Isles of Sea and Sky

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 448 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Isles of Sea and Sky Game Cover
Starting at €14.62Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"Isles of Sea and Sky " is a fantasy open-world puzzle adventure game, where players solve block-pushing puzzles, uncover a mysterious narrative, befriend charming characters, and collect items while unlocking extraordinary powers. The game is created by Jason Newman, with music by Craig Collver and QA/Producer Dan Collver. Players who enjoy the game are encouraged to join the game's Discord for updates and announcements.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 448 reviews
gameplay32 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming retro pixel aesthetic and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The puzzles are well-designed, offering a satisfying challenge that encourages exploration and creative problem-solving.
  • The non-linear structure allows players to tackle puzzles in various orders, preventing frustration and promoting a sense of discovery.
  • It can be unclear whether a puzzle is solvable at a given time, leading to potential frustration as players may waste time on unsolvable puzzles.
  • Some puzzles feel cluttered or overly complex, which can detract from the enjoyment of solving them.
  • There are instances of unfinished content and inaccessible areas that can leave players feeling confused about the game's completeness.
  • gameplay128 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a clever blend of sokoban-style puzzles and metroidvania exploration, with each island introducing unique mechanics that challenge players to adapt and learn. Players appreciate the gradual introduction of mechanics, allowing for intuitive discovery and a satisfying difficulty curve, although some later puzzles can feel overwhelming or poorly designed. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative mechanics, engaging puzzle design, and the rewarding experience of unlocking new abilities while exploring a richly interconnected world.

    • “I love how all of these mechanics tie into their respective elements in novel ways; it made me excited to learn about every new mechanic, and it also helps when trying to remember what everything does.”
    • “At its core, the gameplay revolves around sokoban-style puzzles, but each island introduces unique mechanics that challenge your previous approaches and encourage you to adapt and learn.”
    • “The puzzles are well designed and have creative mechanics that stretch the limits of sokoban-style block pushing.”
    • “The game doesn't explain its mechanics other than the ability to undo a step, or reset the room.”
    • “A big however—I honestly hated the fact that through its non-linearity, some puzzles look very much possible to solve but aren't yet, as some mechanic necessary to solve it found much later in the game hasn't been unlocked yet.”
    • “There really needs to be more tutorial-like puzzles that teach the basic mechanics so that the rest of the island can test them in more depth.”
  • music109 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality, catchy melodies, and ability to enhance the overall experience, often described as relaxing and well-suited for puzzle-solving. Many reviewers highlight the nostalgic and vibrant soundtracks that complement the retro pixel art style, creating an immersive environment. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, and a few expressed a desire for more variety or looping options.

    • “The music and sound design are excellent, adding depth to the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “The music is superb, giving just the right ambience to the different islands.”
    • “The art, music, and overall concept are great, but the gameplay itself feels adversarial in a way that makes me unable to recommend it to others.”
    • “The music can be a little too repetitive; some variety in each zone wouldn't hurt.”
    • “Another thing that is unacceptable is the music.”
    • “The high-definition music completely mismatches the pixelated rendering.”
  • graphics64 mentions

    The graphics of "Isles of Sea and Sky" are widely praised for their charming retro pixel art style, reminiscent of classic Game Boy titles, particularly the Zelda series. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant colors, expressive character animations, and the overall aesthetic that enhances the game's exploration and puzzle-solving experience. While some mention minor issues with polish and UI, the visuals are generally considered delightful and well-suited to the game's relaxing atmosphere.

    • “With its retro pixel graphics, Isles of Sea and Sky is a perfect match for the Steam Deck, offering a relaxing yet mentally stimulating experience.”
    • “The graphics are simple, yet full of character with art and animations for any action you can think of.”
    • “Amazing game if you love puzzles and nostalgic retro graphics.”
    • “The menu visuals and cutscenes look pretty bad, but otherwise I really like the art.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the graphics and music; the gameplay has glaring flaws that make this game extremely hostile for newbies to the genre.”
    • “Those were good games for their time, but I have no interest in playing a Zelda game with a small world and bad graphics when better ones exist.”
  • story23 mentions

    The game's story is conveyed through non-verbal, visual storytelling, utilizing wordless cutscenes and minimal dialogue, which many players found engaging and immersive. While the narrative is simple and occasionally murky, it effectively complements the puzzle-solving experience, allowing players to uncover the story at their own pace. Some reviewers noted a desire for deeper backstory and character motivation, but overall, the unique approach to storytelling was praised for its ability to captivate and enhance gameplay.

    • “The game offers no verbal explanation about the story or puzzles at all, which I really enjoyed as it allowed me to discover by myself how each element works and what the story is about.”
    • “Isles of Sea and Sky is one of the closest experiences I've had while playing a video game to being told the story of a myth, and without a word of dialogue or narration, I'm swept away into a captivating world.”
    • “Every piece of story that the player receives feels as intriguing as the game's puzzles, and while this game would be great as an aimless puzzle game, having a greater overall mystery to uncover through the progress the individual puzzles grant you makes it all the more so harder to put this game down.”
    • “The story is dialogue-free and I didn't fully understand it or look into it too deeply.”
    • “As for the story of this game, there are no words outside of the title screen and save file select (that I have encountered so far), with little pieces of what I assume to be a backstory granted as you progress through the islands.”
    • “With a polished NES-style look, engrossing score, and a boatload of secrets, it’s a game that’s as addictive as it is enjoyable, suffering only mildly from some murky storytelling.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming retro and tribal pixel aesthetic, complemented by an excellent soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience. Players appreciate the interconnected world that invites exploration, with each area offering a distinct and soothing ambiance. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and engaging, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music and sound design are excellent, adding depth to the game’s atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere is impeccable, with soothing music and charming art.”
    • “Really strong atmosphere that pulls you in from the start.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Overall, players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting that it effectively reduces confusion and tedium through thoughtful updates and excellent difficulty scaling. While most puzzles are engaging and rewarding, some players find certain aspects, like revisiting areas for upgrades or searching for hidden elements, can feel tedious at times. However, the inclusion of quality-of-life features, such as the ability to undo moves, enhances the overall experience and mitigates frustration.

    • “The puzzles in this game are mostly phenomenal, but a few here and there feel tedious or obscure.”
    • “Eventually you figure out that the secret walls and tiles have an indication to let you know they are near, but it can be frustrating when you have to tediously search for breakable walls like in the bad old days.”
    • “It can be tedious having to revisit old areas after you get an upgrade, because most of the tiles that you can newly interact with are subtle and blend in well with the un-interactable tiles.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback; while some players express frustration over the removal of interesting glitches and bugs, others find that the instant undo and reset options mitigate the impact of these issues, making them less problematic.

    • “I know it's not the most important thing to be annoyed about, but it sucks to spend so much time trying to break the game in half only to see most of the really interesting stuff ironed out. It feels like those of us who hunted down all those glitches were being punished for our hard work.”
    • “The game is buggy.”
    • “Sometimes some of the elements felt a little buggy, but considering the instant undo and reset options, this didn't feel like a problem at all.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its cool graphics, which are complemented by amusing little animations that add a lighthearted touch to the overall experience.

    • “The cool graphics are complemented by funny little animations that keep the gameplay light-hearted.”
    • “The humor in the game shines through its quirky character designs and hilarious dialogue.”
    • “I love how the game balances its challenges with moments of pure comedy, making every playthrough enjoyable.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the game offers replayability, particularly after a significant break, as the fading memory of puzzle solutions enhances the experience.

    • “The game offers multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “I love how different strategies can lead to entirely new experiences every time I play.”
    • “There is replay value, in my opinion, once you let enough time pass for the puzzle solutions to fade a bit.”
    • “After completing the game once, I found little incentive to go back and play it again.”
    • “The lack of varied outcomes makes replaying the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Players note that once familiar with the puzzle mechanics, the optimization of gameplay allows for quick resolutions, typically taking no more than thirty seconds to complete a task.

    • “Once a player knows what to do, the actual performance of solving the puzzle should never be more than about thirty seconds, tops.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Isles of Sea and Sky

Play time

18hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
16-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games