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Islets

Who broke Laputa? This is like the fourth time this week, we can’t keep doing this
Islets Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, optimization
96% User Score Based on 1,380 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCEpic GamesPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneWindowsPlayStation
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Islets Game Cover

About

Islets is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Kyle Thompson and was released on August 24, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Islets is a single-player fantasy metroidvania with an excellent story, sensational mechanics, and unique atmosphere. As Iko, reunite floating islands and make connections with charming characters to expand the world. Collect upgrades, face challenges, and be wary of the weird tour guide in this wholesome, humorous game with fabulous visuals and great soundtrack."

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
Islets screenshot
+3
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,380 reviews
gameplay137 positive mentions
grinding22 negative mentions
  • Charming art style and characters that create a whimsical atmosphere.
  • Smooth and satisfying movement mechanics that enhance exploration.
  • Engaging boss fights with unique patterns and challenges.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 6-10 hours to complete.
  • Combat can feel simplistic and lacks depth compared to other metroidvanias.
  • Some players may find the difficulty too easy, even on hard mode.
  • gameplay
    311 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of Islets is characterized by its polished mechanics, engaging exploration, and a charming aesthetic that appeals to both newcomers and seasoned players. While it offers a variety of challenges, including platforming and bullet-hell elements, the overall difficulty is mild, with options for customization to suit different play styles. The unique island-connecting mechanic enhances exploration, although some players feel it could be better utilized, and while the game doesn't introduce groundbreaking mechanics, it provides a satisfying and enjoyable metroidvania experience.

    • “The weapons and abilities you unlock along the way add depth to the gameplay, offering engaging puzzles and challenges that keep you motivated to discover new ways to progress.”
    • “The game introduces new mechanics/environments/upgrades at a steady rate to keep things interesting, and the smashing together of islands to open up new areas of the map is satisfying.”
    • “Its charm lies in its accessible yet engaging gameplay, ensuring that both newcomers and seasoned players can find enjoyment without undue stress.”
    • “The entire game feels like you are moving on ice (even when you are in the air), and this coupled with the precise platforming sections and the bullet hell patterns of bosses make for somewhat frustrating gameplay.”
    • “Less good features are some annoying teleporter placement that means repeated journeys are often a bit too long and a core backtracking mechanic which is very unguided so you spend a fair amount of time returning to the wrong places (with annoying teleports) and then have to keep trying other places until you find the one you're supposed to be backtracking to.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but the gameplay never really took off for me.”
  • music
    269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Islets" is generally praised for its charm and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its relaxing and emotive qualities. While the soundtrack effectively complements the visuals and gameplay, some players feel it lacks variety, particularly in boss themes, and may not be particularly memorable after playing. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the overall experience.

    • “The soundtrack provides a soft, fitting backdrop to the game's artful themes, complementing the visual style well and adding to the overall light-hearted charm.”
    • “One of the standout features of 'Islets' is its beautiful music and atmospheric design.”
    • “The music is perfect for the game and just a great bop to listen to.”
    • “The sound and music in the islets carry a certain charm, though they aren't groundbreaking or particularly memorable.”
    • “While the music may not stick with you long after playing, it serves its purpose effectively, with the boss themes standing out the most.”
    • “There are a few points that are a bit lacklustre (boss music is mostly the same), but the overall experience has been amazing.”
  • graphics
    259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Islets" are widely praised for their charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes a whimsical, Studio Ghibli-like atmosphere. While some users noted that the visuals can appear blocky or basic at times, the overall aesthetic is considered unique and fitting for the game's world, enhancing the engaging gameplay and inviting exploration. The graphics are accessible, running well on less powerful PCs, and are complemented by a delightful soundtrack that further enriches the experience.

    • “The visual style of the islets is beautifully crafted, with a hand-drawn, painted art style that stands out as truly unique compared to most games on the market.”
    • “The game’s art style was clearly designed with intention, and if you can set aside any preconceived notions, you'll find yourself falling in love with this whimsical, animated world.”
    • “The graphics are amazing and very pleasant, you can tell a lot of time and love went into this game.”
    • “The game started in a resolution higher than the deck's screen, but once notched down to 720p (no native resolution support), the only thing I noticed was some minor graphical glitches in the black bars flanking the game.”
    • “It seems there's only 3 real aesthetics in this game when it comes to environments: grass, spooky grass, and clouds.”
    • “However, the quality in the visuals, the lore, the boss mechanics, the world; none of it is to the level of Hollow Knight, not even remotely close.”
  • story
    222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Islets" is simple yet charming, revolving around a mouse warrior named Iko who seeks to reunite floating islands torn apart by an ancient disaster. While not groundbreaking, the narrative is heartfelt and complemented by well-written characters and a cute aesthetic, making it an enjoyable experience for fans of the metroidvania genre. The game focuses more on gameplay and exploration than deep storytelling, but it successfully engages players with its lighthearted themes and humor.

    • “The story centers on a world of once peaceful and unified floating islands that have been torn apart and left drifting due to an ancient catastrophe.”
    • “The charming story of friendship will make you die laughing while also tugging at your heart.”
    • “Islets promises a surprisingly wholesome story while featuring a lot of classic metroidvania mechanics, and it certainly delivers.”
    • “After playing about halfway, I almost forgot about the game because I don't feel emotionally invested in the story at all. The relationships are pretty shallow and communicated mostly through text dialogue which could be easily skipped.”
    • “Lastly, the writing—while inoffensive—adds very little to the experience, with a plot and characters consisting entirely of by-the-numbers tropes and some unfortunately flat attempts at humor.”
    • “My only real critique is that the world and story aren't as fleshed out as I'd have liked.”
  • humor
    135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is generally described as charming and light-hearted, with many players finding the writing and character interactions amusing, if not consistently laugh-out-loud funny. The characters are often noted for their cuteness and wit, contributing to a delightful atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some humor may not resonate with everyone, the game's quirky dialogue and engaging storytelling are frequently highlighted as standout features that keep players entertained.

    • “The writing in the game is funny; I can be a bit of a grump, and many attempts at humor in games fall flat for me, but this game brought a smile to my face on more than one occasion.”
    • “The characters, storytelling, and delivery of them were hilarious and charming!”
    • “The tour guide is just a hilariously ridiculous character as he desperately tries to lure unsuspecting adventurers to their deaths, and I genuinely looked forward to every encounter with him even though it usually heralded a boss fight of some kind.”
  • atmosphere
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Islets" is widely praised for its charming art style, engaging music, and humorous character interactions, creating a delightful and immersive experience. Reviewers note the game's ability to balance intensity during boss battles with a generally laid-back vibe, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans of the metroidvania genre. Overall, the combination of beautiful sound design and creative world-building contributes significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “One of the standout features of 'Islets' is its beautiful music and atmospheric design.”
    • “Incredibly atmospheric, fantastic music that hits the relaxing notes similar to Minecraft but sets a great tone for each zone, tons of fun & unique bosses, great casual metroidvania experience.”
    • “Starting with atmosphere, the art style is pleasant from start to finish and each area has its own ambient soundtrack that is well-matched to the mood.”
    • “The overall art style and atmosphere is very 'Studio Ghibli'; the dialogues are witty and funny enough to keep you entertained.”
    • “Has a very chill atmosphere in terms of its gameplay, never being too difficult, the puzzles never being too cryptic, and the platforming never being too daunting.”
    • “Every moment provides a laid-back atmosphere through its humorous dialogue and adorable visual designs.”
  • emotional
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Islets" is characterized by its heartfelt and wholesome narrative, which, while not groundbreaking, effectively complements the game's adventurous spirit. Players appreciate the charming characters and delightful dialogue, though some feel the emotional connections could be deeper, as relationships are often conveyed through easily skippable text. Overall, the game is celebrated for its joy and satisfaction, culminating in an emotional finale that resonates with many players.

    • “The journey is filled with moments of joy and satisfaction, culminating in an emotional finale.”
    • “"Islets" is a heartwarming and beautifully crafted metroidvania game.”
    • “This one had a pretty easy to understand story and the little bit of dialogue from the characters through the game made me feel like I got to know each one.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding in the game to be minimal and manageable, with many noting that it never feels excessive or tedious. While some grinding may be necessary for currency or specific upgrades, the game maintains a relaxed pace and offers enough save points and teleports to avoid frustration. Achievements are generally easy to obtain, contributing to a sense of progression without the need for extensive grinding.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “One of the upgrades is very expensive and grinding for it is a pain.”
    • “That, and the achievement for 10 arrow damage (which I saw way too late in my game) means I would have had to spend hours farming to upgrade my arrows.”
  • replayability
    21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among reviewers. While some find it lacking due to its short length and minimal depth, others appreciate the various modes, collectibles, and challenges that enhance replay value. The presence of assist modes and boss rush options also contributes positively to the replay experience for those seeking additional challenges.

    • “It's cute, it's quirky without trying too hard, the combat is rewarding without being overly frustrating, and the replay value is astronomical.”
    • “Lots of checkpoints, lots of replayability through challenge mode, and if it's too hard, there is assist mode.”
    • “The characters are all adorable and the story is a fun experience that has great replayability.”
    • “Would likely wait for a sale since, in my opinion, there's not too much replayability but it's worth picking up for a bit of fun.”
    • “It's too short and there really isn't much replayability.”
    • “Got it on sale, was very fun, but the game has no replay value or deeper themes/lore.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is praised for its effective and charming design, reminiscent of Saturday morning cartoons, with well-rounded characters that evoke delight and humor. The integration of art, music, and dialogue enhances the overall experience, creating a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere, although opinions on character design vary among players. Overall, the characters contribute significantly to the game's wholesome narrative and engaging gameplay.

    • “Not since Hollow Knight have I been so delighted by the characters throughout; Snoot, Greybird, Goba, and all in between are both tongue-in-cheek clichés and well-rounded, with a dash of Saturday morning cartoon character development.”
    • “The art, music, character design, and dialogue mesh together well to create an experience that's relaxing, humorous, and enjoyable.”
    • “Good graphics, cute character design, and a wholesome story.”
    • “And, lastly, the character design is not my favourite.”
    • “On the one hand, it was really effective character design.”
    • “Not since Hollow Knight have I been so delighted by the characters throughout; Snoot, Greybird, Goba, and all in between are both tongue-in-cheek cliches and well-rounded, with a dash of Saturday morning cartoon character development.”
  • optimization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its fluid and stable performance, consistently achieving 144hz without significant bugs or issues. However, players have noted some inconvenience with control mapping and occasional stuttering on the Steam Deck, particularly when connected to an external monitor.

    • “In terms of performance, the game runs incredibly fluidly and stably, maintaining a solid 144Hz throughout my playthrough.”
    • “The best praise I can offer is that the game ran flawlessly: I hit 0 bugs or performance issues throughout my entire playthrough.”
    • “You also can't map anything to the mouse keys, so I'm doing movement, bow, and melee combat all on the left-hand side, which is really inconvenient and clunky to use for maximum performance in combat.”
    • “My Steam Deck plays the game beautifully for the most part, but there seems to be a weird hitching/stuttering issue with the game that is a minor annoyance when outputting to an external monitor.”
    • “Note: plays well on Steam Deck except for minor stuttering once in a while.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is marked by persistent issues, including unresolved bugs with keyboard bindings and a non-functional screenshot key even after two years. While it generally runs well, players report minor graphical glitches and a lack of support for cloud saves and ultrawide resolutions, indicating that stability could be improved. Despite these quirks, many still find the game enjoyable and worth playing.

    • “Here 2 years later, that screenshot key still doesn't work, so I guess it wasn't fixed or is buggy.”
    • “So far, no cloud saves, no ultrawide support, buggy keyboard bindings (says that a key is repeated but there is no key repeated; tried saving the keybindings correctly, but the left walking direction always resets).”
    • “The game started in a resolution higher than the deck's screen, but once notched down to 720p (no native resolution support), the only thing I noticed was some minor graphical glitches in the black bars flanking the game.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews
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10h Median play time
9h Average play time
7-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Islets is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

Islets is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Islets.

Islets was released on August 24, 2022.

Islets was developed by Kyle Thompson.

Islets has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Islets is a single player game.

Similar games include Crypt Custodian, SHEEPO, Death's Door, Minishoot' Adventures, ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights and others.