Starsand Island

Fun game and runs fine but it's confusing to navigate (tutorials are not helpful. had to go on the reddit to figure a lot out.) and gotta say i'm disappointed i can't refund because the devs developed the game with generative ai.

There is SO much to do in this game. I've played for 18 hours at the time of this review and I don't think I've even explored the entirety of the island yet. You can farm, breed animals, explore, gather, make friends, fish, make outfits, and so much more. There aren't huge time constraints on anything, and the days feel like the proper amount of time to get things done. One aspect of the farming/animal loop I enjoy is that it all builds off of one another. Need more animal feed? Just harvest some plants and mill your own feed. Need more plant fertilizer? Gather your animal resources. There are more than just one variety of each animal too, and it's a fun surprise when you get an unexpected variety. This game feels like a fun mix of Infinity Nikki and Stardew Valley; a must try for the genre! *A tip to the beginner-- craft the roller skates as soon as you can. They're the fastest and most efficient way to get around the island

This game has been so addicting and an amazing creative outlet. I started playing about 3 weeks ago and I already have nearly 150 hours. As someone who loves building, I see so much potential. There are already TONS of options for customization for housing and character creation, and the game hasn't even had it's 1.0 debut. I can see myself spending thousands of hours designing different lots/homes. If you love Stardew, Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons, The Sims (building specifically), Animal Crossing, or any games like them, this game is perfect for you!!!!! PLEASE BUY THIS GAME!!! I LOVE IT!!

The perfect "cozy" game that I have ever played. I love the concept and the style, as well as the building and character customization capabilities. I really enjoy being able to meet animals and adopt ones of your choosing. I cant wait for more updates to come out! :)

I really wanted to love this game, and in many ways I do. The art style is absolutely adorable. The island is colorful, relaxing, and genuinely fun to explore. Farming, decorating, fishing, and gathering all feel satisfying, and it’s one of those games that’s easy to lose hours in. That said, after about 40 hours, I realized what was missing. The characters are… nice. But they rarely feel like real people. Their dialogue doesn’t evolve enough to make me excited to talk to them every day, and the romance feels surface-level compared to games like Sun Haven or the older Harvest Moon titles. I found myself wanting deeper conversations, more memorable heart events, and relationships that actually changed over time. The gameplay loop is excellent, but the emotional connection isn’t quite there. I loved building my farm more than I loved getting to know the villagers. If you’re looking for a cozy farming game with beautiful visuals and relaxing gameplay, I think you’ll have a great time. If you’re someone who plays these games because you become attached to the townsfolk and romance candidates, you may leave wanting just a little more depth. Overall, I enjoyed my time with Starsand Island and don’t regret buying it. It has an incredible foundation, and if future updates continue expanding the characters and relationships, I could easily see it becoming one of my favorites. 7.5/10 today, with the potential to become much more. 🌿

好玩爱玩，希望后面游戏越来越好

Warm, healing, and beautiful. A meandering island life sim where you can pet rabbits, breed your sheep, build aquariums, and skateboard off a cliff just because. Raise animals to ride around on or build your own vehicles. Vibe & Pace 🌿 Stress level: None to Low. Perfect after work when you need to get back to relaxed and even hopeful. Deeply meandering-friendly — I've gone from just sitting on a cliff to skateboarding everywhere to getting distracted by one of my rabbits. Representation 👥 Two character models (male/female), skin tone options. Chinese publisher (Seed Sparkle Lab), so the queer rep is what you'd expect — the "Just Roommates" achievement says it all. Same-gender romance is vague at best. NPCs have varied skin tones, different body types (for non-romanceable ones), and many ages. I adore all of them, which is rare for me. Sound Design 🎵 Guitar Hero-like mini-game that I ADORE. Sweeping soundscape with beautiful nods to Chinese instruments. Cinematic orchestral styles. Animal chewing sounds might bother some people, but the way sounds layer is a neat nuance. Key Features ✅ Land purchasing ✅ Building customization (huge) ✅ Aquariums ✅ Pets follow you ✅ Long day cycle ✅ Boat supply system ✅ Free DLC drops (Chinese New Year) Early Access Lifecycle 🔄 Bought almost immediately into EA. 113 hours, no 1.0 reset yet. Not very rough at start. Dev communication? Yes, a million times — so cute and good. Example: a sprinkler once flooded my field and made puddle-walking sounds. Hotfixed in days. Price & Value 💰 Worth every penny I scrounged up. I have every color of sheep. It took forever. It was worth it. I bought DLC because some of the negative reviews were feeling really racist, tbh. Verdict Best for: Warm, healing, meandering island life with sheep-coloring, rabbit-petting, and zero pressure. Not for: Anyone who needs explicit queer rep or can't handle adorable animal chewing sounds. Early access verdict: Buy now. At a glance 🧘 Vibe: 🟢 Chill 🏳️‍🌈 Queer rep: 🟡 Some (vague, constrained) ✊🏽 POC rep: 🟡 Some (varied NPCs) 🎵 Sound: 🟢 Great 💰 Value: 🟢 Worth it 📈 EA health: 🟢 Active