There can’t be many adventures that begin with an owl heading into the sky in search of a mysterious island where wishes are said to come true. Isle of Reveries is one of them, and this retro-inspired puzzle adventure has now arrived on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Priced at £14.99 on the Xbox Store, Isle of Reveries puts players in control of Lief, an owl making a pilgrimage to the forsaken Isle of Reveries. What awaits there is a mixture of exploration, dungeon-crawling, combat and some seriously inventive puzzle solving.
At A Glance
- Price: £14.99
- Formats: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Publisher: Electric Airship
- Developer: desertcucco
A Journey Into The Unknown
Lief’s journey takes them across a sizeable overworld featuring eight different biomes, each offering its own sights, secrets and dangers.
The real challenges are found within seven dungeons, with each one built around its own theme, mechanics and key item. Getting through them will require more than simply fighting whatever happens to be lurking inside.
That’s because Lief has a rather useful companion along for the ride.
Copy, Spawn And Solve
A fairy companion gives Lief the ability to duplicate and spawn objects found throughout the world. It’s a simple idea with plenty of potential, particularly when those objects can interact with the game’s wider collection of items and tools. Working out exactly what can be copied, where it should be placed and how it interacts with the environment forms the backbone of the puzzle experience.
There are enemies to deal with too, so this unusual ability isn’t restricted to solving environmental conundrums. Knowing how to make the most of the objects around you could prove just as useful when things turn hostile.
And don’t think that Lief is simply passing through the island either. Characters rescued during the adventure can move into a developing township, allowing you to construct new buildings and gradually create a community. Those new residents aren’t just there for decoration, either. They’ll provide additional quests and stories, giving you another reason to return home between dungeon expeditions.
A Retro Adventure With Its Own Identity
Isle of Reveries wears its retro influences proudly, with a presentation designed to evoke the feel of classic handheld adventures while building its own world around anthropomorphic characters, unusual puzzles and a fairy-powered duplication system.
With its overworld to explore, seven dungeons to conquer and a settlement to build along the way, there’s plenty packed into this curious journey.
Isle of Reveries is out now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC through Steam. It’s price at £14.99 on the Xbox Store.
