Wonderfully unique puzzler full of mystery
Price: $0.99 / £0.79
Version: 1.02
Size: 388 MB
Developer: Redfish Game Studio
Platform: iPhone & iPad
Much like the ever-present puzzler, the App Store has also provided a platform for a resurgence in point-and-click style adventures that were largely absent prior to the App Store, since their 80s and early 90s heyday. Even better, this renewed popularity has allowed both re-releases of classic games, but also brand new titles.
Where it all starts. Where are you? Why are you there?
This point-and-tap adventure sees you play a researcher that finds itself sent to a mysterious island where it’s few inhabitants seem confused or unable to understand how they came to be there. Your job is to find out the truth about this island and its numerous markings, objects and buildings – from lighthouses to pyramids. There’s a lot at play here, dwelling on Egyptian style architecture, before moving onto alien presences confused sailors. It’s a melting pot of weird and mysterious.
You’ll meet some intriguing visitors along the way. Interact with the environment as well, to find objects and puzzles
As a result, this game feels remarkably full. The island itself isn’t that big, with only a handful of different buildings and sites to explore, but the steady unveiling of puzzles and mysteries is perfectly paced. Most puzzles are straight-forward to solve, especially if you spend enough time on them, whereas others are far more challenging – like a particularly devilish nonogram, that bizarrely seemed to have a second solution that didn’t solve the puzzle for us. Only once we’d found the second one did it complete.
Complete a variety of puzzles – this one requires all colored balls to be lined up in their respectively colored squares
The artwork is also quite unique – a hand-drawn, colorfully-shaded set of characters and buildings, eschewing straight lines or perfect representations is the source of it fun and quirky look. This is a far cry from traditional point-and-click games. But back to the story – the mystery and weirdness follows on right until the end… or what might be end. We don’t want to give too much away, but don’t assume there’s not more to be done.
The mysteries are vast, and bizarre. The answers can often be found written on the walls
This is the developer’s first game on the App Store – and considering Isoland has been nominated for “Best Art” at the IndiePlay Awards 2016, and has been received extremely well, we’ll be looking out for more titles from Redfish in the future, maybe even more from the Isoland canon. Finally, we’ll just point out the game costs just $1 (though tips cost $1 if you get stuck, or you can watch a video), as if it wasn’t already well worth playing.