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Freedom251 › Blog › Gaming Guides

How to Start Playing Under the Island on PS5 or Nintendo Switch

By Freedom251 Team · · 11 min read

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Under The Island is available digitally on both PS5 and Nintendo Switch, with listings dated February 17, 2026. The US PlayStation Store lists a free demo and a purchase that includes the PS4 and PS5 digital versions. Nintendo’s UK listing also shows a demo, while Nintendo’s store pages describe handheld, tabletop and TV play on Switch. Store availability, language labels and editions can differ by country, so check the storefront attached to your console before buying.

This guide explains how to find the game, start with the demo or full edition, choose between the two platforms, and understand the opening without inventing button prompts or a tutorial sequence that the official listings do not document.

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What you need to start

You need a PS5 or a Nintendo Switch, an account for that console’s digital store, an internet connection for downloading the game, and enough free storage for the selected edition. Under The Island is listed as a single-player digital adventure. The PlayStation Store page covers PS4 and PS5 versions together; Nintendo lists a Switch edition.

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Platform Store information Play modes or specifications
PS5 PlayStation Store lists the PS4 and PS5 digital editions together and offers a free PS4/PS5 demo in the US listing. PS5 play may require updated system software.
Nintendo Switch Nintendo UK lists a demo and a digital edition. Handheld, tabletop and TV modes; one player on one system.
Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Canada lists the game as supported, with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch. Download size listed by Nintendo Canada: 638 MB.

The listings give February 17, 2026 as the release date. A demo or a particular language option is not guaranteed to appear in every country’s store, so treat the local product page—not a search result from another region—as the final availability check.

#1 Best Overall
Under the Island - Nintendo Switch
  • Six vibrant biomes, brought to life by pixel art. An island full of quirky inhabitants with their own personalities. Battle lots of strange, unique creatures. Befriend animals and have them help on your adventure.
  • Solve the mystery of the sinking island, fight monsters and solve smart puzzles. Work alongside allies and animals who will support you in a variety of different ways. Travel six distinct, interconnected biomes, face outrageous monsters and tough bosses along the way.
  • Throwback to classic 90s RPGS with vintage charm and style that you’ll find difficult to put down. Find hidden corners, uncover secrets and gather precious loot and artefacts on your journey to gain new abilities.
  • Languages: English and German voice. English, German, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese text.

Start Under The Island on PS5

Find the correct product page

  1. From the PS5 home screen, open the PlayStation Store.
  2. Use the store search and enter Under The Island. Check that the result identifies the game rather than unrelated search matches.
  3. Open the product page and review the edition information. The US listing groups the PS4 and PS5 digital versions under one purchase.
  4. Look for the demo entry. The US page presents free PS4 and PS5 demos; if your regional page does not show one, the offer may not be available in that market.

Install the demo or full game

Select the demo’s download option if you want to try the game first. If you are ready to purchase, use the full-game option on the same listing and complete the store’s normal checkout. The PlayStation listing says that PS5 play may require an updated system-software version. If the download will not start or the game will not launch, install any pending PS5 system update and try again.

Launch and select the installed version

After installation, start the game from the PS5 home screen or Game Library. Because the PlayStation product includes both PS4 and PS5 digital versions, make sure you launch the version you intend to use when both icons are offered. The storefront establishes the entitlement, but it does not document save-transfer behavior or feature differences between versions; do not assume that a save from one version automatically appears in the other.

Start Under The Island on Nintendo Switch

Locate the regional listing

  1. Open Nintendo eShop on the Switch profile you use for purchases.
  2. Search for Under The Island and open the game’s official listing.
  3. Check whether the page offers a demo in your country. Nintendo UK marks a demo as available, but regional storefronts can display different products.
  4. Review the mode and language information shown on your own store page before downloading.

Download and launch

  1. Choose the demo or full digital edition and confirm the download.
  2. Leave the console connected until the download and installation finish. Nintendo Canada lists the download at 638 MB, so the required free space is modest but should still be checked against your console’s available storage.
  3. Start the game from the HOME menu. Nintendo lists handheld, tabletop and TV modes, so you can begin in handheld mode and move to a docked or tabletop setup without choosing a separate edition.

Nintendo Canada lists support on Nintendo Switch 2, with behavior consistent with Nintendo Switch. That listing also specifies TV, tabletop and handheld modes. If your console is a Switch 2, use the Switch 2-compatible product information shown by your own eShop rather than assuming that every regional label is identical.

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Cost, editions and accessories

Both console versions described here are digital storefront products. The cited PlayStation page groups the PS4 and PS5 editions under one purchase, while Nintendo confirms a digital Switch edition. Prices, discounts and tax treatment vary by country and can change, so open the live listing for your account before treating any displayed amount as current. Do not rely on an old search-result price or assume that a promotion shown in the United States applies elsewhere.

No physical cartridge or disc inventory is established by these listings. If you specifically want boxed media, verify that separately with a retailer rather than assuming a physical edition exists. A compatible Switch Pro Controller is listed by Nintendo, but it is optional; the store information does not indicate that you need one to begin. Use the controller already supported by your console and follow the game’s own prompts.

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  • Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
  • Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
  • Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
  • Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
  • Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only

Should you use the demo first?

Both platform ecosystems have an official store listing that shows a demo, but the evidence is regional: the US PlayStation page offers free PS4 and PS5 demos, and Nintendo UK marks a demo as available. Before relying on a demo, open the store for your account’s country and confirm that the demo button is present.

What a demo can answer

  • Whether the top-down viewpoint and general pace suit you.
  • Whether the game runs comfortably on the console and display setup you use.
  • Whether the available language options are acceptable in your region.
  • Whether the basic exploration, combat and puzzle mix appeals to you.
  • Whether handheld, tabletop or TV play is the most comfortable way for you to follow the action on Switch.

What the store pages do not promise

The official listings do not state how much of the story the demo includes, whether progress carries into the full game, or whether the demo has identical settings and performance. Treat any save-transfer or content assumption as unverified unless the demo’s own in-game notice confirms it. A demo listing also does not guarantee that the same demo remains available indefinitely, so check the page when you are ready to download.

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What happens when the adventure begins

The premise

You play as Nia, who investigates an island that is threatened with sinking. Nia works with a local girl named Avocado while uncovering what is happening to the island. The setup gives the opening a clear investigative purpose, but the official store descriptions do not publish a scene-by-scene opening script.

The core activities

Under The Island is described as a single-player, top-down adventure. Its official descriptions identify three recurring activities:

  • Exploration: Nia travels through interconnected regions rather than staying in one small starting room.
  • Combat: You encounter unusual enemies and fight while moving through the island.
  • Puzzles and investigation: Progress involves solving puzzles and examining the island’s condition with Avocado.

The combination means the first session is best approached as an exploration loop: follow the game’s direction, investigate nearby paths, deal with obstacles or enemies, and pay attention to environmental clues. This is a description of the published premise and play style, not a claim about a specific first objective.

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  • Explore each stage and then find even more secrets by making your way through the stage backwards on the flip side
  • Overcome varied enemies and obstacles, like Zombie Guys, Skelesaurus, Ukiki, and Monty Mole as you seek out hidden collectables; ESRB Content: Mild Cartoon Violence; Genre: Action, Platformer
  • Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
  • Clad Yoshi in collectable, protective, handicraft costumes as he makes his way through each stage

Use the game’s own prompts for controls

Neither storefront publishes a complete opening button map or tutorial walkthrough. When the game displays an interaction, movement or combat prompt, follow that prompt exactly. If you need to review controls, pause and inspect the settings or help screens supplied by the game. Button layouts can also differ between a DualSense controller, Joy-Con configuration and another compatible controller, so a generic control list would be less reliable than the in-game display.

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Choosing between PS5 and Switch

The practical choice is mostly about the console you already own and where you want to play. The available store information does not establish a performance winner, control advantage, save synchronization or feature parity between versions.

Choose this option when… Why it fits What remains unestablished
PS5 You want the PlayStation digital listing, access to the PS4/PS5 entitlement, or the US-listed PS4/PS5 demo where available. The store pages do not document comparative resolution, frame rate, loading times or DualSense-specific features.
Nintendo Switch You value the ability to play handheld, tabletop or on a TV, or you already use Nintendo eShop. No verified comparison with PS5 performance, controls or save behavior is provided.
Switch 2 You own Nintendo’s newer console and your Canadian listing identifies the game as supported. The listing says behavior is consistent with Nintendo Switch; it does not describe enhancements specific to Switch 2.

If both consoles are available to you, use the demo shown in your own regional store as the deciding test. Do not buy on the assumption that a purchase, save or progress automatically transfers between PlayStation and Nintendo systems; no such cross-platform behavior is established by the listings. Likewise, do not infer that the PS4/PS5 entitlement includes a Switch copy: each platform’s store treats its edition separately.

Languages, modes and regional differences

Language labels

Nintendo UK lists Japanese, English, German and Chinese. Nintendo Canada spells out Japanese, German, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and American English. Those labels are not identical, which is why your regional eShop page should be treated as authoritative for language support. The available language list does not by itself establish whether every language applies to menus, subtitles, spoken dialogue or all text.

Single-player format

Nintendo identifies the game as one-player on one system. The official descriptions do not advertise local multiplayer, online co-op or competitive modes. Plan to play Nia’s adventure as a solo experience. A second controller is therefore not a requirement for the advertised mode.

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Rank #4
LEGO The Incredibles for Nintendo Switch
  • Players must work together and combine the Parr family's iconic abilities and unique powers to build massive LEGO structures
  • Players can complete action packed side missions and defeat iconic super villains that control the city districts in an open hub world that provides an exciting free play experience
  • Players can modify their character's appearance and abilities using a customize themed to Edna E mode

Storage and download planning

The 638 MB figure comes from Nintendo Canada’s listing and is a storefront specification, not a universal size for every platform or post-launch update. PlayStation does not provide a matching size in the cited listing. Leave additional free space for system data and updates rather than treating 638 MB as a cross-platform requirement. If the eShop shows a different size in your country, use that local figure.

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Troubleshooting when the game is missing

The demo is not visible

  • Confirm that you are viewing the store for the correct country or account region.
  • Search the exact title and open the full product page instead of relying on a general “demo” search.
  • Check the page after signing in to the purchasing account; storefronts can show different options when no account is active.
  • Do not substitute a third-party download or a listing from another region. The official pages establish regional availability only where they display it.
  • If the full game is listed but the demo is not, treat that as a regional availability difference rather than evidence that your console is incompatible.

The PS5 version will not launch

  • Install any pending PS5 system-software update, because the PlayStation listing notes that updated software may be required.
  • Verify that the download completed and that you launched the intended PS5 or PS4 icon when both are installed.
  • Restart the console and check the Game Library for the product associated with the account that made the purchase.

The Switch download will not complete

  • Check available storage against the 638 MB Nintendo Canada listing and leave room for updates.
  • Confirm that the console is connected to the internet and that the correct Nintendo account is active.
  • Return to the game’s eShop page to verify that the purchase or demo download is attached to that account.
  • On Switch 2, confirm that your eShop identifies the title as supported rather than relying on a label from another country.

You cannot find a control explanation

The storefront pages do not provide a control map. Pause the game and inspect its settings, help or controller sections. If no map appears immediately, continue following the on-screen prompts rather than relying on a button guide written for a different platform.

A sensible first-session checklist

  1. Check your own regional store for the full edition and demo status.
  2. Confirm the release listing and platform version before downloading; both PS5 and Switch pages date the release February 17, 2026.
  3. On PS5, install required system software and note that the digital purchase covers PS4 and PS5 versions on the US listing.
  4. On Switch, verify the mode you intend to use—handheld, tabletop or TV—and confirm available storage.
  5. Start with the demo if it is offered locally and you want to evaluate the basic feel.
  6. When the full game opens, follow the in-game prompts, explore the connected regions, and use the settings menu for controls.
  7. Keep expectations realistic about saves, performance and cross-console transfer: the official listings do not specify those features.

Availability summary

Under The Island can be started on PS5 or Nintendo Switch through each platform’s digital store. The PlayStation Store lists PS4 and PS5 versions together and a free demo in its US listing. Nintendo UK lists a Switch demo and all three Switch play modes, while Nintendo Canada lists a 638 MB download and Switch 2 support. Because those details come from specific regional pages, verify the edition, demo, language list, price and any local requirements on the store connected to your account before completing the download.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Under The Island available on PS5?

Yes. The PlayStation Store lists PS4 and PS5 digital versions together, with February 17, 2026 shown as the release date. The US listing also offers free PS4 and PS5 demos.

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Is there a Nintendo Switch demo?

Nintendo UK marks a demo as available. Demo availability is regional, so check the eShop page for your account’s country.

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Can I play Under The Island offline after downloading it?

The store pages establish digital download and single-player play, but they do not specify offline requirements. Download and launch it through your console’s normal store process, then check any in-game or platform notices.

Does the PS5 purchase include a PS4 copy?

The US PlayStation listing groups the PS4 and PS5 digital editions under one purchase. It does not establish how saves transfer or whether every regional listing uses identical entitlement wording.

How large is the Switch download?

Nintendo Canada lists 638 MB. Treat that as a regional storefront specification and leave additional space for system data and updates.

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Can I play on Switch in handheld mode?

Yes. Nintendo lists handheld, tabletop and TV modes, with one player on one system.

Does the game support multiplayer?

Nintendo identifies it as a one-player game on one system. The cited descriptions do not advertise local multiplayer, online co-op or competitive modes.

What should I do if I do not know the controls?

Follow the prompts shown in the game and inspect its pause, settings or help screens. The storefront descriptions do not publish a complete button map.

The Bottom Line

To start Under The Island, open the PlayStation Store or Nintendo eShop linked to your account, verify the local edition and demo, then download and follow the game’s own prompts. PS5 offers a combined PS4/PS5 digital listing, while Switch adds handheld, tabletop and TV play. Regional prices, demos, languages and storage details can differ, so use your own storefront as the final check.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft - Nintendo Switch
Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures; Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
$29.82
SaleBestseller No. 3
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Yoshi's Crafted World - Nintendo Switch
Pass a Joy Con controller to a friend for 2 player cooperative exploration
$52.90
Bestseller No. 5
Nintendo Overcooked 1 Special Edition + Overcooked 2 - Nintendo Switch
Nintendo Overcooked 1 Special Edition + Overcooked 2 - Nintendo Switch
Bundle includes video games Overcooked 1 & 2; Play solo or engage in classic, chaotic couch co-op for up to 4 players
$33.80

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Gaming GuidesNintendo eShopNintendo SwitchNintendo Switch 2PlayStation StorePS5Under the Island

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