Islanders: New Shores Review – A Calming Building Adventure

Author’s Note: A Game Key for ISLANDERS:New Shores was kindly gifted by Thunderful Games

Let’s set sail to new shores in the brand-new Islanders game!

This recently released sequel to the highly successful game Islanders has players building a calm and minimalist island retreat in a world that keeps its classic charms and brings new features along with it to inspire creativity. In a combination of cosy, casual simulation and strategy, play through a vast array of levels and craft the perfect island!

Game Features

  • Create your dream cities spanning over 50 levels
  • 44 Building Types
  • 6 Diverse Biomes in 4 vibrant and colourful variations
  • High Score and Sandbox Mode
  • Photo Mode
  • Expanded Soundtrack containing over an hours worth of new original music
  • Dynamic Scoring Systems
  • One time power-ups that help you on your journey called Boons
  • Twitch Integration

A Creative, Cosy Experience

Diving into Islanders: New Shores for the first time, I had a bit of an idea what to expect, but at the same time I didn’t. I’ve previously played parts of the original Islanders game, but that was some time ago. I guess you could say I was excited about a fresh, new experience.

Starting off for the first time, you are guided through a tutorial island that gives you the basics of the game itself. How to mauver around the game and place the various buildings. However, it really is a case of placing buildings where you feel it is best to gain the highest score you can. At least that’s the task in the game’s High Score Mode.

For me, it took me a few of the first islands to get used to placing the buildings and aiming for their optimal scores, but soon enough I found myself finding my groove with the game. What I do like is that there is zero pressure to get a level complete in a certain time frame. You just got at your own speed. Make a mistake with the last building you placed, just hit undo. There’s no right or wrong way to play, just be mindful of where you place your building and their score. It also helped coming across various Boons to help me on my journey with their added abilities.

Once you’ve hit the required score, you’re free to progress to the next island or continue on with your current one until you run out of buildings to place.

What I was certainly curious about with Islanders New Shores was Sandbox mode. The freedom to play with not a single restriction but can just go ahead and build, build, build! I found this great fun and also a good way to practice my skills with placing various buildings. I think I’ve spent more time in Sandbox mode so far over the High Score Mode.

Each and every island has its own unique charm that can change up the way that you play the game. It can sometimes make you think twice as to where you place a building, but in a more creative approach and with add customization. This comes in the form of being able to change your island size, type, height, biome, climate and more!

I didn’t run into any major issues as I was playing, I did find it difficult to place a few of the buildings from time to time. That was more down to my inexperience with the game rather than an issue with the game itself. Overall, though, I had a fun time exploring Islanders: New Shores. It was calming and allows you to play at your own place. You can jump in and out of the game with ease, be it for a few minutes or longer.

Having played on both on Steam via PC and on my Steam Deck, I have zero complaints when it comes from switching between the two and the different control set-ups. By the way, it is the perfect cosy Steam Deck game too!

So, if you are looking for a new game with chill vibes, and you can just sit and immerse yourself in with no pressure, then Islanders: New Shores might just be the game you are looking for right now!

Islanders: New Shores is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch/Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. For those on Steam, you can also check out a free demo of the game!

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Published by Krista

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