Zelda: Link's Awakening inspired spiritual successor launches on PC alongside free sample

If you’re looking for a new release to enjoy this weekend that doesn’t set you back quite as much as new AAAs The Blood of Dawnwalker and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, you might find what you’re looking for in Isle of Reveries.

Developed by the indie team desertcucco, this charming action-adventure is heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening and offers up a new retro-flavoured journey for gamers to embark on.

“Take control of an owl named Lief as they make a pilgrimage skybound to the forsaken Isle of Reveries, where it's said that any wish can be granted,” begins the game’s synopsis.

“Players will fight through six mysterious dungeons, each with their own unique themes and puzzles, and meet charming anthropomorphic characters along the way in this Zelda-inspired adventure.

“Use your fairy companion’s magic to duplicate and spawn a variety of objects in the world, and discover how they interact with your robust set of items to solve head-scratching puzzles.”

Isle of Reveries is launching for $19.99 with a free demo available

desertcucco

There are eight different biomes to explore in Isle of Reveries’ overworld plus, as mentioned, six different dungeons all of which boast their own theme.

You’ll play as Lief, using your fairy companion’s ability to duplicate and spawn objects to overcome puzzles and formidable enemies too.

Outside of traversing the game’s world and dungeons, Isle of Reveries offers an opportunity to construct new buildings and accept quests within the title’s township.

Perhaps most excitingly, you don’t need to play Isle of Reveries alone, as you can grab a friend to enjoy the title in local co-op or online via Steam Remote Play Together if you’d prefer.

Isle of Reveries launches on PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S today, on September 4.

It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to enjoy, retailing for $19.99.

PC users have the advantage with this title, though, as they can ‘try before they buy’ with a free demo for Isle of Reveries available to sample now.

The demo grants you access to roughly one to two hours worth of the game where you’ll get to experience the first dungeon and the first boss.

Save data doesn’t, in this instance, transfer over.

READ MORE: Steam's latest freebie is an open-world adventure with Breath of the Wild visuals

The demo appears to have gone down well with players; it’s actually been available for a while now, so it’s perhaps safe to assume that the launch version of the game available from today includes some improvements and tweaks.

“If you’re a fan of classic Zelda games (think the SNES and Game Boy era), this game is for you. Gameplay, music and especially the art are all on point. I’ll be buying this one the day it releases,” remarked one player.

“I just played one of the greatest 2D Zelda dungeons ever made,” another added, while someone remarked, “Super promising. The puzzle design seemed really promising to me. It has that tight, interlocked feeling of good Zelda dungeons but with an interesting wrinkle. The boss fight felt pleasantly hybrid between puzzle and action. I'm curious where the story will go.”

As for what’s happening in the official world of The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo’s controversial Ocarina of Time remake is set to land sometime in the remainder of 2026.

All signs point towards a Nintendo Direct happening next week and it’s very likely that here, we’ll finally get a release date for the remake.