Island Games guide - tips and hints

[mousehole]

I just unlocked the island two days ago and they've already placed the island vista floor up for sale. @.@ 100 medals need to be earned and I haven't yet played a game, which means I only have access to the beginner level activities - worth at the most 8 medals, but usually only 6. It's going to be fun.

Please understand, this isn't a rant, I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the winning strategies that help you earn the gold medals in the island tours. I'm hoping that everyone can contribute tips and hints. I looked for a sticky, but I didn't see one.


Fossil Hunter Tour
Fossils are seldom buried in the narrow strips of land that are separated by the rivers. Check the large land masses first.
Look at the sample first, but dig up any fossils along the way. Your path will be the dividing line so you can systematically search the ground on the right and then the left for optimum coverage.
Once you have found the fossils put away your shovel before running up to the display hut door. You'll save time by not having to put it away and if you need to check the sample hut because your fossil didn't glow.

Hide and Seek

Usually there are two players hidden in each land map. I can't recall ever have 3 on the same side of the river. Once you find your second villager, run for the bridge and start looking on the other side.

 

[DarkFox7]

The best and quickest way to get medals is doing the Elite Scavenger Tour. It's easy and you get 16 medals within 3 minutes.

Another good one is the Giant Dragonfly Tour. This one takes more time, but it's easy and you can get 20 medals.

 

[Sorgatani]

Elite Scavenger, I wholly agree with.
With multiple players, the best strategy my sister and I found was to completely empty every house, and drop every piece of furniture close to the house it came out of (check your list of course, if your item is there, put it in the last inventory slot).

Fossils is also a lot of fun. It's sometimes a good idea to drop the required fossils in front of the display house in question, especially when playing multiplayer.

I also recommend Tuna-Kahuna (the description makes it sound scarier than it is) and Giant Dragonflies, which has already been mentioned.

The reason I'm giving multiplayer tips is because I find myself doing more tours when I visit with friends than when I go by myself.

 

[Summ3rain]

Apart from the scavenger and dragonflies tours as mentioned, I also like the ores tour. If you play with friends you also get bonus medals for doing well

 

[jolokia]

Tuna-Kahuna and Giant Dragonfly give most medals overall, but Elite Scavenger is hands-down the best from a time-to-medals point of view. 16 medals in ~180 seconds. The moment you're able to see the map, plan out a circular route that'll take you to every house with a minimum of backtracking.

Elite Ore Hunter is my go-to when I haven't got Elite Scavenger.

 

[aimeekitty]

I have no advice but feel your frustration, it takes SO LONG!!!

 

[bellafez]

In addition to those already mentioned, I find labyrinth and gardening tours the most lucrative - for gardening, it's important to keep track of where you've gone on the map and how many inventory slots you have filled (to save time with the full pockets message).