It's genuinely frustrating that Steam doesn't offer a "neutral" review option, because that's truly where I stand with Len's Island. However, given the choice, I have to give it a thumbs down, which comes with a heavy heart after owning it for 2.5 years.

The core promise of "forging your own path" and exploring a beautiful world is appealing, but in practice, I found myself constantly bottlenecked into activities I didn't want to do. I wanted to focus on adventure and combat, yet to upgrade my sword and progress, I was forced into endless cycles of fishing and gardening. This mandatory grind completely undermines the sense of player freedom the game suggests.

When it comes to the dungeons, "challenging" isn't the right word. They're difficult, yes, but not due to engaging design or deep combat. Instead, the challenge stems from the basic, uninspired combat system that relies heavily on overwhelming you with endless enemy spawners. It often feels less like a strategic fight and more like a frustrating swarm where your only option is to awkwardly kite or get buried.

I really, really wanted to like Len's Island. I've held onto it for a long time hoping it would evolve, but it just hasn't "cooked" into the immersive, exploratory experience I envisioned. The potential is clearly there, but the execution leans too heavily on tedious mechanics and artificial difficulty that ultimately killed my enjoyment.

I played it when it was early access and now when it's released.

It's a fun concept, but it's incredibly grindy. You need a Salvaged Metal or Machine Parts for almost everything. Upgrades, buildings, metal bars. Both of which can only be found in barrels and are semi-rare.
You also need Coin but it's also pretty grindy to get.

The combat is repetitive and a little clanky.

It's at times very tedious. At least single player.

Chill survival crafting game. You can build a cozy home, farm crops, or dive into dungeons for some action. Combat’s engaging with a rhythm-based crit system, though the archery feels off.
The visuals are colorful and inviting with a day-night cycle.
There’s a light story about escaping a mysterious void and uncovering island secrets, but it’s not deep or gripping. The game leans hard on exploration and player freedom, which is great if you love making your own goals but can feel aimless if you want more direction.
Overall It’s a solid indie game with a lot of potential, especially for fans of survival or crafting games like Minecraft, Stardew Vallely or even Valheim. Worth trying out for sure!