First impressions mean a lot, and how you make that impression is just as important. Like reading the back cover of an interesting book you pick up in the store, I was captivated by the premise for Polygon Treehouse‘s next game, Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island.

You play as Alex, a young explorer trying to enjoy a break from her busy life, who ends up shipwrecked on the titular island. She quickly discovers that this picturesque place is home to the Greek Gods, who have all mysteriously lost their memories. By befriending these divine beings and helping them regain their past selves, Alex will hopefully figure out what happened on this island and find a way back home.

As a lover of Greek Mythology, mystery/puzzle games, I felt I had to try out the demo and see what Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island has in store.

A Relaxing Mystery

The game is a 3D non-linear narrative adventure, and a self proclaimed “Friend ’em Up”. Set in an idyllic sandbox environment populated with charming, imaginative versions of the Greek Gods, Mythwrecked is consistently light-hearted, entertaining and sincere. While the narrative of the game is wrapped in mystery, its universal messages of wellbeing and compassion are worn proudly on its sleeve (no togas here).

Understandably worried about her current predicament, Alex is quick to offer help to the amnesiacs living on this island, recognising that she is the only one who can help them. Without being heavy handed, It’s this loop of people helping one another that is at the core of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island.

The stakes are set relatively low, with the protagonist’s goal to reach home taking a backseat as she focuses her attention on helping the locals. This reinforces the game’s laidback nature; the gameplay focus is on exploration, relationship building, and some light puzzling, with no combat or external pressures to worry about. Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is an invitation to take a load off and forget about your stresses, something I think we can all do with from time to time.

Pretty As A Postcard

I love a bold art style, and Mythwrecked has that in spades! The game is a celebration of colour, with a day/night cycle that showcases this; transforming yellow sandy beaches and pale blue skies to a spectrum of warm pinks and purples as the sun sets. Cool blues enshroud the island at night, until a new day rises and it is drenched in bright sunlight once again. The same lineless, block colour aesthetic is used for the characters of Mythwrecked, and their individual designs are a fun twist on a well known cast.

The 3rd person camera pans and slides to follow Alex as she explores her surroundings; moving smoothly through the game, always providing the perfect view to take in the sights. With delightful details like hermit crabs scuttling across the sands, to lazy lizards startled from sunbathing, Ambrosia Island and its majestic ruins are filled with life. Accompanying the visuals is a soundtrack that crosses several genres but never strays from the laid back, feel-good vibes that complete and enhance the tone of Mythwrecked.

Meeting The Locals

After waking up on the island, I explored a bit until stumbling across a glowing tablet at the foot of statue. On picking it up the statue spoke! Introducing herself as Ora, the Oracle, she asks that Alex help solve the mystery of the Ambrosia island. She also explains that the tablet is called the Ambrosidex, a magical device that acts as a map, quest log, backpack inventory and many more functions. Keeping with the welcoming and approachable nature of the game, the map has clear markers for everything of interest, and shows locations for quest objectives, removing the need to painstakingly search everywhere.

Ora acts as a source of information and is able to offer advice if players get stuck while playing. Ora then suggests to Alex that she speaks to the Messenger living in a seaplane on the East Beach. Using the map, I find my way over to some wooden jetties to find a parked seaplane that has seen better days. The Messenger refuses to open the door at this time, and explains that he will be available in the morning.

Here the game introduces that characters have different routines which will affect when they are available. Alex decides to find shelter to pass the night, and after some more advice from Ora, I head to the abandoned lighthouse to rest at one the cushioned seats spread around the island. (You can find decorative items for your lighthouse abode in crates washed up on the beaches.)

The next day I returned to the seaplane to see the Messenger standing out on the jetty. I found his appearance quite peculiar; a bald, portly man with the presence of a mild mannered P.E. teacher without his tracksuit. All he wore was a headband with matching wristbands, a white speedo, and had a towel draped over his shoulders. He was nervous to meet Alex, but she reassures him that she is not with the “Other” that he fears. He finally introduces himself as Hermes, but it’s clear to Alex that he remembers little else.

This where the other half of Mythwrecked’s gameplay is explained. By exploring and interacting with the world Alex learns new topics of conversation she can have with these divine beings. Conversing on these topics could reveal important information and help solve the mystery on Ambrosia Island. Alex offers to help and Hermes tasks her with feeding dates to some gulls perching round the island. With light, breezy dialogue that isn’t bogged down in exposition, it didn’t take long for me to exhaust my options and move on with the game.

Island Activities

Completing favours and other odd jobs round the island will increase your friendship level with characters. Doing so will unlock topics that they were previously not comfortable talking about, as well as willing to trade special items for Ambrosia Fruit (which grow everywhere, so no worries!) Once I had used my Ambrosidex to track down 4 hungry seagulls and fed them, Hermes conveniently messaged to come see him.

Helping Hermes had loosened him up, and he was happy to talk more about himself and what he could remember. Alex decides to find objects, known as Mementoes, to try and jog the forgetful God’s memory, and the final element of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island’s gameplay is revealed.

Using a special radar in the Ambrosidex, I explored areas of the island looking for two of these Mementoes in a short game of Hot and Cold. Finding a worn-out pair of sandals and a moth-eaten messenger bag, I returned to Hermes and gave them to him. As more of his memories came rushing back, the God remembered he had the seal for the large stone door that blocked access to the rest of island.

Before heading to the sealed door and the end of the demo, I traded some of my Ambrosia Fruit with Hermes for one of the keys he offered. These keys unlock doors around the island that act as a fast travel system. If the map size and number of doors are anything to go by, I don’t think that Alex will be getting off Ambrosia Island anytime soon!

Final Thoughts

After nearly 90 minutes exploring the introduction of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Islands, I can’t wait to get back there and soak up more of this game’s good vibes. I am excited to see how this mystery unfolds, and have plenty of questions about the nature of the island. Who or what caused the curse? What are the symbols carved into the rocks, or the stone totems topped with precious gems? Who is still using cassette tapes to listen to music?

If what I have experienced of Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island’s beautiful environments, creative characters, and enticing narrative is a reflection of what is to come in the full release, then I could see myself never wanting to leave this mythical paradise, shipwrecked or not!

Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island was previewed on PC (Steam). The Demo is available to play HERE.

Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island releases on Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and PC on November 5th.