Apr 30, 2026

Gecko Gods Review: The Joy of Being Lost

Saad Bin Asif

I haven’t really spent much time with puzzle-focused video games; I think puzzles work perfectly as a sub-genre. Adding a bit of exploration to the format and a unique art style to boot can knock it out of the park. Gecko Gods is a prime example of this.

Although Gecko Gods is my first proper foray into a puzzle game, and it perfectly managed to change my perspective on this genre. Developed by Inresin and published by Super Rare Originals, Gecko Gods follows a gecko that finds itself stranded on an island where a prophecy is revealed about its Gods.

Does it really live up to the standards of a puzzle game? If you’re interested in learning more about the game, check the game’s Steam page.

Can a Gecko Solve a Puzzle?

The world of Gecko Gods is quite open and provides a great amount of variety in puzzles and exploration. For the first twenty or so minutes, you will be stranded on the first Island and meet with the Water Gecko. The puzzle variety here is just the beginning, and a handful of the puzzles are repetitive, but it’s all just a buildup.

Climbing walls is fun, but this can get infuriating to control if you’re on the roof. At some points, the controls don’t feel ‘intuitive’ at all, and you will be fighting them instead of all the crabs present all over the archipelago. The key to overcoming this hurdle, I found, is to be patient, play the game slowly, and go with the flow.

After crossing the first barrier, that being the Water Gecko’s island, the complete world will open up, granting you access to five islands. Three of these islands only include a single puzzle, and the remaining islands are homes to the remaining two Gecko Gods: Fire and Desert. Allowing you to explore at your own pace is something that Inresin has nailed perfectly, as there is no time limit to solving the game’s puzzles at all.

I remember playing piece-sliding puzzles on my dad’s phone, and seeing them reappear in Gecko Gods was a nostalgic sight.

As you move forward with the game’s objectives, the puzzles become more complex and require patience throughout the entire process. One puzzle that took me by surprise was focused on reflecting lights throughout the entire Desert Island, which ultimately leads to the conclusion of the game.

The Fire Gecko’s island proved to be a bit infuriating, as you are required to explore it thoroughly, forcing the player to visit every nook and cranny of the island in order to complete its puzzles. ‘Forcing’ an objective on the player in an empty world like this diverts from the aesthetic the game originally aims for.

Another major gripe I had with the game was that the build I played had a critical bug that broke the game near its conclusion. This was later patched, but it did force me to restart the game at the time I played it.

A Cozy Adventure At Your Own Pace

Invoking a sense of creativity, the game keeps one-upping its puzzles by introducing switches and lighting mechanics. All the puzzles, however, are overshadowed by how cozy the game is. With a day and night cycle around you, and a raft in your small, Gecko-y hands, it’s just you against the archipelago.

The prophecy can wait while you explore the islands at your own pace. Gecko Gods feels like a Sunday trip to nowhere, where your main objective is to enjoy a vacation at your leisure.

Beneath the calm waters and sunlit deserts, the game relies more on your curiosity rather than any sense of urgency.

The soundtrack does a great job adding to the serenity as you travel through the oceans while watching the orange sun gradually drown itself at the other end of its world.

The puzzles feel more meditative than demanding since they don’t have consequences if you fail. Truly a fun video game at the end of the day, and as someone who hasn’t played a game solely focused on puzzles, I will be looking out for more of these in the future.

Verdict

What truly makes Gecko Gods stand out is how the game treats its players. There is no overwhelming pressure on your shoulders to hurriedly explore and complete the objectives, which makes the exploration inherently rewarding from beginning to the end.

Oh, and did I tell you that you could squeak as a Gecko? That adds further immersion into the game.

I want to end this review on the note that the puzzles and exploration outright overshadow the game’s clunky mechanics. Whether it is your first endeavor into puzzle adventures, or you’re a veteran of the genre, Gecko Gods will show you how a game doesn’t need ‘danger’ to be memorable.

Developer: Inresin
Country of Origin: United Kingdom
Publisher: Super Rare Originals
Release Date: April 16, 2026 (PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch)

This review of Gecko Gods is based on a key of the game provided to us by the publisher. The PC version of the game was played for this review of Gecko Gods.

Thank you for reading our review of Gecko Gods. Already playing the game? Check out our complete walkthrough of the game right here.

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