‘Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island’ was the game I needed for the holidays

I first came across “Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island” at the Access Ability Summer Showcase two years ago, and it caught my attention because, well, I grew up reading Percy Jackson. Slap Greek Mythology on something and I’ll certainly take a look.

I picked up the game on release but didn’t get a chance to play it right away. I was too busy frantically trying to finish hand crocheting plush octopi for my younger sisters, two coffee mugs for my dad and step-mom, and two tiny moose frankensteined from a couple of different patterns I found online for my brother and a friend.

Then it was taking as many shifts as I could at the restaurant, fretting about making sure I’d packed everything, some credit card issues, and finally praying the bus would be kind to me.

The bus was not kind to me. Call me Odysseus the way I can’t get where I’m going unscathed. Whether it’s the airport attendant putting the wrong tag on my bag and almost sending it to Michigan or, in this case, the bus breaking down an hour and a half from home, I don’t have much travel luck.

(The trip back had its bumps too).

Once I got home it was wrapping presents, the (admittedly self-imposed) challenge of baking five different types of cookies, and dreading the new year.

The holidays are supposed to be a vacation, but I could not slow down and take a break. I wouldn’t even let myself think of it.

What a surprise it was when I booted up my Steam Deck and discovered Alex, the player character of “Mythwrecked,” had the same problem.

The game opens with Alex on a boat, receiving a ton of messages. The captain reminds her she’s supposed to be on vacation, and she sheepishly admits she knows but it’s hard to get away.

She’s forced to, however, when the boat crashes on a mysterious island, which Alex soon discovers is home to the Greek gods of myth, amnesiac, and closed off from each other.

With no immediate way home, Alex sets off to help the gods rekindle their connections with one another and their powers.

It didn’t take long for me to see what was really going on beneath the surface. The gods had become so caught up in their various worries that they cut themselves off from each other and stopped pursuing their passions.

In short, the gods were burnt out.

As Alex reminded the gods that it was ok to make mistakes, to take time for themselves, but to also reach out to one another, I took some of that advice to heart.

I completed “Mythwrecked” in under ten hours, but it felt longer. This is a game about taking your time and stopping to appreciate what’s around you, whether it’s the relaxing soundtrack, or crossing the entire island on foot to collect Ambrosia Fruit it’s easy to get lost in the game’s atmosphere.

Finishing the game, I was at once sad it was over and excited to take Alex’s advice to heart. I’d take the holidays for myself and really savor them, and then I would face the world, not hide away scared.

It’s the perfect game to enjoy while staring down a whole new year.

Thank you for reading My Fair Neadie! It’s a new year and a new chance to get into writing, and I’m hoping to be much more consistent.

You can find me on BlueSky for amazing things such as updates on my current projects, my lazy Star Trek: DS9 liveblog, and more!