Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is a gorgeous tribute to the power of words in every language

There’s something special about a game with a deep meaning, especially when it chooses to proclaim that meaning from the rooftops rather than hide it within the story and gameplay. Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is one of those games that reveals its meaning before you even dive in, and it’s a touching and enjoyable tale. 

Master Lemon is an adventure game currently in development by Pepita Digital, and it’s inspired by the very real and tragic tale of a polyglot (someone who knows many languages) named André Lima, who dreamed of moving to Iceland only to be killed in a road traffic accident shortly after he made that dream come true. 

When life gives you lemons…

The story of André Lima is one that manages to be both heartbreaking and inspirational in equal measure, and Master Lemon is the perfect tribute to his life and the legacy he left behind for those who knew and loved him. In making Master Lemon, Pepita Digital is sharing his life with those who would have never known he existed, and they’ve done it in the perfect way: with words. 

There is a now-famous quote brought to life by Albus Dumbledore that I have always loved: “Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic.” As a reader and lover of languages (even though I may not understand or speak them), I have always resonated with that quote, and Master Lemon brings it to life in a whole new way. 

The power of words

In the demo that I’ve been lucky enough to play, Master Lemon tells a story that serves to prove that languages do not define people, and connections can be made despite language barriers that would otherwise serve to divide us. After receiving a blank dictionary as a parting gift from your parents in Brazil, before you leave for Iceland, you are transported to the Bashir Islands, where each character you meet speaks a different language, and yet you understand them all. 

As you progress through the touching story of Master Lemon, you learn new words from many different languages. These words give you powers, allowing you to progress further through the story. For example, gambiarra, which is a Brazilian-Portuguese word that describes the process of creating a makeshift solution to a problem. In Master Lemon, gambiarra gives you the power to combine two items in your inventory.

These words are discovered within the fog, which you can remove using your main power, ratljóst. Different words give different powers, or reward you with different abilities or features. But what it all boils down to is the power of words, and isn’t that just the most amazing legacy for a man who spent his life trying to learn as many of them, in as many languages as he possibly could?

A true adventure game

Aside from the touching story, there are other things to love about Master Lemon. To me, it feels like it’s one step away from being an old-school point-and-click adventure, in that you collect items in your inventory and use them to aid you in your adventure. The pixel art style also lends itself to the genre, although you’ll find that your mouse is almost entirely redundant. 

The gorgeous basic art style is complemented by highly detailed and captivating pixel cutscenes, fully voiced and hard to tear your eyes away from. The story comes to life in those narrated moments, but you’ll find yourself absorbed even outside of the cutscenes, especially when you consider the life that Master Lemon was created to honor. 

Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland is an absolutely stunning and touching story of connection despite the barriers created by unknown languages, and the power to overcome adversity using the power of words. It doesn’t have a definite release date just yet, although it is set to release at some point toward the end of 2025. You can head to Steam to wishlist the game right now.