Dreaming Isles

We can easily argue that we're in a world right now where escapism takes precedence above all. Escapist video games are more essential than ever, and titles like Dreaming Isles fill that void. The game's vibrant world beckons you to mystical islands, where the scene is set for you to revitalize an abandoned farm and create your ultimate adventure.

Dreaming Isles promises a cozy mix of farming, high-seas adventure, and magical swordplay, where you assume the role of a resilient explorer whose journey unfolds at its own natural pace. But let's be honest; the sheer number of cozy farm simulators these days offers a challenge to compete in a genre with some brilliant titles. Is Dreaming Isles going to be any good? We better get farming to find out.

Fantasy Isles

The first interesting tidbit of Dreaming Isles is that it already assumes you understand the mechanics of farming sims. Instead of bombarding you with lengthy tutorials, you get jettisoned into the core gameplay, slowly revealing how things work as you interact with the isle's assets. As players progress, you'll get quests guiding your farming and crafting missions, slowly showing how to succeed in the game. It's an intriguing learning curve that attempts to be a seamless part of your adventure.

However, the game's attempt at an easy learning curve exposes its most prominent flaw: absolute minimal content. Despite a sprawling map encouraging free travel and exploration, there isn't much to do. NPCs seem bland and inspired in their interactions, quests seem basic and spontaneous events are about as exciting as opening a tin of beans.

The combat and magic elements don't add much excitement to your journey, either. Whether engaging in swordplay against mythical creatures or harnessing spell stones to overcome obstacles, the action remains frivolous. The crafting system doesn't add the mechanical enhancements it should either, where unlocking new recipes and gear upgrades feels too easy.

Despite the straightforward nature of Dreaming Isles, there are additional charms such as mini-games, like a fishing challenge, to a quirky card game where your wits are tested. But again, for a farming sim that should offer hours on end for gameplay, it falls silent after a couple of hours.

Mariners Dream of Eclectic Isles

Dreaming Isles is one of the blandest farming sims I've seen. A half-finished RPG with little to prop its worth is what promises to be a harmonious blend of farming, exploration, and adventure.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• An intriguing attempt to build on farming sim mechanics
• It is an interesting learning curve that isn't oversaturated with tutorials
• The relationship mechanics offer some player immersion

Cons:

• It feels like all content can be completed in a couple of hours
• It doesn't add the escapist factor players want from the genre
• NPC interactions and town elements feel underdeveloped