Game Review: Island Saver (Xbox One)

A game aimed at a younger audience and backed by banking giants, NatWest. Island Saver looks to educate children about recycling and money. The latter, the prominent message throughout the game as you’re tasked with balancing costs, being frugal and not trying to get rich quick.

It sounds awful but in a really nice surprise, it’s a well made and fun game to play. One that has far more depth than you might except making it good for both adults and kids to play.

However, the best thing of all? It’s free with no hidden charges and only an additional bit of DLC costing money but there is no impetus to buy that.

Played from the first person perspective, you are tasked with cleaning up the Savvy Islands which are becoming overwhelmed by waste. Across three locations you’ll have to use your ‘trash blaster’ to suck up waste and recycle it. It’s not its only use though as you’ll also be clearing up slime and dealing with enemies known as ‘litter bugs’. They are attracted to the mounting litter but can be easily dispatched with a blast of water, the secondary function of the trash blaster.

As the islands become cleaner, they become more habitable and the animals that previously lived there return. Called ‘Bankimals’, they are living animal piggy banks. It’s your job to not just encourage their return but make them happy. Feed them, and they’ll burst with money. Money that can help you buy upgrades, unlock new areas and invest in the islands.

Gameplay is done well and will be very familiar to those who have played the likes of Slime Rancher. Not only with gameplay but also with the visuals too. Bright and colourful, it’s attractive to the eyes.

While the main goal is to clear the islands of trash, with NatWest serving as publisher the over-arching theme is based around money. Now you couldn’t be faulted for approaching the game with some suspicion. A free to play game aimed at a younger audience from a banking giant, it screams subliminal encouragement. Hey kids…why not take out a loan or get a credit card and rack up some serious debt!

Of course that’s not actually the case here at all. Island Saver is an innocent game that really tries to educate youngsters about money and the banking system. Subtle enough to not become tiresome but relevant enough to leave a slight impression.

Each island will take around 2-3 hours to complete so you’ll get around 8-10 hours of gameplay. Considering it is a free to play game, Island Saver goes above and beyond to produce quality.