Under The Island

About

Under The Island is a single player open world role playing game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes. It was developed by Slime King Games and was released on February 17, 2026. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Embark on an epic adventure in Under the Island! A 2D action-adventure steeped in ‘90s charm, step into the shoes of Nia, and battle fierce monsters, solve clever puzzles, and explore a world alive with mystery as you race to save your new home before it’s too late. Discover the legend of what's UNDER THE ISLAND! Uncover a Sinking Mystery Step into the role of Nia, a newcomer to Seashell Island …

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 220 reviews

story20 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Captures the charm and nostalgia of classic 2D Zelda games with modern improvements and fresh identity.
Engaging exploration with a well-designed map filled with secrets, rewarding curiosity and non-linear progression.
Beautiful pixel art, polished animations, and a complementary soundtrack create an inviting and cozy atmosphere.

Combat is basic and could feel repetitive, with limited item usability reducing depth in fights.
Game length is relatively short and some dungeons and puzzles feel simplistic or lightweight.
Lack of quest log and map markers can lead to confusion and difficulty tracking objectives or secrets.

story
81 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
71%
4%
The story is a straightforward, charming tribute to classic Zelda-style adventure, offering fun characters and a cozy, exploration-driven narrative that many find engaging despite its simplicity. While some players appreciate its nostalgic, lighthearted tone and ample side quests, others feel the main plot and character development can be underwhelming, rushed, or disconnected, and lament the lack of modern conveniences like a quest log. Overall, it balances simplicity with exploration well but may leave those seeking deeper storytelling wanting more.
- “Scratches the link to the past itch hard while adding in some new things with its own story.”
- “If you enjoy solving environmental puzzles and exploring a secret-filled island with a fun story and interesting characters, then definitely give this a try.”
- “Under the island is a fantastic zelda clone that proves that you don't have to set the story in a fantasy medieval world in order to enjoy the magic!”
- “The story itself felt like it was trying to be whimsical but it weirdly didn't become a thing until the second half of the game.”
- “I kept waiting to see what the game would do to make me care about the overall main plot and that just didn't happen for a long time; it felt weirdly disconnected.”
- “It felt way too easy to create a disjointed adventure while playing; I guess I prefer some railroading to stay aligned to the main quest beat I'm currently in rather than wonder how I managed to set up the end-game parts to be breezed through before needing to be there.”
gameplay
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
49%
5%
The gameplay is praised for its smooth, engaging experience with a strong Zelda-like feel, featuring varied puzzles, exploration, and unique mechanics that keep it fresh and enjoyable. While some minor bugs and occasional frustrating mini-sequences interrupt the flow, the overall design is polished, responsive, and packed with content that balances challenge and charm. Players appreciate the satisfying progression, creative mechanics, and whimsical characters, making it a solid and entertaining adventure.
- “The gameplay is fun, engaging, and filled with enjoyable challenges spread throughout the map.”
- “Games inspired by Zelda are dime a dozen, but few manage to get both the spirit and the play feel right, and this has both: a cool adventure motivated by an intriguing setting and story, quirky characters you want to help, and a very solid set of responsive mechanics to battle and puzzle with.”
- “There are also many small quality-of-life and gameplay improvements: for example, blocks can now be moved in half-block increments, unlike in the original game.”
- “The fun of this game is bogged down by frustrating and required 'mini' gameplay sequences that have little to do with teaching you about gameplay or progression and often just take too much time or are just annoying when breaking from normal gameplay.”
- “Often the last checkpoint will be way back in gameplay, even later than several of my most recent saves. I don't understand why the last checkpoint isn't the last area of the map you entered.”
- “I do wish the map was a little bit more helpful on finding secrets/details, and I do wish there was a pinning mechanic so I could pin an area that I had to come back to later. I kept getting lost trying to remember where I had seen things, but those two things aren't deal breakers.”
music
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
37%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm, atmosphere, and how well it complements the visuals and worldbuilding, with several tracks standing out, especially the forest theme. While the soundtrack is beautiful and varied, some players found it somewhat limited in quantity and a bit repetitive during extended play or sidequests. Overall, it greatly enhances the nostalgic and immersive experience, despite minor critiques like music cutting out at night.
- “A great looking game with smooth gameplay, an inspiring tale of a young girl against the odds, and a phenomenal soundtrack all came together for an adventure I hope inspires a fresh new franchise because I am hungry for more!”
- “The music in every part of the game matches the feeling that the environment gives out.”
- “Music, soundscapes and UI feel carefully crafted and integrated to push the overall experience.”
- “I didn't notice any functional changes (if there were any) but all the charming music cuts out at night, which is a shame because I really like the music.”
- “Music is serviceable but nothing stood out.”
- “The music is solid, though not every track stood out.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The game features stunning, vibrant pixel art graphics that brilliantly capture a nostalgic, Game Boy Color aesthetic while adding modern detail and fluid animations. Its clean, charming, and atmospheric art style enhances exploration and gameplay, evoking classic Zelda vibes complemented by well-designed characters, enemies, and unique bosses. Overall, the visuals are widely praised for their quality, colorfulness, and perfect fit for the game's tone and mechanics.
- “Its brilliant pixel art graphics, the edge honed into its characters, and the intricacy of the island itself—ironically the parts above the island, not the ones under it as its title suggests—are its best features.”
- “The art style is clean, atmospheric and fits this type of game perfectly.”
- “The art style is just absolute peak when it comes to pixel art and that goes for the way they've animated it all as well. I love the design of most of the characters, the weird enemies, and the unique bosses. Top tier all around in this department.”
- “The graphics are unashamedly styled with the limitations of low-pixel displays like the GBA, yet somehow pack in such a joyful freshness, and are popping with details to enjoy.”
- “It doesn't just mimic the art style; it mimics the philosophy of discovery where every screen feels like it’s hiding a secret.”
- “While art style is all about preference, I don’t care too much about realistic art and rather it is clear to look at which supports the gameplay.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The atmosphere is widely praised for its charming, colorful, and cozy vibe, enhanced by clean and beautiful pixel art. The game offers a fresh twist on familiar genre tropes, with well-crafted storytelling and music that perfectly complements the immersive environment.
- “The atmosphere is excellent, the pixel art is beautifully done, and the music is great as well.”
- “The art style is clean, atmospheric and fits this type of game perfectly.”
- “Atmosphere: the developers have added enough of their own "spin" on the genre tropes to keep the experience feeling fresh rather than derivative.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a charming and witty sense of humor, highlighted by funny gadgets, riddles, and mini-games that add unexpected laughs. Its tongue-in-cheek style enhances the adventure experience without feeling forced or repetitive. Overall, the humor blends seamlessly with the creative gameplay and art style.
- “The game is pleasantly small in scope and world, yet brimming with charm and humor.”
- “And I've got to say the fruit catching mini-game is unexpectedly hilarious.”
- “This game really scratches the old adventure itch with creative dungeons, some tongue-in-cheek humor, and great tunes.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is minimal and well-managed, with achievements and resources readily accessible without excessive effort. Unique mechanics and quality-of-life features reduce tedium, although monster respawns can make the final completion somewhat repetitive. Overall, progression feels rewarding and not grindy.
- “I personally found that I didn't struggle to find enough resources to make necessary upgrades, but due to the way monsters respawn, I found the last push to 100% the game a little bit tedious.”
- “The game isn't terribly difficult; I was able to get all the achievements without much grinding at all.”
- “You learn to sprint almost immediately after starting the game; place names can be displayed across the entire map with a single keystroke, eliminating the need for tedious individual clicks on the respective locations.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game experiences occasional glitches and a rare crash, but the developers are highly responsive and actively issue fixes based on player feedback. Overall, it runs smoothly, including on the Steam Deck, though it lacks 16:10 aspect ratio support.
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck as well, but my minor gripe is that it doesn't support 16:10.”
- “I saw a few glitches - I managed to get out of bounds once in a later section of the game, and had one crash when entering a cave early on.”
- “I did encounter a few bugs, but I've been posting about them on my other account in the discussion forums and the dev has been extremely diligent about responding and looking into potential game-breaking glitches (but notably happy to leave exploits alone for future speedrunners!). Overall this was well worth the price tag.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development is charming and detailed, reminiscent of Stardew Valley's intimate design and sidequests, but the story and character growth are seen as lacking or rushed, making it less appealing for those seeking deep, complex narratives.
- “~Story and character development are lacking/rushed”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a unique experience that adds some replay value, but overall its short length (under ten hours) limits long-term replayability.
- “It breathes a unique life into the experience, and adds a certain amount of replayability.”
- “As noted by many others, the game is very short (certainly less than ten hours) and has limited replayability.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong sense of nostalgia and emotional satisfaction, making players feel joy and excitement reminiscent of childhood gaming experiences. It delivers a well-paced experience that feels worth the investment.
- “The game didn't overstay its welcome and made me feel like money well spent.”
- “This game made me feel like a kid playing Zelda all over again.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The description provided focuses on gameplay elements rather than the aspect of optimization, offering no relevant information about the game's performance or technical efficiency.

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74%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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14h Median play time

14h Average play time

12-21h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Under The Island is a open world role playing game with fantasy, comedy and historical themes.

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

On average players spend around 14 hours playing Under The Island.

Under The Island was released on February 17, 2026.

Under The Island was developed by Slime King Games.

Under The Island has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Under The Island for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Under The Island is a single player game.

Similar games include Ocean's Heart, Minishoot' Adventures, CrossCode, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo, Drova: Forsaken Kin and others.

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Under the Island Review – Bugs and Frustrating Design Sink a Promising Adventure

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