Software:Starsand Island
| Starsand Island | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Seed Sparkle Lab |
| Publisher(s) | Seed Sparkle Lab |
| Platform(s) |
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| Release | 11 February 2026 (early access) |
| Genre(s) | Life simulation |
Starsand Island (Chinese: 星砂岛) is a life simulation game developed and published by Seed Sparkle Lab. It is being developed for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. It was released into Steam early access on 11 February 2026, with a full release due in summer 2026.
Gameplay
Starsand Island is a life simulation game where the customizable player character begins a life in Starsand, their childhood place. Solara, the player character's childhood friend, gives a guide of how to make progress in the beginning of the game. The player can choose different careers, including an angler, crafter, explorer, farmer, or rancher.[1]
The game has romance and friendship system with which the player can nurture relationships with NPC inhabitants.[2]
Development and release
Starsand Island was developed by Chinese studio Seed Sparkle Lab and produced by Golton Gao.[3][4] The game was first announced on 6 May 2024. The game was originally announced to be released for Microsoft Windows in Q4 2025.[5] Other considered platforms were PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.[4] A crowdfunding campaign was launched at Kickstarter to fund the game's development. The Kickstarter campaign ended on 31 May 2025, earning over $300,000.[3][6]
The game released into early access for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on 11 February 2026, with a full release for Windows, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S in the summer of 2026.[7] It will have a collaboration event with Pathea Games' My Time at Portia, featuring two characters from that game.[8] The developers have further promised to allow players to define their own “life story” through daily activities, relationships, and choices.[9] It has been considered a cosy game by Emma-Jane Betts of GamesRadar.[10]
Reception
Screen Hype's Lyssa Greywood comments that it's a game that knows its audience, calling it "escapism in the quietest sense," but also taking the time to uncover and report various early bugs that affected their gameplay.[11] Loot Level Chill's Kieran Singh commends Starsand Island for being "surprisingly high quality" despite its Early Access status.[12] However, Indie Games Devel's Laura Rosada picks apart the game's limited exploration aspects, pointing out that the only notable exploration area is the Moonlit Forest.[13]
References
- ↑ Lada, Jenni (18 October 2025). "Preview: Starsand Island Feels Like More of a Life Sim Than Farming Game". https://www.siliconera.com/preview-starsand-island-feels-like-more-of-a-life-sim-than-farming-game/.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (23 June 2025). "Starsand Island details romance and friendship system". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/06/starsand-island-details-romance-and-friendship-system.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wood, Austin (18 October 2025). "Some Chinese devs played Stardew Valley and loved it, but wanted something more "carefree" – now their anime life sim RPG is tearing up Steam Next Fest, and it's hard to put down". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/rpg/some-japanese-devs-played-stardew-valley-and-loved-it-but-wanted-something-more-carefree-now-their-anime-life-sim-rpg-is-tearing-up-steam-next-fest-and-its-hard-to-put-down/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Romano, Sal (17 April 2025). "Starsand Island adds PS5, Xbox Series, and Switch versions, launches this winter". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/04/starsand-island-adds-ps5-xbox-series-and-switch-versions-launches-this-winter.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (6 May 2024). "Tranquil island farming simulation game Starsand Island announced for PC". https://www.gematsu.com/2024/05/tranquil-island-farming-simulation-game-starsand-island-announced-for-pc.
- ↑ Rose, Danielle (22 May 2025). "Starsand Island "fills the gap" left behind by The Sims and Stardew Valley". https://www.pcgamesn.com/starsand-island/preview.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (2 February 2026). "Starsand Island launches in Early Access for Xbox Series and PC on February 11; full release this summer". https://www.gematsu.com/2026/02/starsand-island-launches-in-early-access-for-xbox-series-and-pc-on-february-11-full-release-this-summer.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (16 October 2025). "Starsand Island x My Time at Portia collaboration announced". https://www.gematsu.com/2025/10/starsand-island-x-my-time-at-portia-collaboration-announced.
- ↑ ""We Hope Starsand Island Can Be That Gentle Escape", Says Seed Sparkle Lab" (in en-US). 2026-02-08. https://thegameslayer.com/features/we-hope-starsand-island-can-be-that-gentle-escape-says-seed-sparkle-lab/.
- ↑ Betts, Emma-Jane (10 February 2026). "I've played Starsand Island for 25 hours, and this is the most invested I've been in a cozy game for years" (in en). https://www.gamesradar.com/games/simulation/ive-played-starsand-island-for-25-hours-and-this-is-the-most-invested-ive-been-in-a-cozy-game-for-years/.
- ↑ Greywood, Lyssa (2026-02-10). "Starsand Island Review (Early Access) – A Familiar Home Under a New Sky" (in en-US). https://www.screenhype.co.uk/starsand-island-review-a-familiar-home-under-a-new-sky/.
- ↑ Singh, Kieran (2026-02-10). "Starsand Island review | Loot Level Chill" (in en-GB). https://lootlevelchill.com/reviews/starsand-island-review/.
- ↑ Rosada, Laura (2026-03-17). "Starsand Island Review: A New Chapter for Farm Simulator Fans" (in en-US). https://indiegamesdevel.com/starsand-island-review-a-new-chapter-for-farm-simulator-fans/.
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