The Isle
- December 2, 2018
- Afterthought LLC
- 41h median play time
Get on Steam"The Isle" is a survival game set on a mysterious island, where players must hunt, gather, and craft to survive while facing various prehistoric creatures. With a focus on realism and immersion, players can choose to play as a human or one of the island's many dinosaurs, each with their own behaviors and strategies. Teamwork and communication are key to survival, as the island is filled with threats both day and night.
Cloud
NVIDIA GeForce NOW
Reviews
- gameplay3,562 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Isle" has received mixed reviews, with many players highlighting its potential for immersive dinosaur survival experiences but criticizing its repetitive and often frustrating mechanics. While the graphics and unique dinosaur mechanics are praised, players frequently express dissatisfaction with the slow progression, lack of engaging activities, and the overwhelming presence of bugs and server issues. The game is described as a "waiting simulator," where much of the time is spent growing dinosaurs without meaningful interaction, leading to a gameplay loop that can feel tedious and unfulfilling. Overall, while the game has a dedicated community and offers moments of excitement, many players recommend waiting for further updates and improvements before fully committing.
“Underwater gameplay is extremely well-made, the combat mechanics are unique (i.e. hallucinogenic venom and ambushing from trees), the individual models in the game are highly detailed, and the status effects, mutations, and dietary system provide a very randomized depth to gameplay.”
“The gameplay is really engaging, and there’s always something interesting happening, whether you’re hunting, surviving, or exploring.”
“The mechanics are great, it’s a basic survival simulator that functions well and not everything is given to you for free.”
“Horrible performance, boring gameplay, and a toxic playerbase.”
“This game has been kicking the can down the road since 2016 and not only does it not have a gameplay loop, the map isn't finished.”
“The gameplay loop is currently incomplete and once you're an adult there's not much to do.”
- graphics2,903 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Isle" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and attention to detail, with many players praising the lifelike dinosaur models and immersive environments. However, the game is also noted for its high system requirements, often leading to performance issues on lower-end PCs, which can detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are a significant draw, some players express frustration with gameplay mechanics and optimization, suggesting that the graphics, while impressive, may not fully compensate for other shortcomings in the game.
“This game is a beauty, amazing graphics and realistic dinosaurs.”
“The graphics are incredibly good, they’re very realistic & you feel like you’re truly walking through an overgrown landscape.”
“The graphics are stunning with great animation and awesome attention to detail.”
“I have an amazing brand new PC and this game runs from 5 fps to 40 fps at mostly low graphics.”
“Graphics - the map looks the same everywhere and is hell to navigate, you can see the patterning in how the trees are placed which looks artificial, the scatter brushing of bushes and grass is overdone, everything is pixelated and grainy, the audio glitches a lot and the game is optimized worse than Beasts of Bermuda.”
“Even running it on high settings on a 3060 when it is playable looks like PS3 graphics.”
- stability959 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and server issues that significantly detract from the gameplay experience. Many players express frustration over the game's long development time, which has not resulted in a stable or polished product, leading to frequent crashes and unresponsive mechanics. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy it despite its flaws, the overwhelming sentiment is that it remains a buggy and unfinished experience, often unplayable for extended periods.
“Immersive, playable, not very buggy, smooth motion, good graphics, good multiplayer, quite a few dinos you can be, a positive direction for future development.”
“The game is not very buggy and it does run fairly smoothly.”
“The game looks amazing and runs pretty well, not buggy or anything and the game objectively is great.”
“Can't really recommend something that's still so buggy after nearly ten years of development.”
“It's been in early access for a decade and is still a buggy mess nowhere near completion.”
“The game is buggy, laggy, and really inconsistent servers.”
- optimization649 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been widely criticized, with many users reporting severe performance issues, including frequent frame rate drops, lag, and crashes, even on high-end systems. Despite some improvements noted in recent updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized, making it unplayable for many, particularly those with lower-end hardware. Players express frustration over the developers' slow response to these issues, leading to a lack of enjoyment in gameplay.
“They did some great work with optimization, and reversed some abjectly abhorrent decisions.”
“The graphics are beautiful and run smoothly for me most of the time.”
“The optimization is very good, much better than other early access games (looking at you Ark), I have a vegetable of a computer and it's able to run this game very smoothly, lag-free, and I have not experienced a crash as of yet.”
“This game is so poorly optimized that I haven't had a moment where I can just play and enjoy the game.”
“The game is poorly optimized, with frequent lag and performance issues.”
“After 7+ years of waiting, this game still managed to be one of the most poorly optimized pieces of media I've ever played, up there with recent AAA releases.”
- story401 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that "The Isle" lacks a structured story or missions, with many players noting that the primary focus is on survival rather than narrative progression. While some players enjoy the emergent storytelling that arises from their interactions and experiences in the game, others express disappointment over the absence of a clear plot or objectives, feeling that the game is more of a sandbox experience. Overall, the game is seen as having potential for storytelling, but currently offers little in terms of traditional narrative elements.
“It feels realistic, it is fun, you actually have a survival story that keeps developing.”
“I have fun going on adventures with groups of dinos and role playing; my most memorable moments are playing as Omniraptor with a pack and surviving for long periods of time while defeating several dinos by working together as a team. It really feels like each dino has its own story.”
“The potential for player-driven storytelling and emergent gameplay is immense, and the concept alone draws players in.”
“The game is a lot of fun, no plot, no storyline, no missions.”
“There is no story, no teamwork, nothing.”
“For the asking price you are getting not only an incomplete game, but one with a lot of bugs and issues as well as zero story line and background.”
- humor282 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a prominent aspect, with players frequently highlighting the amusing interactions, unexpected glitches, and the overall absurdity of dinosaur survival scenarios. Many reviews mention the hilarity of player encounters, whether through friendly banter or chaotic PvP moments, creating a mix of laughter and frustration. Despite some criticisms of the game's development and community dynamics, the consensus is that the game offers a wealth of funny experiences, especially when played with friends.
“Sometimes you think you are alone on the island and in the next moment you’ve got a funny and heartwarming encounter (or you get eaten).”
“The gameplay is a delightful mix of staying alive, quick thinking, and often hilarious failures.”
“It's almost as if the game itself was laughing at my attempts to play seriously, as if my dino had been dipped in molasses and decided to perform interpretive dance instead of responding to my commands.”
“Because it is so unfunny, it's not funny at all; there's simply no balance.”
“Every second has gone into this game, the fan base is unfunny and dull, the content is extremely unbalanced, and I haven't seen a single update on their Discord channel that is meant for updates.”
“Until it's not funny.”
- grinding275 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 16 % neutral mentions
- 84 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring players to invest several hours just to progress or grow their dinosaurs. Many reviews highlight that while the game can be enjoyable, the lack of meaningful rewards and the slow pace of gameplay can lead to frustration, especially for solo players. Overall, players recommend the game primarily for those who enjoy grinding and have the patience to endure its repetitive nature.
“You would think that the herbivore tree would be easier and less grind-heavy to get to a place where you can have some fun that's not grinding, but you would be mistaken.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This game can be extremely boring and tedious because the map is really big and one of the biggest issues if you're playing as a carnivorous dinosaur is to find your prey.”
“The last update took all of the fun that used to be there and now reduces it to very tedious stamina draining, the ever annoying 'trotting' and easy starvation.”
“The gameplay is insanely grindy, frustrating, unforgiving, and overwhelmingly boring.”
- atmosphere145 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive sound design, and the ability to evoke a sense of tension and danger, particularly at night. Players appreciate the beautifully crafted environments and the feeling of being in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs, which enhances the overall experience. However, some reviews note that while the atmosphere is captivating, the gameplay can feel lacking in content and player interaction, leading to a mixed reception regarding the overall experience.
“The environments are beautifully designed, with lush forests, expansive plains, and towering dinosaurs that create a captivating prehistoric atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere is unmatched among survival titles, and I'm saying this while the gateway map has just come out for public stress testing.”
“The incredible music in the game adds atmosphere, along with the anxiety-inducing night.”
“However, despite its beauty and realistic atmosphere, like any other game, it has some negative traits, unfortunately more than the positive.”
“The world is barren and uneventful and desperately needs some NPCs or at least something to enhance the atmosphere.”
“While many of the devs outwardly do their best to support the community, answer questions, and otherwise, there are others that cultivate a less-than-welcoming atmosphere with their attitude towards the player base that is paying for their game.”
- music121 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its beautiful orchestration and ability to enhance the immersive atmosphere, often evoking comparisons to iconic soundtracks like those from "Jurassic Park." However, some players criticize the music for being inconsistent, overly loud, or out of place, particularly during tense moments, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these mixed feelings, many agree that the sound design, including dinosaur calls and ambient sounds, significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“Great game! The graphics are really nice and the soundtrack suits the type of game that it is. I highly recommend this game to anyone who loves to play as dinosaurs and wants the survival tactics of it.”
“The music is just perfect. The sounds are well made and the soundtracks range from calming to spooky.”
“The isle looks amazing! The environment, models, animation, and sound/music are all great.”
“The music can completely throw me off sometimes, making me think I'm in danger when I'm not and nothing is happening.”
“The music is choppy and constantly skips, so you'd best turn it off until that's fixed.”
“The background music is quite low, which should have a little more terror because the game is qualified as such, but it is not scary.”
- replayability104 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a contentious topic among users, with many expressing frustration over the limited number of playable dinosaurs and persistent bugs that detract from the experience. While some players find enjoyment in the variety of gameplay styles and interactions, others feel that the game lacks sufficient content and stability to sustain long-term interest. Overall, the consensus suggests that significant improvements in playable content and bug fixes are necessary to enhance replayability.
“Absolutely in love with this game, it has so much replayability and you can just hop on for as long or as short as you want and still have fun!”
“A very well thought out survival experience with a lot of replayability.”
“This game, as simple as it is, is vastly replayable and fun.”
“Imo there's just not enough going on to hold my interest; it is fun for a few hours at first, but it gets old quick. I'm seeing new mechanics being added, but the game really just needs more life (a much higher NPC population and more playable dinosaurs).”
“The game is completely broken and full of run-ending bugs, glitches, etc. that should not exist in a game this new; games from 1995 are more playable than this.”
“I just don't recommend buying this game in its current state; it's not been updated with content, just bug-fixing for almost 6 months. It feels as if the main dev, who doesn't listen to his community, has lost all drive to make this game better or more playable.”
- emotional89 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from heartwarming interactions and community bonds to intense frustration and heartbreak over gameplay mechanics and server issues. Players often find themselves deeply invested in their dinosaur characters, experiencing both joy and sorrow as they navigate the challenges of survival, leading to an emotional rollercoaster that can be both rewarding and devastating. While some appreciate the wholesome moments and camaraderie, others caution that the game's numerous bugs and community dynamics can lead to significant emotional distress.
“A wholesome presenting dinosaur game is (intentionally or not) a terrifying & difficult survival game with very interesting dynamics that hold so much potential, which has kept dinosaur nerds, like me, captivated for so long.”
“Growing takes long and I think that's why players become more emotionally connected with each other more so than any other game.”
“The game gets my heart pumping and if you are ready for something that you are emotionally invested through all the battles, hardships and heartbreaks get ready to spend hundreds or even thousands of hours growing, living, and dying as your dinosaur.”
- monetization47 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 77 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a cash grab due to misleading advertisements and a lack of meaningful updates. While there are no microtransactions or pay-to-win elements currently, the overall sentiment suggests that the developers are more focused on profit than on delivering a polished product, leading to frustration among the community. Players express concerns that the game feels abandoned and that its potential is squandered by poor communication and development practices.
“I want to first state that this game has 0 in-game purchases, no subscriptions, no pay-to-win, no DLC, and is only $28 AUD.”
“No pay-to-win, no microtransactions (unless in the future for skins), begs not for money even when they needed it the most, they take time with the game instead of just releasing some broken game and they do not give up on the game no matter what.”
“The only redeeming factor I can give this game is I have seen no examples of microtransactions or price gouging.”
“Devs never cared and I'm convinced this is a cash grab.”
“This game is another cash grab from a small and incompetent group of wannabe developers.”
“This game is an absolute mess and after 5 years with little to no progress being made, it's feeling more and more like a cash grab every day.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the character design and overall aesthetics of the game are praised for their stunning graphics and creativity, the reviews indicate that the character development itself may be lacking or underwhelming.
