So, picture this: you’ve got this chill, island puzzle game vibe going on—I mean, Islands: New Shores. It’s like a follow-up to the 2019 gig, except now it’s got a subtitle, so you know things are getting serious, or maybe it’s just marketing flair. Anyway, you’re in this world where building stuff like cities, lighthouses, and other quirky structures is your thing. Stack up enough points, and—poof!—you’re onto the next island. What’s cool is there’s zero timer pressure. Seriously, take your sweet time and just groove to the tunes while you piece together the perfect little utopia. It’s got this minimalist charm that’s, I dunno, soothing?
You kick things off on a tutorial island—pretty straightforward stuff to show what’s what. But then, there’s stuff left for you to just, I dunno, figure out along the way. Build near certain things to rack up those points. Easy, right? You start off with these card packs—like Brickmaker or Seaweed Farm—which sets the vibe for the structures you’ll be dabbling with. Then, as you progress, earn points, and boom, level up! New cards. Oh, and New Shores throws in this whole boon system too, so you get these special effects, like more points, but there’s a catch—always a catch.
Once you’re done dominating one island, you’ve got scores that get boosted based on how savvy you were with boons or avoiding those pesky undo’s. Then it’s back to choosing another island with its climate quirks. And I mentioned there’s a High Score Mode, right? But if you’re feeling more Picasso, jump over to Sandbox Mode. Customize your heart out on island size and shape—endless possibilities here, folks!
Ran this delight on the Switch 2—smooth sailing, mostly. Little hiccups here and there, like when you’re trying to nail that building spot, and the game acts like it’s had one too many coffees. Mouse mode might have saved the day, but alas, no dice during the review—stuck with Switch 1 style.
The game’s got this slightly more polished look compared to its ancestor, which, I gotta admit, made me swoon a bit more. And it feels rewarding, like, just one more run because those numbers are intoxicating. High scores to chase, leaderboards to climb—it’s a vibe. This one’s probably sticking around on my Switch for those end-of-day chillax sessions. Perfect for fans of the original or newbies itching for some island escapism.
