Review: Under The Island Is The Legend Of Zelda/Gravity Falls Hybrid You Never Knew You Wanted

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Like all art forms, video games often borrow ideas from previous creations. Some games are very open about their inspirations, such as Under the Island by Slime King Games. It’s clear this game takes cues from classic The Legend of Zelda titles and other similar 2D adventure games, using familiar gameplay as a foundation for a delightful and vibrant journey through a secluded island. However, Under the Island isn’t just a copy of what’s come before – it offers a unique experience of its own.

With its delightful presentation, engaging exploration, and creative boss battles, Under the Island stands out from similar games. The gameplay is consistently fun and entertaining. While it has a few small flaws that prevent it from being a true classic, fans of older Zelda games will find a lot to enjoy. It’s also a fantastic starting point for anyone new to this style of adventure, thanks to its retro feel and polished gameplay.

Review Score: 4.5/5

Pros: Cons:
Art design and worldbuilding is cute, charming, and clever Fairly standard narrative tropes don’t feature too many surprises
A solid blend of action, adventure, and puzzle gameplay keeps everything moving at a good pace Relatively short length leaves the player wanting more.
Inventive boss battles stand out as highlights of the experience A very specific difficulty curve can take a simple experience into frustrating quickly

A Seaside Story That You Shouldn’t Miss

Under the Island is a charming retro adventure game that clearly draws inspiration from classics like Link’s Awakening, but with its own unique art style and story. The game follows Nia, a typical teenager who moves to Seashell Island with her parents. She soon discovers the island isn’t what it seems – it’s actually an ancient ark built by a lost civilization! When the four gears keeping the island functioning are stolen, Nia must explore, battle creatures with her hockey stick, and save her new home. One of the game’s strongest features is its delightful presentation, which blends cute animation with a retro-style world.

I’m having a ton of fun just wandering around this game’s town and the areas outside of it, especially when I find new items that help me in fights or let me get to new places. It’s got this really sweet, old-school vibe that instantly made me connect with the characters and the world. The world feels like it was inspired by classics like A Link to the Past, but the characters and story remind me of more recent shows like Gravity Falls or The Owl House. It’s a really cool mix, and it makes exploring super enjoyable. Honestly, the story isn’t super unpredictable, but it’s got enough new stuff going on that it never feels stale or repetitive. The game is just bursting with charm, and Under the Island has it in spades, which really elevates the whole experience.

Fun Exploration, Tight Gameplay, And Great Bosses Deliver A Delightful Experience

The gameplay in Under the Island will feel instantly familiar to fans of classic Legend of Zelda games, and that’s a good thing! The game builds on this foundation with its own unique ideas and world. For example, the main character, Nia, uses a hockey stick not just for fighting, but also to hit distant objects and collect items that would normally be inaccessible. Players can explore the open world right away, but the game gently warns them if they wander into areas where enemies are too strong.

Okay, so the game definitely gets harder as you progress, especially near the end. But honestly, Under the Island is put together so well that it still works. There are puzzles everywhere – out in the world and inside the dungeons – and they’re usually pretty easy to figure out, which is nice. They’re not super complex, but they’re creative enough to keep things interesting. The boss fights are where it really shines though. They’re not just about whacking a boss until their health bar is empty. They’ve got these crazy objectives, like protecting a singer from a mob of fans or even winning a cooking competition! It adds so much fun and makes the whole top-down adventure feel fresh.

There’s Plenty To Love About Under The Island

Under the Island is a retro-style game that still feels fresh and current, thanks to its appealing art and imaginative world. It’s a delightful game to play, packed with endearing characters and engaging challenges. While it doesn’t offer many surprises, that’s perfectly okay. The game shines by taking familiar ideas and polishing them to perfection, building on decades of gaming history to create a lighthearted and often humorous adventure.

Most players will finish Under the Island in 8 to 12 hours, depending on how much they explore and complete optional quests. The story is so engaging that it’s almost sad when it ends, leaving you wanting to continue playing. While a larger game might have been nice, it’s better that the developers didn’t overextend the experience. Despite this, Under the Island is a wonderful game. Its retro style, combined with fun gameplay and appealing visuals and music, makes it enjoyable for players of all ages. It’s a fantastic modern reimagining of a classic game type.

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2026-02-16 21:41