What it actually is
Illusion Island is a 2D platformer from Dlala Studios, Mickey Mouse and pals running through hand-drawn worlds, collecting books for some reason, doing a lot of jumping. It came out in 2023 and got quietly decent reviews. At full price it felt a bit short. At £9.99 it makes a lot more sense.
Personally, I played through a chunk of it with my seven-year-old niece over a weekend. She was on Minnie, I was on Mickey, and we spent about twenty minutes just falling off the same ledge laughing. That tells you most of what you need to know about the tone.
Who this is actually for
Kids aged roughly five to ten, honestly. Or adults who want something completely undemanding after a long week. The co-op is local only, up to four players, and the difficulty sits somewhere between "very easy" and "easy". There's no combat, just platforming and a light metroidvania structure with abilities you unlock to reach new areas.
It is short. Maybe five to seven hours if you're not rushing. That's fine at a tenner, less fine at £35.
The honest reservation
If your kids are older or you're buying this for yourself expecting something with a bit more bite, look elsewhere. Hollow Knight this is not. The story is basically nothing. And the replay value is slim once you've seen everything.
But for a rainy afternoon with a young child who loves Disney? Spot on. The art is lovely, the vibe is calm, and no one's going to get stressed out. Sometimes that's exactly what you want from a game.
