Moonstone Island took me without warning. Not simply because I fully forgot about it after listening to about it months in the past, however as a result of I didn’t absolutely know what I used to be stepping into. It is a assessment for Moonstone Island, an up to date model of my assessment in progress. You may put a ton of hours into this recreation, so I wished to spend extra time with it earlier than giving it a rating.
Earlier than I downloaded this recreation, I believed it was simply going to be a farming sim. I clearly didn’t keep in mind a lot concerning the first trailer I’d seen, as a result of it’s truly much more artistic and intriguing. One of the simplest ways I can describe this recreation is for those who threw Stardew Valley, Pokémon, and Hearthstone right into a blender.
However it’s a lot greater than that, I can’t simply describe it as three superb different video games. Your most important purpose is to spend a yr coaching as an alchemist, journey between newly found islands, accumulate lovable creatures, and construct their decks of playing cards. On the floor, it could sound digestible. However as soon as you actually sink just a few hours into this recreation, you’ll notice simply how a lot you are able to do, and the way it turns into an increasing number of pleasing with every play session.
![Moonstone Island Review In Progress](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/moonstone-island-review-in-progress.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
The love little one of many inspirations
Not solely does Moonstone Island have many superb elements of sure video games, however it actually provides off that Studio Ghibli vibe. The artwork model, particularly within the intro that performs every time you boot up the sport, is whimsical and joyful. However what I really like about Moonstone Island is the way it doesn’t copy its inspirations, it melds these concepts into its personal creation.
There’s farming, however you farm objects that make it easier to heal and tame Spirits. There’s creature amassing, however you may even hatch your personal Spirits and look after them like pets. And there’s deck constructing, however the card-based fight is much more advanced than what meets the attention. Each time Moonstone Island jogs my memory of one other recreation, it pulls me again and tells me the way it’s creatively totally different and particular in its personal proper.
I’d additionally prefer to level out that whereas the visuals are pretty, I really feel as if the soundtrack may use some enchancment. Not that the music is unhealthy, however it’s simply not all the time current. Whenever you’re strolling round Moonstone Island, I’ve observed that music solely begins to play at one or two particular instances, after which it stops after a couple of minutes. I believe the music deserves extra time within the highlight, and it feels slightly too quiet at instances when there must be some background music.
![Moonstone Island Review In Progress Card Battle](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/moonstone-island-review-in-progress-card-battle.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
A lot to do, however simply sufficient time
I by no means discover myself bored with out something to perform. Even in my in-progress assessment, there was all the time one thing to do, perhaps an excessive amount of to do at instances. There are all the time extra islands to uncover in fog-of-war trend, all the time objects to craft to make my house nicer, and all the time duties to finish. You don’t simply dwell alone, however in a village of many colourful NPCs. Sure, there’s a friendship and romance system, and sure, it’s tough to find out who to decide on.
However that basically isn’t the principle focus of the sport, for my part. What makes Moonstone Island all the time a pleasure to return to is the fight. The extra your Spirits degree up, the extra playing cards they unlock, and the extra sophisticated their turns get. It isn’t nearly taking part in the assault playing cards; you’ll want to suppose fairly critically about which playing cards are most vital to make use of. Most playing cards in your hand don’t even keep by the following flip, so you must resolve what’s finest for the flip.
Whilst you can meet Spirits within the overworld, there are many dungeons obtainable as effectively. They’re not very tough to finish, however they aren’t as simple as you’d suppose, both. Typically, I discover that there’s one chest left, and I’ve but to determine the place it’s, even after I swear I’ve explored each room. And typically, the Spirits in these dungeons can crush mine in battle simply, making me surprise how I can enhance.
![Moonstone Island Review In Progress Spirits](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/moonstone-island-review-in-progress-spirits.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
Small issues for hopeful options
I’ve spoken lots about what I’m liking concerning the recreation to date, however that doesn’t imply I haven’t had some gripes about Moonstone Island. The largest concern I’ve is with the shortage of steerage at factors. Positive, it’s good to determine issues out for myself on occasion, however there come some factors after I don’t know the place to get a sure merchandise. However on the intense aspect, maybe it’s good to not have a recreation that’s too hand-holdy.
There’s additionally one constructing I believed could be simple to assemble. However as a substitute, you must end a quest to unlock a blueprint, and then you definately construct the factor from that blueprint to make one thing to then construct one other blueprint merchandise, which might then unlock the constructing. However wait, you continue to want to finish one other quest to really unlock the constructing. This acquired irritating at instances, not figuring out all of the stipulations.
Aside from that, I typically discovered the controls tough. When making an attempt to plant seeds or water crops, getting my alchemist standing in the suitable path to land on the right spot is difficult at instances. Additionally, the sport doesn’t lag, however it typically freezes for a second or two. This occurs very often, however because it’s the one efficiency concern, it’s not one thing I’m too bothered with.
![Moonstone Island Romance Date](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/moonstone-island-romance-date.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
NPCs with some potential
At first look, the NPCs who dwell in Moonstone Island are pretty. Everybody has their very own distinctive design, job, and goal. Every individual has a every day routine, and whereas virtually everybody has a job, you’ll typically see them patrolling round city doing different issues. However the liveliness kind of stops there.
Day by day you may chat with every individual 3 times, both to speak, joke, or flirt. There’s a share probability of whether or not they’ll reply positively or negatively. That is an fascinating system, however you don’t actually really feel such as you’re attending to know them. They’ll say a sentence or two as quickly as you work together with them, however I can’t actually let you know a lot about these folks moreover what I believe I learn about them.
This makes it even tougher to present folks presents they like. For instance, on somebody’s birthday, I caught them saying they discovered Moonstone on the bottom and wished to choose it up however didn’t. That seems like an ideal birthday present for them then, proper? Mistaken. It gave me a particularly destructive loss to our relationship, and so they questioned why I’d even give it to them. I used to be confused, as a result of I believed I had simply realized one thing about them. Perhaps in the event that they talked extra about their likes and dislikes I’d perceive extra about them, particularly since you may date them.
![MI broom](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/moonstone-island-review-in-progress-broom.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
The longevity
When trying again on my assessment in progress, I can see how some elements of this recreation make me wish to keep it up, whereas others make me query its longevity. There are such a lot of puzzle items to Moonstone Island that it could possibly both be thrilling or overwhelming. I’ve barely touched my quests, just because I’m so centered on exploring islands and making it via dungeons and temples.
I do recognize that after I typically really feel on the finish of my rope in enjoyment, it introduces one thing new and enjoyable. You’ll continuously unlock new skills for those who proceed to do the temples. At first it was annoying having to journey between islands, however now it’s swift and straightforward. I’ve now unlocked extra craft-ables from my numerous work stations, and but it nonetheless looks like there’s far more to return.
What’s additionally saved me going with Moonstone Island is how superb it feels to play on the Steam Deck. I solely performed it a few instances on PC, and the controls simply didn’t really feel as good as they did on my transportable system. This recreation was meant to be performed on the go and in your fingers. Now I by no means really feel prefer it’s value it to open it on my PC after I can calm down on the sofa with this recreation.
![spirit barn](https://www.pcinvasion.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/how-to-get-sea-glass-in-moonstone-island-water-spirit.jpg?resize=1200%2C675)
Screenshot: PC Invasion
An underrated gem that would use some sharpening
I used to be pleasantly stunned with this recreation, and the way a lot I’ve loved my time with it. Evaluating my assessment in progress to my closing assessment of Moonstone Island, I’ve discovered extra destructive issues to level out than optimistic. However that doesn’t take away from the general optimistic expertise I’ve had with Moonstone Island. With all of the video games popping out, it feels prefer it’s simply not getting the eye it deserves. So if this seems like your kind of recreation, I believe you need to bounce on it. Whereas it looks like an underrated gem of a recreation for 2023, I nonetheless really feel prefer it wants some sharpening to cowl up the chips and scrapes.