Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure

The moment Snowcastle Games came back into the radar and announced they are expanding their franchise, we knew we were in for something good. The first trailer they showed for Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure was enough to make us forget about everything else that's going on in the gaming world. It looked like a beautiful game with a rich story and tons of quests to complete. And now that it's finally here, we get to play it and see if it's all it promised to be. So, let's get started with the basic stuff, what's this game all about?

About the game

The game has been developed by Snowcastle Games, which is an independent studio based in Oslo, Norway. Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure is a game that tries little to hide its inspiration from other amazing games such as the Animal Crossing series and Stardew Valley. By saying this, you can already get an idea of what this game is like. Basically, you're stranded in a kina desert island, and you'll be able to explore it and customize it, to build upon it however you like. To do this you'll have to gather a lot of resources, find the best locations, meet new characters and creatures, and of course, interact with some pirates here and there.

We'll go around the island investigating the mysteries of the forgotten ruins deep within the island. Along with all this, we will travel through different biomes ranging from icy mountains to deserts, through jungles and swamps, as can be seen in the presentation trailer, which also shows that in general, we will find a proposal designed for all types of players. Befriending the local wildlife and using their unique abilities to help you access new areas of the island offers compelling exploration mechanics, unlike anything you've seen before in the genre. Expect to encounter dangerous pirate encampments and battle monsters as you uncover the secrets of Ikonei Island. Perhaps most importantly, expect to do all of this with your friends! Multiplayer is one of the key features Snowcastle will be adding to the game as it develops the title's features during early access.

More than its inspiration

While the game is clear about its inspirations, it does a lot to take it in a different direction. Starting with the visuals and entire art direction, it's pretty unique and original, and it's actually beautiful. The complex building system and the interaction mechanics are pretty good. And the entire game also has a big sense of adventure, which is different from a relaxing game.

Pros:

• Beautiful graphics
• Unique building mechanic
• Fun gameplay

Cons:

• Too similar to other games