Deserted islands seem to be one of the favorite settings for developers to build new ideas and themes around. An isolated island is the perfect place to escape reality and embark on thrilling adventures. Sometimes, these islands serve as hideouts for pirates. Other times, they’re peaceful spots for you to relax and solve brain-teasing puzzles. Here’s the top 10 games that let you explore mysterious islands, with addictive gameplay that keeps you hooked.
Crysis
The legendary “hardware killer” definitely deserves a spot on this list. Set in the future on an island east of the Philippines, the game reveals traces of alien enemies.
You play as Jake Dunn, a Delta Force special ops soldier sent to the island to deal with the chaos. But it’s not just aliens you’ll face, you’ll also battle other hostile forces occupying the island.
Path of Exile
Often seen as a worthy alternative to the Diablo series, Path of Exile is not only free-to-play but also a fully-fledged RPG that’s been carefully developed and supported for years. It has received many free expansions, so there’s always fresh content to explore.
You start on an island that’s basically a prison for dangerous criminals, where mysterious and fierce creatures roam freely. You’re alone at first, taking on quests from locals, then teaming up with friends to tackle bigger, tougher challenges. Released in 2013, Path of Exile’s graphics and gameplay still hold up. And if you’re a fan, good news, Path of Exile 2 is on the way.
Dead Island
True to its name, Dead Island is an open-world game set on an island hit by a fast-spreading pandemic turning people into zombies. You play as one of four tourists who wake up to find everyone at the resort has become bloodthirsty zombies.
To survive, you’ll need to find other survivors on the island, gather and upgrade weapons, and plan your escape from this deadly place.
Contra
Yes, folks, the phrase “beat the game” probably comes from this classic. Contra shaped the childhood of countless Vietnamese gamers.
The game is set on the Galuga Archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. Even if you’ve beaten it many times, you might not have realized the setting. Your mission is clear: stop the Red Falcon organization from taking over the world.
If reading this brings back fond memories of your childhood, now’s the perfect time to relive them. Download the game and jump right in.
The Forest
One of the best-selling horror games on Steam, The Forest features a complex story with relatively simple gameplay. It’s packed with hidden meanings that players uncover as they progress.
The game starts with you and your son on a plane trip that suddenly crashes on a small island. You witness your son being taken by a strange man.
From there, you must survive, track down clues to find your son, and face wild animals, a mysterious cannibal tribe, and a sinister force conducting horrific experiments. You’ll need to avoid starvation and build defenses to protect yourself from enemy attacks.
Source: Gameranx, translated by gearvn
