ISLAND on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
Quick menu
Sanzenkai Setsuna awakens on the shore of isolated island Urashima with no memories of his past. Befriending three local girls, Rinne, Karen, and Sara, Setsuna's quest to discover the secrets of Urashima and how they tie into his own past - and future - begins.
ISLAND is a visual novel, anime and story rich game
developed by Frontwing
and published by Frontwing USA.
Released on August 23rd 2018 is available only on Windows
in 3 languages: English, Japanese and Simplified Chinese.
It has received 1,661 reviews of which 1,580 were positive and 81 were negative resulting in an impressive rating of 9.0 out of 10. 😍
The game is currently priced at 39.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified ISLAND into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at ISLAND through various videos and screenshots.
Load More
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS: 7/8.1/10
- Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: VRAM320MB, 1280×720
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 4 GB available space
- Sound Card: Support for PCM playback through DirectSound
- Additional Notes: Windows Media Player 9 equivalent or higher
Prices
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Back And Forth Through Time For Love's Sake - ISLAND "Island" is one of the best Visual Novels that I've ever played. Along with "Clannad", "Tomoyo's After - It's a Wonderful Life", and "Chaos;Child". As you can probably tell, the standard is incredibly high. This VN surpassed that standard, and got its way as my fourth favourite Visual Novel. I've been a lover of the medium for years and have read more than forty Visual Novels throughout my life, so I'd like to believe I know what I'm talking about when I say this: "Island" is something special. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3734239175 What initially presents itself as a mysterious summer visual novel about a man who washes ashore on an island somewhere in Japan, gradually transforms into something far more ambitious. A remarkable story about romance with a heavy Sci-fi background foundation. Beneath that romance lies a surprisingly complex Science Fiction story involving time travel, time loops, paradoxes, reincarnation, mythology, quantum mechanics, relativity theory, the grandfather paradox, etc. If you liked how "Science Adventure/Steins;Gate" talked and portrayed about this Science/Quantum terminology, you'll like how it is portrayed in "Island". The island is called "Urashima". The place has traditions, superstitions, local conflicts, history, and social dynamics unlike the mainland of Japan. This island stayed afloat and survived thanks to three main families: The Oharas, The Garandous, and The Kurutsus. It's a place trapped between past and future. A place desperately trying to preserve itself while slowly dying from the weight of its own history and characters. Every major character feels connected to Urashima's history in one way or another. Rinne, the mysterious girl imprisoned inside the Ohara mansion. The more the story unfolds, the more layers she reveals. Everything revolves around her. The mysteries, the tragedies, the beautiful moments. Everything eventually circles back to Rinne. Karen seems to be the most "normal" girl among the three, but that's just an illusion. She burdens with family expectations, responsibility, social pressure, and the weight of carrying an entire family's legacy on her shoulders. Beneath her cheerful personality lies someone constantly fighting with her reality, trying to flee from Urashima as soon as possible. Then we have Sara. Honestly, I wasn't prepared for how much I would enjoy her character. At first glance, she feels like pure comic relief. But as always, "Island" hides much more beneath the surface. Her route reveals so much stuff, being far way more than just a romance route. Between Karen's and Sara's routes, this last one is better. I think so personally, at least. I think that Maria deserves a special mention. Many Visual Novels struggle to make side characters feel important. "Island" rarely suffers from that problem. Of course I can't afford not to talk about Kuon. I'll try to keep this spoiler free, but what I can say is this: the deeper you go into this VN, the more important she becomes. Kuon is deeply connected to almost all of the events of this story. She's connected to almost all of the mysteries of this story. https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3741404269 Talking about that, one of the reasons I became completely obsessed with "Island" is how effectively it handles its mysteries. Every answer creates new questions. Every revelation changes the meaning of the whole story. Every route feels like another piece of a puzzle that is much larger than it initially appears (puzzle that, by the way, I couldn't complete even though I've already finished this Visual Novel). Looking back, I was surprised by how many clues had been hidden in plain sight from the very beginning. If you allow me to give u a tip, I would say that is crucial to pay attention and remember every detail, as little as it could be. Get ready to have your mind blown for every twist and revelation, this VN has a lot of those. I warned you. The funny thing is that the deeper you go into "Island", the less certain you become about everything. When I finished Karen's route, I thought I was finally beginning to understand Urashima. Then Sara's route happened. When Sara's route ended, I thought I had finally grasped the nature of the island's mysteries. Then Rinne's route happened. When Rinne's route ended, I was convinced that I finally had all the answers. I couldn't have been more wrong because then came the Winter arc, the Never Island arc, and eventually, the RE ending. Of course I won't spoil anything about those arcs/routes. But let me tell you, if you liked Island before that Winter/Never Island arc, you'll start to love this VN when u get to that point. Of course, no discussion about "Island" would be complete without addressing the controversies around this Visual Novel. I'm talking about the most obvious one, spoiler-free of course. For many readers, certain revelations introduced later in the story became one of the most divisive aspects of the entire Visual Novel. Some considered them an interesting consequence of the narrative's ambitious use of time travel and causality. Others felt uncomfortable with the direction the story ultimately takes. Like many controversial topics in fiction, its reception largely depends on how each reader interprets the story, its themes, and the context surrounding those revelations. I've finished this VN just a couple hours ago, and I'm still figuring out how to feel about that. Anyways, I would encourage anyone interested in the Visual Novel to experience the story firsthand before forming a conclusion. I DO criticize the excessive sexual jokes between an ADULT and MINORS (and vice versa), and the allusion to prostitution OF MINORS, in the Winter/Never Island arc. Definitely I do not condone that stuff. This is supposed to be a VN suitable for all ages, not a hentai one or +18 one. That's what makes it weirder. Despite that criticism, I don't think those moments are representative of what "Island" truly is. When I look back at my time with this Visual Novel, those aren't the things that come to mind. What I remember are the mysteries, the theories. The countless moments where I thought I had finally figured everything out, only for the story to completely shatter my understanding of what was happening. More importantly, I remember the emotions. The love. The kind of love capable of crossing years, centuries, generations, and distances. After forty Visual Novels, very few stories still manage to surprise me. "Island" did. And for that reason, it earned a place among my favorites. Highly recommended. Final Score: 92/100 https://store.steampowered.com/app/857450/ISLAND/
ISLAND, developed by Frontwing and published by Frontwing USA, is a sweeping visual novel that blends romance, mystery, and science fiction into an ambitious and emotional narrative. At first glance, it presents itself as a familiar story—a young man awakens on a remote island with no memory of who he is or how he got there—but as the plot unfolds, it evolves into something far more complex. The setting, Urashima Island, feels isolated and timeless, steeped in local legends and traditions that hint at something hidden beneath its peaceful exterior. As the protagonist, who eventually takes the name Setsuna Sanzenkai, becomes entangled with three young women—Rinne Ohara, Karen Kurutsu, and Sara Garandou—he slowly begins to uncover secrets that tie together the island’s myths, its people, and his own mysterious arrival. What begins as a character-driven drama steadily transforms into a meditation on time, destiny, and the cyclical nature of human emotion. The structure of ISLAND is methodical, unfolding in distinct routes that must be played in a specific order. Each heroine’s story reveals new layers of the central mystery and explores different emotional and thematic dimensions. Karen’s route focuses on rebellion and the desire to escape the island’s boundaries, reflecting a yearning for freedom and individuality. Sara’s route dives into the island’s spiritual history, blending ritual, faith, and the tension between science and superstition. Finally, Rinne’s route serves as the emotional and narrative climax, weaving together the threads of the previous stories into a single, resonant conclusion. The game’s true ending ties these arcs together in a way that feels both tragic and uplifting, offering answers to the lingering questions while leaving space for interpretation. The narrative design encourages players to think about the connections between each route, rewarding patience and curiosity with a deep, layered story that can only be understood in full through repetition and reflection. What distinguishes ISLAND from many other visual novels is its atmosphere. The game excels at creating a sense of place—Urashima feels both idyllic and suffocating, a world cut off from time itself. Its blend of coastal beauty and quiet melancholy gives the story a haunting tone that mirrors its themes of memory and inevitability. The pacing can feel slow at first, as the early hours focus on daily life, character interactions, and the small details that define island living. Yet that slow burn pays off as the story begins to shift into deeper mysteries. Each discovery feels earned, and when the plot’s science-fiction elements surface—time loops, paradoxes, and questions about identity—they feel like natural extensions of the emotional groundwork laid early on. The sense of progression from innocence to revelation is one of the game’s most satisfying elements, as it transitions seamlessly from grounded slice-of-life storytelling to something philosophical and profound. The presentation is another area where ISLAND shines. Frontwing’s signature art style gives each character and location warmth and expressiveness, while the use of color and lighting accentuates the mood of each scene. The game’s soundtrack is equally impressive, filled with soft piano melodies, sweeping orchestral pieces, and ambient tracks that enhance the emotional tone without overwhelming it. Each heroine’s route is punctuated by unique musical cues that help define their personalities and emotional journeys. Voice acting, particularly in the Japanese version, adds further depth, giving the cast distinct personalities and emotional nuance. While the English localization is solid, some of the subtleties of tone and wordplay inevitably get lost in translation, though the spirit of the story remains intact. Altogether, the audiovisual presentation works in harmony with the narrative to immerse players completely in Urashima’s world. That said, ISLAND is not without its flaws. The pacing, while deliberate, can test a player’s patience, especially in the early common route where the supernatural elements take a backseat to daily routines and comedic exchanges. Some of the writing can feel overly verbose or melodramatic, particularly in moments of exposition where the story leans heavily on pseudo-scientific or metaphysical explanations. The later revelations, which involve time manipulation and identity twists, require a suspension of disbelief that may not resonate with everyone. For some players, the shift from grounded human drama to high-concept science fiction can feel jarring, and not all the narrative threads tie together as neatly as intended. A few of the routes, particularly those leading to alternate endings, can also feel uneven in tone or pacing compared to the main story. However, these inconsistencies are balanced by the emotional sincerity at the game’s core. Even when the story takes bold leaps into surreal or improbable territory, it does so with conviction and heart. Ultimately, ISLAND stands as one of Frontwing’s most ambitious and emotionally driven visual novels. It dares to tackle grand ideas about love, loss, and the passage of time while grounding them in deeply human relationships. It’s a story that asks players to look beyond surface events and consider the nature of connection—how people can transcend their circumstances, how choices echo across generations, and how even in isolation, hope can endure. The experience is long, reflective, and at times demanding, but for those willing to invest in its slow unfolding, it offers a powerful emotional payoff. ISLAND is less about solving a mystery and more about understanding what it means to live, to remember, and to reach for something eternal. It’s a rare example of a visual novel that marries heartfelt romance with philosophical storytelling, leaving a lasting impression long after the final scene fades. Rating: 9/10
Similar games
View all
Hoshizora no Memoria -Wish upon a Shooting Star- HD
A Japanese love adventure game, as you follow the story of Kogasaka You, his hometown and a promise he made.
YU-NO: A girl who chants love at the bound of this world
Takuya Arima receives a package from his supposedly deceased father. It contains the mysterious Reflector Device which allows the user to travel between parallel worlds. Takuya must unearth the mystery of his father's legacy to prevent a calamity threatening to envelop reality itself.
G-senjou no Maou - The Devil on G-String
You play as Azai Kyousuke, the son of an infamous gangster. Kyousuke knows what he likes and lets nothing stand in his way in getting what he wants. Referred to as God by his classmates, he often enjoys listening to Bach and "working" part time for his stepfather.
eden*
A tale of the planet's final love story told using the full force of minori's critically acclaimed illustrative style, engaging musical compositions, and the highly talented staff that has led fans coming back for more every single time!
PARQUET
In the near future, a technology called Brain-Machine Interface connects the brain and machines. This technology brings about a new paradigm and opens the gates to the digitization of human memory itself. From these new discoveries, "he" is born.
Go! Go! Nippon! ~My First Trip to Japan~
The week you spend in Japan will certainly be memorable!!! Get a taste of the foreign travel offered by printed guidebooks. Enjoy a tour around Japan from the comfort of your own home!
Marco & The Galaxy Dragon
Marco, an orphan with missing memories, and Arco, a dragon who rules the galaxy, were hunting for treasure in space! On one of their adventures, Marco was given a clue to the whereabouts of her mother. Their next stop, her birthplace - Earth!
Aokana - Four Rhythms Across the Blue - EXTRA1
Aokana - EXTRA1 is the official Mashiro afterstory for Aokana.Experience even more Aokana in 1440p!
ATRI -My Dear Moments-
"As the world sank, I found you." In the near future, a sudden and unexplained sea rise has left much of human civilization underwater. In a little town slowly being enveloped by the ocean, an unforgettable summer is about to begin for a boy and a mysterious robot girl...
Grisaia Phantom Trigger Vol.1
"Grisaia: Phantom Trigger" is a visual novel, specifically a kinetic novel (without branching routes). Returning character artist Akio Watanabe and writer Ryuta Fujisaki bring you the latest installment in the acclaimed Grisaia series.
Frequently Asked Questions
ISLAND is currently priced at 39.99€ on Steam.
No, ISLAND is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 39.99€ on Steam.
Yes, ISLAND received 1,580 positive votes out of a total of 1,661 achieving an impressive rating of 9.03.
😍
ISLAND was developed by Frontwing and published by Frontwing USA.
Yes, ISLAND is playable and fully supported on Windows.
No, ISLAND is not playable on MacOS.
No, ISLAND is not playable on Linux.
ISLAND is a single-player game.
Yes, there is a DLC available for ISLAND. Explore additional content available for ISLAND on Steam.
No, ISLAND does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
No, ISLAND does not support Steam Remote Play.
Yes, ISLAND is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for ISLAND.
Data sources
The information presented on this page is sourced from reliable APIs to ensure accuracy and relevance. We utilize the Steam API to gather data on game details, including titles, descriptions, prices, and user reviews. This allows us to provide you with the most up-to-date information directly from the Steam platform.
Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 08 June 2026 00:32 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 11 June 2026 08:13 |
| Steam price | 14 June 2026 12:20 |
| Steam reviews | 13 June 2026 05:47 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about ISLAND, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about ISLAND
- SteamCharts - Analysis of ISLAND concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck ISLAND compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
0
Developer
Frontwing
Publisher
Frontwing USA
Release
23 Aug 2018
Platforms