Under the Island Review: The Modern Minish Cap We've Been Waiting For

It’s been over two decades since The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap graced the Game Boy Advance, and Nintendo has long since moved on to open-world adventures.

But if you’ve been craving that classic top-down Zelda magic, Under the Island is here to fill that void in the most delightful way possible.

Developed by Slime King Games and published by Top Hat Studios, Under the Island is a 2D action-adventure RPG dripping with 90s charm, clever puzzles, and a world so packed with secrets that you’ll want to explore every single tile.

It’s available now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X|S for $19.99, and it is worth every penny.

A Sinking Island and a Girl With a Hockey Stick

The story kicks off when a teenager named Nia is uprooted from her home and moved to Seashell Island by her archaeologist parents.

It’s a small, colorful island full of quirky locals, strange weather patterns, and ancient ruins hiding beneath the surface.

Things take a turn when Nia meets Avocado, a local girl, and the two accidentally stumble into a hidden cavern.

Down there, they learn the island is destined to sink into the ocean unless someone can recover four ancient mechanical gears scattered across the land.

Naturally, instead of telling their parents about the whole “island is doomed” situation, Nia grabs a hockey stick and sets off to save the day herself.

It’s exactly the kind of setup you’d expect from a Saturday morning cartoon, and the game leans into that energy hard.

This Is Basically a Modern Minish Cap

I went into Under the Island expecting a fun little Zelda-like, but I was genuinely surprised by just how much it reminded me of The Minish Cap specifically.

Not just in its gorgeous pixel art style or its top-down perspective, but in the overall feel of the experience.

The way the world is structured, the sense of discovery around every corner, the playful tone that never takes itself too seriously.

This is the closest any game has come to capturing that Minish Cap magic, and as someone who absolutely loved that game, this was a huge deal for me.

Other reviewers have drawn comparisons to Link’s Awakening and A Link to the Past, and those are fair.

But for my money, the Minish Cap comparison is the most accurate one. The bright, expressive art style, the whimsical characters, and the tightly designed world all channel that specific energy.

The pixel art here is stunning, too.

Art director Simone Grunewald, a former lead at Daedalic Entertainment, brings over a decade of experience to the visuals.

Everything pops with color and personality, from the lush forests to the snowy mountain peaks.

A World Bursting With Secrets

Exploration is where Under the Island truly shines.

Seashell Island is divided into six distinct biomes, and every single one of them is packed with things to find.

Forests, beaches, frozen caverns, eerie greenhouses, chaotic sawmills, and more are all waiting to be explored.

The world is an absolute joy to wander through.

Bombable walls hide secret rooms. Cutting through grass reveals hidden pathways.

Pushing blocks opens up shortcuts.

Every area rewards curiosity, and the game constantly encourages you to poke around and see what’s hiding just off the beaten path.

There are side quests everywhere, too.

You’ll reunite feuding family members, track down missing cats, compete in cooking competitions, and hunt for collectibles scattered across the island.

None of it feels like busywork because the world itself is so fun to be in.

If you’re just getting started with the game and want to make the most of your adventure from the very beginning, check out our Under the Island beginner tips guide for some helpful pointers.

Puzzles, Combat, and Creative Boss Fights

The puzzles in Under the Island hit a perfect sweet spot.

They’re clever enough to make you think without ever becoming frustrating.

You’ll encounter environmental puzzles that use fire to burn through obstacles in chain reactions, block-pushing challenges that unlock fast travel points, and plenty of classic dungeon mechanics remixed in fresh ways.

There are also nonogram puzzles created by adorable ghost chickens scattered throughout the game.

These are a fun little brain teaser that breaks up the action nicely. If you get stuck on any of them, we’ve got you covered with our complete nonogram solutions guide.

Combat revolves around Nia’s trusty hockey stick, which functions as her sword with a satisfying three-hit combo.

It’s simple but effective, and as you upgrade your gear throughout the adventure, it feels increasingly powerful. You also get creative tools like a fireball-shooting plant, bombs, and a bag of animal treats that lets you lure sheep, turtles, and rams onto switches or into obstacles.

The boss fights deserve a special shoutout.

These aren’t just standard “hit the weak point three times” encounters.

One boss fight is essentially an Overcooked-style cooking competition.

Another involves protecting a performing star from an overwhelming crowd of fans.

They’re inventive, funny, and consistently surprising.

Personality in Every Pixel

What really sets Under the Island apart from other Zelda-likes is just how much personality is packed into every corner of the game.

The humor hits just right without ever being obnoxious. Characters are quirky and memorable. The enemy designs are wonderfully absurd.

You’ll fight vomiting eggplants, burrowing wolves, and all sorts of other bizarre creatures that feel like they were pulled straight from a 90s cartoon.

Every biome has its own unique set of enemies that fit the vibe perfectly, and encountering them for the first time always brought a smile to my face.

The NPCs are full of charm, too. From the muscular fitness enthusiast M. Uscle who upgrades your health in his home gym to the treasure-hunting cartographer Lemon who warns you about dangerous areas, the cast of characters brings Seashell Island to life.

The soundtrack ties it all together beautifully.

Catchy overworld themes keep you company during exploration, while a more relaxed tune plays at night.

The music perfectly matches the cozy yet adventurous tone the game is going for.

The Perfect Length for a Perfect Adventure

I took my time with Under the Island. I explored every cave, chased down every side quest, and hunted for every secret I could find.

By the time I was done, I had probably about 98% completed everything in just over 12 hours.

That is the perfect length for a game like this. There’s no padding, no filler, and no bloat. Every hour feels purposeful and packed with content.

In a gaming landscape dominated by 40+ hour campaigns that overstay their welcome, Under the Island’s focused and respectful approach to the player’s time is genuinely refreshing.

Other people have reported completion times ranging from 9 to 15 hours depending on how thorough their exploration is.

Whether you’re a completionist or someone who sticks to the main path, the game is paced beautifully either way.

Verdict: A Must-Play for Zelda Fans

Under the Island is one of the best 2D Zelda-like games I’ve played in years.

It captures the spirit of classic top-down Zelda adventures while carving out its own identity with a unique setting, creative tools, and a heaping dose of personality.

Are there minor rough edges? Sure.

Some people have reported occasional visual bugs, and navigating certain parts of the map can feel a little confusing at times. But none of that came close to dampening my overall experience.

The world is too charming, the puzzles too clever, and the exploration too rewarding for any small issues to matter much.

Slime King Games has knocked it out of the park with their debut title.

This is a studio that clearly understands what makes classic 2D adventures special, and they’ve delivered something that stands proudly alongside the games that inspired it.

I cannot wait to see what they make next, and whatever it is, it’s going to be a day one buy for me.

If you’re a fan of The Minish Cap, Link’s Awakening, or classic top-down adventures in general, do yourself a favor and pick up Under the Island. You won’t regret it.

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Images in this post are from the Under the Island page on Steam and used under Fair Use.