Survive the Island

In theory, survival games are quite easy to pull off, given the fact that all you need is a big open map and just enough gameplay mechanics to make the experience feel engaging. Action is a good ingredient as well, which is why most survival games feature monsters or zombies to hog the players and keep them busy most of the time. However, the recipe gets old if the re-play value is not high enough.

Survive the Island is a basic sandbox game in which you have to explore an open map, survive the encounters with wild animals and use the resources you gather in order to build yourself better weapons and some sort of shelter. It’s a very rough concept at the moment, on the other hand, since there are no original ideas in the mix, and everything feels extremely sketchy.

To begin with, you start with a spear and a cabin, which means that the shelter is not much of a requirement. You can go out and start searching for resources, but you must pay attention to the wild animals that roam the map, otherwise you can get killed in a matter of minutes. The spear comes in handy, but it takes a while to learn how to use it properly.

The map itself is not particularly impressive either, given the fact that all you can see are hills, trees, and the occasional body of what that practically limits your ability to explore any further. In fact, the area you have at your disposal is not big enough to keep you busy for too long, but then again this part might be improved in later versions of the game. At the moment, it only takes a minute or so to go from one end of the map to the other.

Lastly, the graphics are nothing to write home about either, especially in the level design department. It’s quite boring to see the same tree models everywhere you look, as well as just one or two terrain textures. The combat is nothing more than a simple stabbing motion with the spear or whatever other weapon you might be holding, so more work is needed in that department as well.

Survive the Island does not have enough new elements to attract players, and it’s also in a very rough state at the moment. Thus, it needs a lot more work before it can provide you with a unique experience and the kind of action that makes you stick around for a few hours.