Islands of Insight is a game that has been out since the 13th of February on PC. Now and then, I like to take a break from Battle Royales and Multiplayer games like Call of Duty and sit back and relax without having to sweat all the time. Having recently spent a good number of hours sailing the Indian Ocean as a Pirate in Skull and Bones, it was time to take a dramatic shift and enter a new world. One that is beautiful, vibrant, and above all free of all weapons and combat.
This game went undetected for me for a good number of months but gladly I was able to stumble across this breathtaking game and take up the role of a Seeker and embark on a journey that is peaceful, enjoyable, and a major brain teaser.
Set in a fantasy realm of ancient wonders Islands of Insight is an open-world puzzle game where the player explores the peaceful floating islands and tries to uncover the mysterious, secrets and solve the plethora of puzzles that are on offer. You play as a Seeker who gets too peaceful to explore and solve puzzles. There is no right path in this game as you can tackle Islands of Insight in whichever way you want.
Exploring is one of the best things I did in this game as you uncovered beautiful landscapes, secrets, and exciting puzzles that had me picking my brain for ages. You thought that brain training on the Nintendo DS was a challenge, wait till you play this. It was a pleasant experience to play a game where I wasn’t trying to kill another player or AI. The sense of peace and calm you get when playing Islands of Insight wasn’t something I thought I needed until I started playing. It is the ultimate game for unwinding after a long day at work or parenting because it’s just you and the world.
Islands of Insight has over 10,000 puzzles scattered around the vibrate world and each can be completed at any time. These puzzles are a mixture of 24 puzzle types and each one holds a unique challenge and can be a total brain teaser. I had so many proud moments when completing puzzles that I found difficult but managed to overcome. Felt proper proud of myself. You’ll start your adventure by completing the simple tile-based puzzles but then it quickly opens up and you find yourself with perspective-based puzzles, optical illusions, and invisible rings/blocks.
I was stumbling over countless puzzles around every corner but couldn’t stop myself from trying to solve them. There were a few that I came across that I didn’t have to abandon due to difficulty, but you end up wrapping back around to them after you solve more puzzles as you begin to understand how they work and unlock new hints and guidance that ultimately helps in solving them. The expansive open world has plenty to offer and around every corner, there is a puzzle to tackle, you will need to complete a certain number of puzzles to be able to progress the campaign and unlock new types of puzzles.
Don’t feel like you must solve puzzles all the time, I took time out to just explore the world and take it all in. The different biomes offer new scenes and the different architecture that is on offer is truly mesmerizing. Once you get to the point in the game where you unlock your winds and glide around, it makes traveling around the world easier but flying between the floating islands and just gliding on the wind is breathtaking and so much effort has gone into making this one of the most beautiful games I have played in a long time.
I liked that you get to customise your Seeker and unlock cosmetics for them by just playing the game and earning sparks that can be spent on cosmetics or masteries. Masteries allow for certain benefits to aid in solving puzzles or making it easier to access the rest of the world. Just play solving puzzles you will find yourself leveling up in no time even though earning sparks can feel like a bit of a grind, it is one that I don’t mind doing.
Graphically this game is beautiful. I did have a few frame drop issues and graphical bugs now and then but overall, it was polished and looked top-tier. I loved the different biomes, and the puzzle designs were fascinating and challenging. Some took quite a while to solve which was brilliant as you had to use your brain and skills from previous puzzles you solved to crack new ones. There are difficulty ratings on the puzzles so you know what difficulty to expect before you go into them.
The harder ones were without a doubt mind-boggling and had me pulling my hair out at times but I enjoyed the challenge and the sense of achievement when I solved them. Audio is relaxing and, in some ways, soothing. It was nice to have in the background while taking in everything Islands of Insight had to offer.
There is plenty on offer in Islands of Insight that will have you playing for hours. With over 10,000 puzzles that are divided into 24 different puzzle types, you will never have a dull moment as there is always a puzzle to solve. Not only can you tackle this world alone there are other players with whom you share the world. Interact with them and offer guidance to make your journey easier or just emote together and traverse the many islands. There is plenty to unlock in terms of character cosmetics and masteries, so you won’t be completing this game in one sitting.
Conclusion
Islands of Insight is a brilliant open-world puzzle game, packed full of content for you to sink your teeth into. For the low asking price of £24.99, I would say you’re getting your money’s worth. Bear in mind I have just got off the back of playing a massive title like Skull & Bones and without hesitation would recommend this game over that. It’s a fraction of the price and offers more satisfaction. The world is a wonder to explore and gaining sparks is worthwhile as it helps level up your character and gain in-game cosmetics.
There is nothing more stratifying than completing a hard puzzle and gaining sparks. With thousands of puzzles to be completed alone or with others, Islands of Insight is a game that will keep me coming back for many hours to come. I feel true relaxation and a sense of achievement that I haven’t felt out of a video game for years and that’s why I’m giving Islands of Insight a 9 out of 10.
Islands of Insight Official Deep Dive Video
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A code for Islands of Insight was provided for us to review.
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