Islanders – a relaxing city-builder that keeps you tense

Islanders is a charming city-builder where the only thing required for your city to flourish is to rack up points to unlock the next buildings. The objective of the game is for players to place each building optimally and generate points required for progression. Points will unlock new buildings and will also unlock the option of moving to the next island. As long as players can keep building, they’ll be able to reach their coveted high score.

What keeps the suspense in Islanders is ensuring to have enough points to keep building. Players won’t be able to move or demolish structures (except being able to undo the most recent placement). If there is not enough points to progress and with nothing else to build, then it’s game over. Although having enough points also unlock the next island, moving to a new location ‘resets’ your city but saves your current score. Then it’s not game over yet. You can start again, and strive to design the better city.

Islanders is an easy game to learn, but it’s definitely hard to master. Its overarching theme aims for a relaxing session where you can unwind and keep your mind stimulated at the same time. The graphics, ambience, and soundtrack all give off this positive and relaxing atmosphere. Sick day? Play Islanders. Tired after work? Play Islanders. Need a white noise? Play Islanders. I can’t help think that Grizzly Games should port this to handhelds as well. Commuting? Play Islanders. A sandbox mode is available for anyone who simply wish to go crazy on building their city without restrictions.

Despite the calming and charming atmosphere during the regular play mode, Islanders’ objective will still keep you on your toes. You will wonder how much you can keep building; there’s this nagging feeling that one misplaced structure can spell tragedy; which is the case later on when the game starts spewing random buildings at you. But that’s what makes Islanders a thrilling game. 

In the end, I may have found my new Tetris. Islanders is a worthy addition even if you don’t play any puzzle games. If it’s the only puzzle game on your library that works too! Islanders is available now on Steam.