Boy, where do I even start with this one? You ever get so lost in a game that time just evaporates? That’s Islanders: New Shores for ya. Version 2.0, kinda. It’s from that 2019 game, y’know, just with a fancy subtitle tacked on for good measure. So, here’s the deal—you’re building stuff on islands. Cities, lighthouses…shaman huts (because why not?), and chasing those sweet, sweet points. There’s no rush, no ticking clock to shake your nerves. Just plop down buildings wherever they feel right, jam to some chill tunes, and see your score rack up like it’s a lazy afternoon jam session.
Now, you kick off things with this tutorial island. Pretty basic, shows you the ropes, but doesn’t hold your hand too much. So, yeah, you build structures close to others to score big. And there’s these card packs when you start, right? Like Brickmaker and Seaweed Farm—depends on what the island’s vibe is that day. It’s all about earning those points to level up, grab another card pack, and go wild. With this version, you get these cool boosts too. Maybe your next building gives more points, or you can clone a building (but keep an eye on that sneaky penalty). Once you’ve nailed enough points, you decide: move to another island or hang around for a high score frenzy?
Progress is a cycle here—total up your last island’s gig, get these nice multipliers based on how many boos—I mean boons—you snagged and how chill you played without undoing everything. Then, it’s rinse and repeat with different islands, each with their own flair. That’s the High Score Mode, though there’s a Sandbox too for you Picasso-types. Customize everything: island size, weather, the works. Go nuts.
Playing it on the Switch 2? Pretty smooth sailin’. A few bumps with building placement, like trying to move around in sticky syrup sometimes (ever had that happen? yeah, not fun), and it would totally rock with a mouse mode, but what do I know? Anyway—it’s really a Switch 1 game, if you’re keeping track.
The details, the vibe, they just clicked better with me here than in the OG Islanders. You still wanna climb that leaderboard, chase that high, even if it’s got you zombied out at 2 a.m. Islanders: New Shores is definitely cozying up on my Switch’s home screen, holding onto that end-of-the-day chill. It’s easy, breezy puzzle magic for anyone hooked on those island vibes.
