Snowcastle Games, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure — Interview Series

Snowcastle Games’ Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure has recently become a staple on the gaming market for its cozy aesthetics and award-winning material, thereby fortifying its reputation as one of the best and most sought-after sandbox games of 2024. To touch base on its recent successes, we thought we’d catch up with the team to discuss the latest Blooming Beginnings update, as well as what the future holds for the IP.

Before we delve into the world of Ikonei Island, tell us about Snowcastle Games. When was the company founded, and what are some of the core values that you and the team share?

A: Snowcastle Games was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Since our creation, we've been committed to crafting immersive gaming experiences. We want our games to reflect our core values of creativity, innovation, and dedication to quality. As we continue to grow, our team aims to deliver captivating adventures to players worldwide.

For those who’ve yet to enter the world of Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure — how would you describe it?

A: Without major spoilers, Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure is a delightful, charming and immersive cozy game set in a vibrant and enchanting world. Players – or Castaways, as we call them – will have a lot to explore. Whether they’re tending to your farm, uncovering hidden treasures, or saving the island from nasty pirates, there's always something exciting to discover on Ikonei Island.

Could you give us some advice on how to find a foothold in Ikonei Island? Are there any tips that you could share with potential newcomers?

A: Collect as many frogs as you can! Take your time to explore the corners of Ikonei Island, you might find some nice surprises as you wander through the Island. Keep your companions happy. Be ready for combat. And don’t forget to tend to your farm! 

So, what inspired you to create this sort of game? Is this something that the team has wanted to bring to life since the studio’s inception?

A: Bendick Stang, CEO, was inspired by playing Stardew Valley with his kids (girl 9, girl 11, boy 16 and me) a whole rainy weekend. It was a unique family experience. 

Tell us a bit about the Blooming Beginnings 1.5 update. What can returning fans expect to find in the newest patch?

A: We take our player’s feedback seriously, so we implemented substantial changes to make the game even more interesting. There are major UI overhauls, quest updates, new puzzles, a new enemy (Vipeagon, a creature that also existed in EARTHLOCK,) revamped combat, and improved farming mechanics. We don’t want to spoil everything but rest assured – there are a lot of nice things for new and old players to find out.

Blooming Beginnings aside, can we expect to see any more add-ons over the course of the year? If so, are there any dates that we should be circling in our calendars?

A: We can’t share any specific dates for the next update just yet, but we will announce it through our Social Media channels once we’re ready.

Apologies for jumping the gun, but are we likely to see another project come to fruition over the next couple of years?

A: For sure. EARTHLOCK 2 is in development (and you can check the latest updates on the Steam page)  and we might have some other surprises to share with the players soon.

Any final words for our readers?

A: We hope you enjoy the Blooming Beginnings update! You can reach out to us through our Social Media channels or Discord. We would love to hear what you have to say about our game. 

Thanks again, team. We’re wishing you and Ikonei Island all the best for the future!

You can get ahold of a copy of Ikonei Island: An Earthlock Adventure on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC today. For more updates on Snowcastle Games’ latest release, be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle here.