As the name suggests, Len’s Island features, you guessed it, islands to call home! As with all survival titles, you begin with nothing, gradually gathering and crafting your way to your first base. Similarly, there are a heap of tiers to progress through, so know that it’ll keep you busy for a while.
Len’s Island delivers an approachable experience which those new to the survival crafter genre will love, fans, however, may find it too easy and lacking real depth, at least that was my experience. It doesn’t hold your hand, and you never feel lost thanks to the gameplay design and flow, which is great, but it leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to a sense of danger and urgency. This isn’t a bad thing as such, rather a cautionary note so you’re aware of the experience you’ll encounter.
As a combat-focused game, Len’s Island offers a plentiful world to explore, filled with uniquely crafted dungeons and varied bosses and enemies to encounter. The overworld can be just as dangerous come nighttime, as that’s when the enemies come out to play. Additionally, there’s a tower defence mechanic where enemies will raid your base on certain nights.
Building automated weapons and boarding up your base is a welcome addition to an otherwise easy game. Thankfully, the customisation options offered by Len’s Island allow you to disable raids if they’re not your cup of tea. Doing so, however, does remove any sense of danger present in what is an already easy game.
Combat isn’t as basic as clicking on enemies or activating skills toward your target location; rather, there’s a timing mechanic. This timing mechanic applies to both combat and gathering. A small white circle appears, and if you click at the right time, you deal bonus damage. It’s simple, and it can be ignored entirely, but it does make those often-tedious opening stages of the genre that little bit more engaging. I wish Len’s Island offered more in this regard, however, as it does lack an impactful skill tree, or skills for that matter.
Talking about gathering, you’ll be doing a lot of this, especially if you want to enjoy the building freedom offered. For those who’ve played the likes of V Rising, building in Len’s Island is comparable, but it gives much more freedom and flexibility. You’re not limited to where and what you can build, and there’s a heap of different materials and styles to experiment with. When I first discovered I could build in dungeons, I thought to myself, “Why don’t more games allow for this?” – a pleasant surprise indeed!
Finally, as a farming sim, the game brilliantly delivers the cosy experience most farming enjoyers have come to love and expect, including cute animals. The art and aesthetics add to this cosy vibe, crafting a beautiful world which is as pleasant to look at as it is to explore. I was somewhat reminded of Torchlight, but with less flash and more neutral tones.
I loved the freedom on offer when it came to the customisation options. The ability to adjust nearly all multipliers is a necessity for me, especially for solo worlds where progressing can be more tedious than I’d like. Similarly, sometimes I simply want to experiment with building – being able to do so without spending hours logging trees is a winner for me!
I’d consider Len’s Island more a sandbox crafter than a survival crafter, as ‘survival’ isn’t its focus. It’s a casual game which, with an abundance of customisation options, never feels overwhelming, even after long breaks between sessions. I highly recommend it for the building alone, as everything else is serviceable and done better elsewhere.
Overall, Len’s Island is a worthy contender for fans of the genre. It’s not a hardcore survival experience, so if that’s what you’re after, steer clear. If you’re looking for an approachable and easily digestible experience that is as fun alone as it is with friends, then this is the game for you.
LEN'S ISLAND REVIEW
Len’s Island generates enjoyment primarily out of its building mechanics, providing a serviceable experience amongst every other aspect of the game. While this is still an easy recommendation for gamers with an appetite for a new survival game, it won’t appeal to everyone.
PROS
Visually pleasing and easy-to-digest aesthetic
Logical progression never has you feeling lost despite the lack of handholding
Building is unrivalled compared to many other survival crafters
CONS
Combat is, for the most part, very basic and while servicable, others do it better
Its primary focus is on building and cosy gameplay rather than dungeon crawling
Reviewed on PC. A review code was provided by the Publisher for purposes of this review.
