourself investigating some ghostly chickens (seriously), there’s always something daft and delightful to stumble upon in Under the Island’s world. 

“Under the Island is a brilliantly charming throwback that wears its retro inspirations on its sleeve, all whilst bringing enough clever puzzle design to stand on its own two feet.” 

When it comes to the moment-to-moment gameplay, Under the Island ditches the traditional sword and shield for a trusty hockey stick. It’s a fun little twist, though the combat itself is probably the game’s weakest link. Nia has a basic three-swing routine that shoves baddies backwards, but it can feel a little clunky and leaves you open to taking cheap hits on the regular. Thankfully, the game is incredibly generous with health drops, meaning you’ll rarely find yourself in a tight spot during regular encounters. It would have been nice if it all had a finer balance, though. 

However, instead of focusing on fighting, the game puts its energy into puzzle-solving and exploration, which is where it truly shines. As you progress, you unlock a really creative arsenal of tools – there’s a plant that spits fireballs which you can use to ignite chains of bushes, a bag of animal treats that lets you lure or launch critters into switches to open locked doors (one of my favourite things in the game)… it really leans into its creative side and throws a lot of unique tricks the player’s way. Then you’ve got the dungeons, that start off feeling quite traditional, but quickly go entirely off the rails in the best way possible. I don’t want to give anything away here, but Under the Island has a lot of unique (and often wacky) ideas that just make it a real delight to play, and it’s these surprises that kept me hooked in for more. It comes in at around ten-hours or so, but believe me, those hours are very well spent. 

Check out some screenshots down below: 

That said, the trip to Seashell Island isn’t entirely without its rough patches. For a game that relies so heavily on exploration and side quests, the complete lack of a quest log or custom map markers is a massive pain. And if an NPC gives you a cheeky hint about a secret across the map? You either have to write it down on a piece of paper or just hope you remember it later. For a game that thrives in its exploration, Under the Island isn’t always intuitive in how it tracks your discoveries. 

You know what, though? It doesn’t ruin the fun, with Under the Island a wonderfully crafted adventure that just felt good to be a part of. I was only meant to be checking out the game for an Impressions piece to begin with, but I found myself immediately enthralled by its charming world and sparks of originality that I had to keep playing… it’s brilliant, and definitely deserves the attention of top-down adventure-loving gamers. 

Developer: Slime King Games 
Publisher: Top Hat Studios, Doyoyo Games 
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1583520/Under_The_Island/