Nono Islands icon

Nono Islands

v2.0.0

Illusion Labs

6.1K ratings

Report updated Apr 3, 2026

What Is Nono Islands?

Nono Islands is a polished isometric adventure platformer by Illusion Labs that blends simple tap controls with high-difficulty environmental hazards. Despite its age, it maintains a high 4.7-star rating and significant nostalgic value among its user base. However, the product is currently in a legacy state, facing technical stability issues on modern iOS hardware and a lack of fresh content for its highly engaged audience.

What users think iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.

Thrilled
Nostalgic Value
App Crashes on Launch... Show more

What does it look like?

What are the key features?

Adventure PlatformingStandard

Navigate through island environments on a quest for lost treasures

Enemy AvoidanceStandard

Evade a variety of unique enemies including spiders, sharks, and jumping skulls

Environmental Hazard TrapsDifferentiator

Survive complex traps such as spikes, flying darts, sawblades, and boulders

Multi-Platform SupportDifferentiator

Available on both mobile devices and Apple TV for a consistent gaming experience

What do users think? iIndependent intel reports to help builders create better apps or enhance existing ones. Still in beta, accuracy and relevancy get better every day. For informational purposes only.

Thrilled

Recent user voice shows a thrilled sentiment. Users appreciate nostalgic value and engaging gameplay, but report app crashes on launch and lack of content updates.

What Users Love

Nostalgic Value

I have been playing Nono Islands ever since I was a little kid and it has been part of my childhood.

This brang me back to so much memories back in 2013 or 2014 when i played this on my ipod

Engaging Gameplay

Super FUN but hard and challenging but I LOVE challenges!!

This is a really good game if you like strategy, speed, and skill.

Pain Points

App Crashes on Launch

Got new iPhone 16 Pro Max and when I open the app it closes out.

It keeps kicking me out before I even get to play.

Lack of Content Updates

I finished the whole thing. PLEASE make more levels!

I crave another update to the main Nono islands

High confidence · 49 reviews available

What are the pros and cons?

Pros

  • High production value and polished isometric art style
  • Strong brand equity and nostalgia factor
  • Proven core gameplay loop with high historical rating

Cons

  • Technical debt causing crashes on modern hardware
  • Stagnant content pipeline (no updates since 2020)
  • Lack of modern social or community features

What is the market outlook?

Growth Opportunities

  • Stability patch to recapture dormant users on new devices
  • Implementation of a level editor for user-generated content
  • Potential for inclusion in subscription services like Apple Arcade

Market Threats

  • Platform obsolescence as iOS updates break legacy code
  • Loss of market share to modern rivals like Redungeon and Lucky Luna
  • Declining sentiment due to perceived abandonment by developers

Who competes with Nono Islands?

The Nemesis

Why it's a threat

Contenders

+

Matches the high-speed, high-stakes trap evasion and fast-paced level progression.

+

Procedural Vertical Labyrinth

Lara Croft GO

Lara Croft GO

Deca Live Operations GmbH

Offers a premium isometric adventure experience focused on navigating dangerous environments and traps.

+

Offers a premium isometric adventure experience focused on navigating dangerous environments and traps.

+

A high-intensity vertical platformer that rewards fast reflexes and enemy avoidance.

+

Gunboots

Leap Day

Leap Day

4.6 (18K)

Nitrome

A daily-challenge platformer that emphasizes precision movement and complex trap avoidance.

+

A daily-challenge platformer that emphasizes precision movement and complex trap avoidance.

Peers

+

A highly polished casual adventure game focused on environmental exploration and hazard avoidance.

+

One-touch Trick System

+

A classic casual action game centered on surviving a gauntlet of environmental traps.

+

Bullet-Powered Jetpacks

+

A classic adventure platformer that blends exploration with hazard-filled levels.

+

Dynamic Lighting System

+

High-difficulty rhythm-based hazard avoidance that appeals to the 'humorous difficulty' audience.

+

Rhythm-based Platforming

New Kids on the Block

Super Leap Day

Super Leap Day

4.5 (1K)

Nitrome

A modern, fast-paced metroidvania-lite that emphasizes fluid movement and enemy avoidance.

+

A modern, fast-paced metroidvania-lite that emphasizes fluid movement and enemy avoidance.

Afterplace

Afterplace

Evan Kice

A rising indie adventure game that emphasizes exploration and navigating a dangerous, trap-filled world.

+

A rising indie adventure game that emphasizes exploration and navigating a dangerous, trap-filled world.

What are the key takeaways?

Nono Islands is a thrilling games app that is completely free. With a 4.7/5 rating from 6.1K reviews, it thrills its users from users. Users particularly appreciate nostalgic value, though app crashes on launch remains a common concern.

Best for: Casual gamers who enjoy challenging, fast-paced platformer games with a whimsical, adventurous theme.

How much does it cost?

Model: free

Tiers:
Free-to-play base game

The app follows a free-to-play model, likely supported by in-app purchases or ads, focusing on high-volume casual engagement.

iOS Version

2.0.0

Release Date

Jul 8, 2015

iOS Price

Free

Developer

Illusion Labs

Independent intel to help builders create better apps.

No publisher influence. No third-party bias. Built with objectivity in mind to serve the builder community. Reports are continuously improved and refined. For informational purposes only.

Hope this helps & keep building! · Found an error?

Cite this report

Marlvel.ai. “Nono Islands Intelligence Report.” Updated Apr 3, 2026. https://marlvel.ai/intel-report/games/nono-islands

Agent Markdown (.md)·

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