So here we go, diving back to 1999 for a hot second — Survival Kids on Game Boy. Hardcore, I tell ya. Stranded island vibes, no mercy given. Fast forward to now, and the Switch 2 gives us a plot twist: it’s all about the kiddos. Think more family-friendly escape room, less claw-your-way-to-survive. But it takes hints from games like Overcooked, mixing it up more than you’d expect.
So, picture this: a gang of kids find a treasure map. Classic, right? But there’s a storm (cue dramatic music) and bam, they end up stranded on these islands on the backs of huge turtles. Customize your mini-me character, and off you go. First island’s basically your learning zone — chop some wood, do a little crafting, whip up a snack. It’s chill, not so tough you’ll sweat bullets. Besides, jumping around is easy-peasy, and you’re dragging stuff over gaps like it’s nothing. Just watch that stamina, though. Gotta cook up something tasty to keep your energy up.
Now, what’s clear, plain as day, is that this game is all about easy teamwork. Younger players are in for a ride that’s all hand-holding and repetitive tasks, with a narrator guiding you like a GPS. Oh, and there’s this waypoint thing always nudging you right. Luckily, you can switch it off. Some might find it snooze-worthy halfway in — a bit like “been there, done that” — but honestly, it’s about showing newbies the ropes in this game genre. As you go, new crafting stuff and mechanics like elevators are introduced, reminding you of games like Breath of the Wild. Fun fact: solo tree-chopping takes forever, which means you’re encouraged to buddy up instead of going solo Rambo.
Now let’s switch to seasoned players (or the ones gaming with their kids). Beating levels quickly or finding these sneaky treasure stones scores you stars. By the way, timer isn’t on by default — you gotta dig into the menu to fix that. Two-player co-op? Screen splits up and you can even join online with a lobby code. Oh, oh, and GameShare is the cherry on top. One console can beam the game to two others. Tested out a few setups — smooth as butter.
Survival Kids, my friends, might just be my kids’ golden ticket from gaming noobs to champs. Hidden stuff like achievements, fruits, and quirky glyphs keep you coming back for more stars (needed for some end-game jazz). Hardcore gamers might lean towards other flashy titles, but for downright family fun, this one’s a keeper.
