New Zelda-like RPG lands on Steam with 90% positive reviews and launch discount in tow

Nowadays, there is no shortage of indie games that are trying to capture the essence of the 16-bit era. A brand-new launch, Under the Island (the latest project from Slime King Games) is more about the specific mechanical friction and curiosity of 90s handheld adventures. Officially released on February 17, 2026, the game centers on Nia, a newcomer to the Seashell Island who quickly discovers her new home is physically sinking. Published by Top Hat Studios, the title implements a "braided" world structure where the ecosystem reacts to the player's progression path and chosen difficulty, which often alters the layout of biomes to force creative navigation.

As far as the core gameplay loop goes, there's a lot of ecosystem interaction rather than traditional stat-grinding. Nia uses a versatile toolkit of artifacts - including a fire-breathing plant, a bird companion for switch activation, and a hockey stick that serves as her primary, albeit unconventional, weapon. Puzzles are the backbone of this narrative. You get to play classic block-pushing and light-reflection riddles, but also unexpected Picross-style logic gates. Combat has received a much more nuanced analytical reception; while the "stage play" boss encounters are being hailed for their visual and mechanical creativity, some early adopters have noted that common enemies possess surprisingly large health pools, which can lead to a "spongy" feel in early-game encounters before weapon upgrades are secured.

Community reception is remarkably high, with a 90% "Positive" rating across its initial review wave on Steam. Players specifically praising the "Saturday morning cartoon" design, which features high-saturation pixel art with a quirky, non-serious tone. Technically, the game is a standout for handheld enthusiasts, launching with a Steam Deck Verified status and maintaining a locked 60 FPS. While it lacks 16:10 aspect ratio support - resulting in black bars on the Deck (curr. $636 on Amazon) - the overall performance is fluid, and the vaguely described quest logs are being lauded, since they are encouraging genuine exploration instead mindless waypoint-chasing.

Top Hat Studios is marketing the title at a $19.99 MSRP, though early buyers can currently take advantage of a 15% introductory discount. This promotion brings the price down to $16.99 until March 3, 2026. Under the Island is also featured in several launch-day bundles, including the "Under the Island x Castaway" pack, which gets you a better 26% cumulative discount.