Stress-free island fun for the whole crew
By Paul Hunter
Survival Kids arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 as a fresh take on a classic Konami property dating back to 1999. Developed by Unity in their first full game project, it shifts away from the punishing survival roots of its Game Boy ancestor toward a light, co-op puzzle adventure. Instead of grim struggles, you get a family-friendly romp filled with crafting, teamwork, and exploration across islands perched on giant turtles.
The game invites you to join up locally in two-player spltscreen co-op or three-players by linking two additional consoles via GameShare, or go online with up to three others. Whether you’re teaming up on a single console or streaming the action to multiple Switch systems with GameShare, Survival Kids leans heavily into cooperation. The mechanics are approachable, designed to ease beginners into crafting and puzzle-solving without overwhelming them.
While it keeps things simple, the game offers a surprisingly steady stream of tasks like gathering materials, building tools, and solving light puzzles. It’s a casual, relaxed experience—perfect for playing with younger gamers or anyone new to co-op games. Plus, there are challenges and collectibles that add reasons to revisit stages and keep the fun going.
But does Survival Kids deliver enough charm and challenge to hold your attention through its turtle-backed island adventures? Let’s find out!
Survival Kids sets a simple scene: you and a group of friends find an old map, which leads to a series of shipwrecks on giant turtles called whurtles. Each island requires you to collect parts, fix broken elevators, and ultimately escape to the next one.
Central to this is the Harmony Stone, an ancient item that can tame the storm and help your crew make it back home safely. The islands themselves hold remnants of an ancient civilisation with advanced technology, adding a subtle layer of mystery.
While the narrative isn’t complex, it provides a clear context for your tasks, focusing on cooperative exploration and problem-solving. The plot fits the game’s relaxed style and works well for gamers seeking a light adventure rather than a deep survival tale.
Survival Kids centers around gathering bits and bobs, crafting simple tools, and fixing broken elevators or rafts to move forward. Everything you need has to be carried around, which keeps exploration hands-on and satisfying. It’s a neat twist on crafting that doesn’t bog you down in menus or inventory micromanagement.
Each island in Survival Kids hides three Treasure Stones, tucked behind light puzzles or clever exploration paths. These shiny trinkets boost your island’s star rating and are key to unlocking the final area. You’ll also spot glowing glyphs that grant bonus outfits, adding a bit of flair to your adventure. While the game doesn’t overwhelm you with busywork, these extras give you small reasons to poke around every corner before moving on.
Beating levels faster also rewards you with a perfect three-star rating, and you’re encouraged to replay islands to bump your score. The straightforward gameplay loop of hunting down missed collectibles and shaving minutes off your completion time gives casual gamers and families a soft incentive to dive back in.
The co-op aspect really makes the game fun. I played alongside an eight-year-old, and their excitement when building and crafting was infectious. The controls are straightforward and reliable, perfect for new gamers without making things feel too basic.
The puzzles stay easy but introduce new things like bridges and gliders to keep things interesting. Sometimes you’ll get knocked into the water by those ancient turrets, which adds a little challenge. It’s nothing too tough, just enough to make you think and work together.
Playing alone is slower but doable. The game supports splitscreen, online, and GameShare, though I found splitscreen ran best. Even if your teammate just cooks while you gather the supplies, the gameplay’s forgiving enough to still finish your goals without hassle. It’s a laid-back adventure perfect for casual fun with friends or family.
The visuals in Survival Kids are bright and basic, just enough to keep things fun and kid-friendly. Nothing too fancy here, but the colours and designs are clear so you won’t get lost on the islands. It fits the easygoing feel of the game nicely.
Sound effects like chopping wood and fishing hit the right note, and the upbeat tunes keep things light and breezy. I found the audio really helped keep the mood relaxed and fun while we explored.
The interface is clean and simple, which is great if you’re playing with someone new to gaming. Controls worked well for me and my six-year-old co-survivor, who had no trouble picking everything up. Menus are kept straightforward, which keeps the focus on the fun stuff.
Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Developer: Unity
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Survival, Adventure
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.
By Paul Hunter
Survival Kids arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 as a fresh take on a classic Konami property dating back to 1999. Developed by Unity in their first full game project, it shifts away from the punishing survival roots of its Game Boy ancestor toward a light, co-op puzzle adventure. Instead of grim struggles, you get a family-friendly romp filled with crafting, teamwork, and exploration across islands perched on giant turtles.
The game invites you to join up locally in two-player spltscreen co-op or three-players by linking two additional consoles via GameShare, or go online with up to three others. Whether you’re teaming up on a single console or streaming the action to multiple Switch systems with GameShare, Survival Kids leans heavily into cooperation. The mechanics are approachable, designed to ease beginners into crafting and puzzle-solving without overwhelming them.
While it keeps things simple, the game offers a surprisingly steady stream of tasks like gathering materials, building tools, and solving light puzzles. It’s a casual, relaxed experience—perfect for playing with younger gamers or anyone new to co-op games. Plus, there are challenges and collectibles that add reasons to revisit stages and keep the fun going.
But does Survival Kids deliver enough charm and challenge to hold your attention through its turtle-backed island adventures? Let’s find out!
Survival Kids sets a simple scene: you and a group of friends find an old map, which leads to a series of shipwrecks on giant turtles called whurtles. Each island requires you to collect parts, fix broken elevators, and ultimately escape to the next one.
Central to this is the Harmony Stone, an ancient item that can tame the storm and help your crew make it back home safely. The islands themselves hold remnants of an ancient civilisation with advanced technology, adding a subtle layer of mystery.
While the narrative isn’t complex, it provides a clear context for your tasks, focusing on cooperative exploration and problem-solving. The plot fits the game’s relaxed style and works well for gamers seeking a light adventure rather than a deep survival tale.
Survival Kids centers around gathering bits and bobs, crafting simple tools, and fixing broken elevators or rafts to move forward. Everything you need has to be carried around, which keeps exploration hands-on and satisfying. It’s a neat twist on crafting that doesn’t bog you down in menus or inventory micromanagement.
Each island in Survival Kids hides three Treasure Stones, tucked behind light puzzles or clever exploration paths. These shiny trinkets boost your island’s star rating and are key to unlocking the final area. You’ll also spot glowing glyphs that grant bonus outfits, adding a bit of flair to your adventure. While the game doesn’t overwhelm you with busywork, these extras give you small reasons to poke around every corner before moving on.
Beating levels faster also rewards you with a perfect three-star rating, and you’re encouraged to replay islands to bump your score. The straightforward gameplay loop of hunting down missed collectibles and shaving minutes off your completion time gives casual gamers and families a soft incentive to dive back in.
The co-op aspect really makes the game fun. I played alongside an eight-year-old, and their excitement when building and crafting was infectious. The controls are straightforward and reliable, perfect for new gamers without making things feel too basic.
The puzzles stay easy but introduce new things like bridges and gliders to keep things interesting. Sometimes you’ll get knocked into the water by those ancient turrets, which adds a little challenge. It’s nothing too tough, just enough to make you think and work together.
Playing alone is slower but doable. The game supports splitscreen, online, and GameShare, though I found splitscreen ran best. Even if your teammate just cooks while you gather the supplies, the gameplay’s forgiving enough to still finish your goals without hassle. It’s a laid-back adventure perfect for casual fun with friends or family.
The visuals in Survival Kids are bright and basic, just enough to keep things fun and kid-friendly. Nothing too fancy here, but the colours and designs are clear so you won’t get lost on the islands. It fits the easygoing feel of the game nicely.
Sound effects like chopping wood and fishing hit the right note, and the upbeat tunes keep things light and breezy. I found the audio really helped keep the mood relaxed and fun while we explored.
The interface is clean and simple, which is great if you’re playing with someone new to gaming. Controls worked well for me and my six-year-old co-survivor, who had no trouble picking everything up. Menus are kept straightforward, which keeps the focus on the fun stuff.
The Verdict
Survival Kids isn’t trying to reinvent anything—it just wants you to hang out, build stuff, and maybe ride a turtle or two. It’s chill, easy to pick up, and clearly made for friendly co-op. There’s no pressure, no big twists, and nothing too deep. But for a relaxed game night or some low-stress fun, it holds up well.Final Score: 7/10 - Good
Survival Kids details
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2Developer: Unity
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Survival, Adventure
Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
A key was provided by the publisher.