Are you fans of open-world games with a lot of grind? Or do you prefer to relax with a good puzzle game? Islands of Insight has both for you. MeinMMO author Linda Baumgartl has tested how well the mix works.
As a big fan of survival games, I can rarely say no to exploration tours in an open world. My favorites include games like Conan Exiles or Valheim. I have yet to find my way to puzzle games more often. I enjoy solving Sudokus or Nonograms in analog form. I have now spent about 10 hours in Islands of Insight, and I was positively surprised.
What kind of game is this? Islands of Insight is a puzzle game where you embark on a peaceful journey of discovery in an open world as a Seeker. There are over 10,000 puzzles to find and solve on floating islands.
For this, the developer studio Lunarch Studios has teamed up with what they claim are the best puzzle designers in the world to continually surprise players across 24 puzzle categories.
Islands of Insight will be released on February 13 on Steam. You can get a first impression from the trailer:
A Relaxed World Full of Puzzles
At the beginning of Islands of Insight, you start classically with character creation. While there aren’t too many options, there are a few nice features, such as magical body decorations or a colorful radiant aura.
This already showcases the visual style that awaits you in the open world. Everything feels ancient, imaginative, and almost divine. Overall, as a fan of mythologically-inspired fantasy, I really like the look and theme of the game.
The landscape appears very idyllic yet interesting. In total, there are five biomes that can be unlocked gradually. Especially when gliding through the air, I continually discover intriguing structures in the background, such as a massive pyramid that inspires my exploration.
Already on the first exploration tour, it becomes clear that Islands of Insight aims to provide a very relaxing gaming experience. There is no stamina consumption, fall damage, or anything similar. Overall, the game refrains from “punishing” the player for anything. This makes the game very accessible for beginners, as there is no worry about negative consequences.
Where are the puzzles? You will find small brain teasers everywhere in the world of Islands of Insight.
- The puzzles in the main areas refresh over time. So there is always something new to do.
- The campaign consists of over 20 enclaves – these are separate areas where fixed tasks await you. By completing these enclaves, you can unlock new puzzle types.
There are also quests that can guide you. However, it is not necessary to adhere to a fixed order. You can tackle the tasks you feel like.
In Islands of Insight, you are not alone in the game world. It is actually an MMO. In the shared world, you can interact with other players, and thus perhaps even receive help with one or the other puzzle.
Diverse Puzzles Following Clear Rules
What I particularly like about Islands of Insight is the variety of brain teasers.
At the same time, I was also the most concerned here. Because my fuse for puzzle segments in computer games is usually very short. I quickly get frustrated when I don’t understand what the game wants from me. I often end up searching for the solution online. I can reassure anyone who feels similarly.
The puzzles in Islands of Insight are really well designed.
- The game gently introduces each new type of puzzle at first. The basic concept is clarified in very simple levels. After that, the level slowly increases.
- The difficulty lies less in figuring out what you need to do. There are often clear “rules” that you then need to work with.
- The challenges are really diverse. There are classic logic puzzles, perspective puzzles, mazes, small obstacle courses, and much more.
I can best compare the feel of the game to solving Sudokus. What do I mean by that?
- The rules are clear – yet you can still get pretty involved in solving.
- I’m never forced to complete a puzzle. If I want, I can simply flip to the next page, or look for a new puzzle in the game world. This prevents frustration.
- Still, I have the ambition to arrive at the solution. “It can’t be that hard…”.
This Sudoku feeling mixes Islands of Insight with classic gaming elements: the exploration of an open-world, leveling, and grinding.
This feels familiar: Leveling and Grinding
A mechanism that connects many gaming genres is leveling up your character. In puzzle games, I find it unfortunate that this element is often neglected. Not so with Islands of Insight: the game makes use of typical progression mechanics that every gamer will find familiar.
- In a skill tree, new abilities can be unlocked. These improve, for example, your movement options, give you more experience when solving certain puzzles, or even make the puzzling itself more enjoyable.
- You can also level up your mastery in certain types of puzzles. This primarily unlocks new cosmetic items for your character.
- To unlock skills and additional cosmetic items, you need a currency called Sparks. You can earn these by diligently solving puzzles.
Does it work? The mix of solved puzzles and received rewards appeals to my reward system multiple times. This may sound simple, but it is effective nonetheless. This way, I always feel good about achieving something.
Players who like to explore everything to 100% can grind in Islands of Insight to their heart’s content. Because it’s not just about completing puzzles in a blunt sequence. You also need to find the numerous puzzles first. For example, once you solve all the puzzles in a category in a specific area, another reward awaits.
However, what personally diminishes the feeling of achievement for me are primarily two points:
- Right at the beginning, I look like a powerful, magical being. This reduces my motivation to unlock new cosmetic items. As a survival fan, I would have been more engaged with a visual progression – starting in rags and unlocking increasingly prettier things.
- I never have a real necessity to increase my level. While in another game I might urgently want to reach level 35 to finally defeat that one boss, I can shape my path quite freely in Islands of Insight. Sure, I have to unlock regions first. But whether I do that at level 2 or 20 doesn’t matter.
Ultimately, these are design decisions that make the game more accessible and relaxed. The main focus is clearly on actually solving the puzzles and providing a cozy gaming experience. Although the leveling system does not motivate me as much as in other games, it is still a nice addition to the puzzle experience.
A Successful Puzzle MMO for Relaxation
Anyone looking for a relaxing puzzle game that surprises with innovative challenges and ideas and inspires the desire to explore is exactly right with Islands of Insight.
Experienced gamers can rediscover familiar mechanics. But the game is also very accessible for beginners, as it has no punishing mechanics and allows the player to progress at their own pace.
If you enjoy solving puzzles and also have a slight organizational fetish, or simply prefer cleaning in PC games rather than real life, then the game A Little to the Left is just right for you: In this game, you have to make things tidy while your cat creates chaos
