Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland Review (PC)
Summary: Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland turns a deeply personal tribute into a meaningful adventure, where every new word shapes how you see and interact with the world.
3.8
Heartfelt tribute
Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland encapsulates a profoundly personal tribute in a top-down narrative adventure that is both heartfelt and imaginative. Inspired by the real life of André Lima, a polyglot who fulfilled his lifelong aspiration of moving to Iceland before his tragic passing, you step into the shoes of protagonist Lemon, carrying a blank dictionary and an ambition to fill it as he travels from Brazil toward the country he adores.
Before Lemon can reach Iceland, however, a mysterious detour transports him to the Bashir Islands, an archipelago where every character speaks a different language. A strange memory-erasing plague has spread across the islands, threatening to erase all languages. As a result, Lemon’s quest shifts from personal aspiration to preservation of the languages of those who live on the islands.
As you explore the islands, you learn new vocabulary that grants different powers. An early example is gambiarra, a Brazilian-Portuguese term that allows you to combine items in your inventory in-game to solve puzzles and help locals piece their lives back together. Meanwhile, ratljóst allows you to clear fog around the island to uncover hidden characters and secrets. The glowing Icelandic word is an ability that gets stronger as you progress the story, allowing you to return to previous islands and clear dark fog that you previously couldn’t. Collecting these new words not only fills a dictionary, but also reshapes how Lemon interacts with the world. It’s a clever mechanic that aligns with the game’s core message: language is a bridge, not a barrier. In celebrating this message, Master Lemon honours André Lima, whose passion for languages inspired this tale.
Pepita Digital backs up this message by giving Master Lemon an old-school adventure game charm. The pixel art style, while minimalist, succeeds at giving each island its own personality. And when the story shifts into cutscenes, like the moment Lemon meets the mysterious linguist who hints at his greater purpose, the visuals ramp up significantly. Paired with fully voiced performances, the animated pixel cinematics allows the cutscenes to shine as some of the game’s strongest moments. It’s clear the studio designed these cutscenes to be celebrations of André’s milestones rather than just plot turns.
The soundtrack has a soft, ambient style that shifts appropriately from island to island. It succeeds at reinforcing each area’s atmosphere without being overwhelming. Perhaps the most impactful audio decision, however, is how the game handles language itself. Every newly learned word is spoken aloud, allowing players to hear authentic pronunciation and feel a connection to the identity, history and culture of those who speak the language.
Final Thoughts
Master Lemon proves that games don’t need blockbuster budgets to resonate with players. Since the game’s release, it has already begun to garner attention beyond player praise. The game took home 10 awards at the Nyxx Game Awards, a testament to its emotional storytelling and thoughtful design, and has been spotlighted in programs such as Xbox Indie Selects’ November collection for standout indie titles. While it may be a small adventure, Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland leaves a lasting impression, reminding players that learning languages has value.
About the Author
Jade Darton Jade is a web developer and Computer Science BSc student from Suffolk, UK with a passion for games and writing about them.
Related Posts
Two Point Museum – Zooseum DLC PC Review →
Outlaws + Handful of Missions: Remaster PC Review →
Marvel: Cosmic Invasion PC Review →
