Grow a deserted island into a fishing village in just 8 moves
A free GROW-style pixel puzzle in your browser. Place 8 things in the right order and watch them evolve. 40,320 orders, only 3 are perfect.
How to Play Island Evolution
One rule, endless consequences: the order is everything.
- 1 · Pick an item Each turn, choose one of the 8 items (Water, Tree, Stone, People, Fire, Boat, Fish or Wind) and place it on the island.
- 2 · Watch the island grow After each placement, everything already on the island tries to evolve one level. The new item waits until next turn.
- 3 · Mind the time budget The first item you place can grow up to 8 times; the last one only once. Early picks shape everything.
- 4 · Reach the sunset After all 8 are placed, one final sunset round plays out and your island is scored. Perfect score: 27.
Growth is conditional
Every level-up has a requirement. A sapling needs water on the island. A lighthouse only lights up once boats and fire are advanced enough. If the requirement isn't met, the item simply waits, and its remaining turns quietly run out. The full requirements are in the evolution chart below.
Some things are dangerous together
Order mistakes don't just slow you down. They kill. A tree with no water withers. People without water and stone are swept away. Fire next to a young forest starts a forest fire. Wind blows out a small campfire and capsizes a raft. When something dies, a banner tells you exactly why, so every failed run teaches you something.
- 8items to place
- 27evolution stages
- 40,320possible orders
- 3perfect orders
- 0.1%of orders avoid all deaths
- Freebrowser game, no install
Evolution Chart: Every Item, Every Level
What each item becomes, and what it needs to get there. Levels are checked at the start of each growth phase; an unmet requirement just means "wait".
| Item | Max | Evolution chain (requirement to reach each stage) |
|---|---|---|
| Water | Lv 4 | Spring → Stream (always) → River (Stone ≥ 1) → Lake & Falls (Tree ≥ 3) |
| Tree | Lv 4 | Sprout → Sapling (Water ≥ 1) → Big Tree (Water ≥ 2) → Forest (Water ≥ 3) |
| Stone | Lv 4 | Rocks → Stone Path (People ≥ 1) → Cottage (People ≥ 2) → Lighthouse (Boat ≥ 2, Fire ≥ 3) |
| People | Lv 5 | Castaway → Hut (Water ≥ 2, Tree ≥ 3) → Village (Fire ≥ 1) → Market (Stone ≥ 2, Boat ≥ 1) → Festival (Boat ≥ 2, Fish ≥ 1) |
| Fire | Lv 3 | Campfire → Hearth (People ≥ 2) → Kiln (Stone ≥ 2) |
| Boat | Lv 3 | Raft → Sailboat (People ≥ 3, Tree ≥ 3) → Pier (Stone ≥ 3) |
| Fish | Lv 2 | Shoal → Fish Farm (Boat ≥ 2) |
| Wind | Lv 2 | Breeze → Windmill (People ≥ 5, Tree ≥ 4) |
The five ways to die
| Cause | Trigger | Victim |
|---|---|---|
| Withered | Tree on an island with no Water | the Tree |
| Swept away | People with no Water or no Stone | the People |
| Forest fire | Fire while Tree ≥ 2 and Water < 3 | the Tree |
| Fire blown out | Wind while Fire is still small (Lv 1-2) | the Fire |
| Raft capsized | Wind while Boat is still a raft (Lv 1) | the Boat |
Danger checks run every turn, not just when the trigger is placed. Wind already on the island will blow out a campfire you light later. That's why Wind is almost always the last move.
Hints & Strategy (No Spoilers)
One gentle nudge, nothing more. The perfect orders stay secret. Finding one is the whole game.
A gentle nudge
Read the evolution chart like a family tree. Something on that list is what everything else depends on; place it early. Something else hurts its neighbors and asks for almost nothing in return; make it wait.
That's all the help you get. Exactly 3 of the 40,320 orders reach the perfect 27, and the finale is worth it: fireworks over the village, the lighthouse lit, sails in the harbor. Good luck.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Island Evolution free to play?
- Yes. Completely free, right in your browser. No download, no install, no account. Just press Play.
- What kind of game is this?
- An order-based puzzle game inspired by Eyezmaze's classic GROW series (GROW Cube, GROW Island, GROW Valley…). The theme, items, evolution chains and pixel art are all original.
- Why did my tree wither / my campfire go out?
- Something on the island turned hostile. Check the five ways to die. The banner at the top of the screen always names the exact cause.
- How long does one run take?
- A few minutes. During animations your cursor becomes a fast-forward button; click anywhere to speed through. Finding a perfect order usually takes many runs; that's the puzzle.
- Does it work on mobile?
- Yes, the game runs on modern mobile browsers. A desktop browser gives you the biggest picture: the island is drawn in genuine low-resolution pixel art and every stage has its own animation.
- Can I lose permanently?
- No. When a run ends badly, press Play Again and try a different order. Your best score is saved in your browser.
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History
What Are GROW Games? The Eyezmaze Series Explained
On Nakayama started the series in February 2002. What a GROW game actually is, and which ones to play first.
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Guide
How to Play Order Puzzles Without Guessing
40,320 orders means trial and error will not get you there. Four ways to read a puzzle like this one, no solutions given away.
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Devlog
Making Island Evolution: 40,320 Orders, 3 Perfect
A rules engine you can brute force, a pixel art pipeline, and the browser bug that silenced the title music.
