Island Maze review for Nintendo Switch

Island Maze is hard.

I really can?t think of much else to say about it, other than that it?s one of the hardest puzzle games I?ve ever played. At only a couple of dollars and 28 puzzles, you might go in thinking it?s the kind of game you can blitz through in a short time, but that couldn?t possibly be more wrong. It starts off with a quick level that gives you a rough idea of what it?s all about, and then from there it ramps the difficulty way, way up.

Personally, I would have liked a slightly more gentle incline. Going from, like, 1 to somewhere near 100 right off the bat is a bold move, and it makes it hard to stick with Island Maze — particularly when, from that point on, it never gets any easier. But, I guess, if you want to make people feel like they?re getting their money?s worth on a game with 28 levels, there?s no better way to do it than making them spend hours after hours after hours of trying and failing to figure out each of those levels.

And, if you?re in the mood for a challenge, I?ll note that Island Maze is fairly pleasant to look at and to control. The graphics are bright and simple, and make it clear that, yes, you?re moving a block around an island. The controls, too, are easy to figure out — even if you?ll have a near-impossible time getting them to work in the way you want to.

But that?s kind of the point, I suppose. Personally, I didn?t feel like the pay-off was worth the investment (either in hours or in brain power), but if you want a game that?ll tax your problem-solving abilities to their limits, Island Maze will give you just that.

Drageus Games provided us with an Island Maze Switch code for review purposes.