Take to the skies in this cozy indie game exploring an archipelago with a seaplane

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Among the most appealing games I played during Summer Game Fest was Lou’s Lagoon. Developed by Tiny Roar (Into the Emberlands), this game revolves around the enigma of your missing uncle, Lou. You inherit his air delivery service that links a collection of colorful islands. Spend time gathering resources and constructing buildings on these islands, then venture into the skies to explore other islands, conquer aerial challenges, and deliver packages. Surprisingly, despite not being a fan of life simulation games, once I climbed aboard the plane, it was clear that Lou’s Lagoon offered an experience tailored for me.

Lou’s Lagoon is a cozy game with so much to explore, from islands to the airspace above them

In simpler terms, your Uncle Lou played a crucial part in bringing together all the islands within the archipelago. By using seaplanes, people could exchange messages, parcels, and even travel. Moreover, it seems that Lou was instrumental in constructing essential structures such as radio towers, which enabled everyone to communicate directly. During my short demonstration, one of my responsibilities involved assisting in the repair of a damaged radio tower, thereby restoring communication with numerous other islands. I worked alongside an arrogant lobster character during this task, but I kept reminding myself that it was for the benefit of everyone, not just him.

In Lou’s Lagoon, everything – from the character design to the seaplane – can be tailored to your liking. I’m particularly drawn to the protagonist’s jacket seen in the previews, so I plan to replicate it when crafting my own character. Moreover, the seaplane can undergo a variety of customizations, including different color schemes, creative wave patterns, and even fiery flame details. These personalization options make the game even more engaging as players have the freedom to approach it in their unique style.

As your enthusiastic relative, I’ve always found the enigma surrounding Uncle Lou’s disappearance lingering in the air. While I could vigilantly search for hints and piece together the puzzle, there’s also a charm in simply immersing myself in island life – savoring its tranquility, and constructing a sanctuary of my own. On the central isle, such an opportunity presents itself. With the right resources at hand, there’s no bounds to what one can create. In the spirit of spontaneity, I opted to establish my abode directly on the sandy shore, embracing the soothing rhythm of the waves and the serenity that comes with it.

In Lou’s Lagoon, you’ll encounter a handy tool called the Vacuum Collector that gathers resources automatically, eliminating the need to manually pick up each item. This collected resources can be used for construction purposes. Additionally, the player has a double jump ability, transforming certain exploration into a 3D platforming experience. When the player jumps twice, they use an air-propelling device to gain extra height. Interestingly, if the player falls from a significant height, there’s a brief animation showing the character using the same device to break their fall, making this world feel more authentic and inhabited. This detail might seem insignificant, but it adds a sense of realism as the character doesn’t just inexplicably avoid fall damage; instead, there’s an in-game explanation for it.

What really captured my interest during the demo was soaring through the skies with the seaplane. Normally, when airborne, you have a specific place to go, but there are numerous diversions. I made about four or five attempts to navigate through a tiny hoop in the sky. It requires more skill and accuracy than one might imagine. I’m excited to delve deeper into this aspect of the game during my playtime at Summer Game Fest. In the brief time I spent there, it feels like I barely touched upon its full potential.

I appreciate Tiny Roar and Megabit Publishing for allowing me to test out Lou’s Lagoon. At the moment, there is no official release date, and a demo is not yet accessible. However, let us hope that we receive more information about this charming exploration game in the near future. You can add Lou’s Lagoon to your wishlist on Steam to stay informed.

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2025-06-20 18:32