Whispering Isles

Whispering Isles is a quieter kind of game, and I mean that as high praise. You sail between small islands, uncover ruins, and slowly assemble the story of the people who lived there. There's no combat and no fail state — the reward is discovery itself.

The puzzles are environmental and gentle, mostly about observation and connecting clues you've already seen. It never leaves you hopelessly stuck, but it also never insults you with hand-holding. The art direction, all soft light and watercolour skies, is the best I've seen on mobile this year.

It's a short experience, maybe five hours, and that's the right length. I played it in the evenings to unwind and left every session feeling calmer. If you want something with stakes, look elsewhere, but as a wind-down game it's lovely.

What we liked

• Peaceful, pressure-free exploration
• Gorgeous watercolour art
• Puzzles that respect your intelligence