Islanders: New Shores – The Ultimate Chill Game You Need on Nintendo Switch 2

Islanders: New Shores is a perfect fit for Nintendo Switch 2, offering a relaxing yet engaging city-building experience. This $10 game brings back the charm of the original Islanders with new features, improved visuals, and a fresh photo mode. Whether you’re on the go or at home, it’s a great way to unwind and enjoy some strategic island crafting.
- What makes Islanders: New Shores a great Nintendo Switch 2 game
- Gameplay mechanics and new features
- Why it’s a calming and accessible city builder
- Platform availability and portability benefits
A Relaxing Return to Island Building
If you loved the original Islanders, you’ll find a familiar yet enhanced experience in Islanders: New Shores. The game keeps its minimalist city-building core but adds new buildings, scoring strategies, and a photo mode that lets you capture your island creations in style. It’s simple to pick up but offers enough depth to keep you planning your next move carefully.
Simple Yet Strategic Gameplay
The main goal is to place buildings thoughtfully to maximize your score. Each island is themed with one of six vibrant biomes, giving you a fresh canvas each run. You start with a handful of structures—like a seaweed farm that scores better when placed near water—and expand your island by unlocking more buildings as you reach score milestones.
New features like boons add exciting twists. These special effects can shrink your next building or create raised platforms, changing how you approach island layout. You’ll also find buildings like lighthouses, which score based on their line of sight, adding variety to your strategy.
Perfect for On-the-Go Play
Unlike the first Islanders, which launched initially on PC and later on Switch, New Shores is available on all major platforms from day one, including Nintendo Switch 2. This means you can enjoy your island escape anytime, anywhere—whether on a subway commute or relaxing after a beach day. It’s a game that fits perfectly into your daily life, offering moments of calm and creativity.
Why Islanders: New Shores Stands Out
At its heart, Islanders: New Shores is about finding joy in simplicity. It strips city-building down to its tactile pleasures without the usual complexity of the genre. You can plan meticulously or just place buildings where they look good and still enjoy a rewarding run. It’s a zen-like experience that feels like a mini vacation for your mind.
For anyone looking for a chill, affordable game that works beautifully on Nintendo Switch 2, Islanders: New Shores is a must-have.
Check out the gameplay trailer here: