Discover the Icelandic Folklore-Inspired Adventure of Island of Winds!

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The awe-inspiring natural scenery of Iceland has served as a muse for several modern video games, such as the Hellblade series and Death Stranding. However, these games tend to overlook Iceland’s deep historical roots and folklore. Introducing Parity Games’ Island of Winds, a game that seeks to bridge this gap by drawing inspiration from Iceland’s rich history and mythology.

Established in 2017 by ex-employee from CCP Games, María Guðmundsdóttir, Parity Games is a studio based in Reykjavik that continues to laboriously develop its first game titled Island of Winds. During a recent visit to Iceland, Game Rant had the opportunity to experience the initial hour of Island of Winds, and it didn’t take long for the unique charm of the game’s world inspired by Icelandic folklore to emerge.

Island of Winds Tries Something Novel With its Gameplay

In “Island of Winds,” players assume the role of Brynhildur, a 17th-century Balance Keeper making her way back home after a prolonged journey. Upon reaching the island, she encounters an unsettling sight: her once bustling village deserted and tainted by an enigmatic dark magic. Her fellow Balance Keepers are missing, and Brynhildur’s only option is to grasp her mentor’s magical staff and venture forth in a bid to purge the island of this ominous malady.

Once the scene is established, the game Island of Winds familiarizes players with its primary mechanics. As an amalgamation of adventure and puzzle elements, Island of Winds challenges players to restore the land using their magical staff powers, while also solving environmental conundrums to explore new locales. One of the game’s unique aspects is that players cannot attack enemies directly. However, they can quickly learn a lightning spell for removing environmental hurdles and stunning adversaries. In order to survive enemy confrontations, players must either stealthily evade their foes or utilize their staff to cleanse creatures affected by a dark magic ailment.

In the narrative and game mechanics of “Island of Winds”, empathy seems to be a key element that will significantly shape the storyline. While we haven’t witnessed much of this aspect yet, it has the potential to become one of the game’s most distinctive characteristics.

Island of Winds’ Greatest Strength Is Its Authenticity

The Island of Winds showcases its Icelandic folklore influences prominently in its game world setup. Since the development team hails from Iceland, the overall feel is incredibly genuine. Monsters typical to fantasy genres, such as trolls, inhabit the island’s landscape, but they are given a distinctly Icelandic appearance, with the traditional Icelandic depiction of these creatures serving as the foundation for their in-game look.

The environmental design on “Island of Winds” authentically mirrors its settings, allowing players to traverse open landscapes, sandy coastlines, hidden caves, and typical Icelandic homes. Unlike other developers who might replicate Iceland’s appearance, Parity Games manages to embody the genuine essence of their homeland. Subtle details, such as the yellow hue of moss instead of green, contribute to a unique artistic vision.

Note that while Island of Winds isn’t yet a top-tier AAA game, it does have some areas that could use improvement. For one, the characters’ facial expressions can come off as rigid and unnatural. Additionally, there’s a noticeable awkwardness in the way the player-character moves around. However, Island of Winds is an exceptionally ambitious project, and its bold exploration of Icelandic folklore makes it a game worth keeping an eye on.

Game Rant was provided with travel and lodging.

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2025-05-17 13:24