Welcome to this week’s installment of F2P Friday, where we highlight our favorite Free-2-Play games. The video game market is oversaturated, and sometimes, hidden gems fall through the cracks. This is where we do the digging for you and feature a new F2P game every week that we know you will enjoy. Let’s dive in!

*Note: I played on Xbox Series X, so my experience and notes are based on that system*

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Island Saver

Island Saver Crab sick with plastic

Island Saver is an action-adventure game by developer Stormcloud Games Limited. Players take up their trusty Trashblaster in order to clean up an ecological disaster affecting an island chain. Horrid plastic waste has washed up on the islands polluting the land and making the bankimals ill! Just keep an eye out for the Litterbugs that are attached to the mess!

The Basics 

I was hooked on Island Saver right away. It is a blend of the playstyle of Slime Rancher mixed with the visuals of Viva Piñata. There is a comprehensive tutorial to walk the player through the controls, but the game handles almost exactly like Slime Rancher. You’ll use a vacuum-powered tool to suck up trash and other items like coins or water. All of this is done to help the bankimals who live on the island, returning their color and cleaning up their habitats. These special animals are living piggy banks that spit out coins once they have eaten enough of their preferred food. 

The Trashblaster also has a water tank, which is necessary to clean off the black goop that pollutes the island. You are required to remove it in order to operate the machinery and clear the area. Keep an eye on it, though. This black goop will spawn Litterbugs to pollute the area again, scare the bankimals and steal your uncollected coins. 

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These coins are essential for unlocking new areas, buying items from the shop and upgrading your Trashblaster. You’ll want the upgrades as you progress to up your carrying capacity but could get by without most of them. The game forces you to buy one to introduce you to the idea of getting bank loans, but these are also optional. You can easily just grind for the resources you need. 

Why Should You Play?

So why should you play Island Saver? I love how accessible this game is. It easily felt like my six-year-old could play it too. That’s because the game is very simple and laid back, but I don’t think that means it is boring! All of the elements are well done and make for an interesting play. 

The amount of free content in the game is outstanding. There are three islands that are available for free, each with a different climate and challenges that offer unique experiences. After you beat the main islands, there are two paid DLC islands that are fantasy and dinosaur-themed, respectfully, but you’ll get plenty of playtime out of Island Saver even without them!

Overall, Island Saver is a game I can easily recommend for its inventive gameplay, fun character designs and satisfying game mechanics. I opened this game intending to just see what it was and played the whole first island instead. The narrative is a little simplistic, and the tutorial might be a little heavy-handed for adults, but it didn’t put a damper on my play experience at all. 

Have a F2P game you’d like us to check out? Played this one before? We love to hear from you gamers in the comments! Ready to join the fight against pollution on the island? You can download Island Saver for free on Steam here!

F2P Friday: PURRGATORY

 

 

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