At its core,Starsand Islandis about relaxation. Theindiefarming simulator, which was developed by Seed Lab and is scheduled to release later in 2025, is built around a philosophy of minimal deadlines, open-ended tasks, and a wide variety of features so that players can enjoy their time on the island however they like best. As a result,Starsand Islandwill include not just farming, but also animal raising, racing, fishing, DIY construction, befriending NPCs, and even traveling around the island on a variety of vehicles.
During an event attended by Game Rant,Starsand Islandtechnical director Golton Gao and creative director Richardo Wang spoke via translator about the many features available inStarsand Island.Gao revealed that the team was a particular fan of fishing,building custom houses, and hanging out with the game’s many adorable animal companions. “If we can’t slack off in real life, we’ll slack off in the game,” he joked.
Farming And Animal Raising Are At The Heart Of The Game
As a title in thefarming simulator genre,Starsand Islandnaturally includes plenty of farming. Crops are available on a seasonal basis and include wheat, strawberries, watermelons, and many that have not yet been revealed. If players tend their crops particularly well, they may even be able to grow giant crops such as watermelons larger than a person.
In addition, players can raise many different animals on their farm, including cows, pigs, sheep, yaks, and bees. Once players have earned an animal’s trust, they can ride it as a mount and even race against other characters. Other animals, such as cats, dogs, andStarsand Island’s capybaras, can be adopted as pets. Pets help players around the farm, keeping bugs away, patrolling, watering crops, and performing a variety of helpful tasks.
Fishing, Island Exploring, Secrets, And More
One ofStarsand Island’shighlights isthe game’s fishing system. Players can catch many types of fish around the island, depending on where and when they choose to cast their line. However, Gao and Wang revealed, eager fishers also have a chance to reel in objects other than mere fish. Gao described the system as such:
“Fishing serves as our game’s secret sauce. Much like in real life, you might reel in unexpected items such as bottle caps or old shoes. Fear not, collectors, ‘junk’ items are not totally useless, as they can unlock achievements or reveal hidden lore!”
Other features inStarsand Islandinclude some that are commonly seen infarming simulators such asStardew Valley, Coral Island,andStory of Seasons,as well as those that are more unique and less frequently seen in the genre:
Currently,Starsand Islandis beingfunded via a Kickstarter campaign, with even more characters, animals, and gameplay features available to unlock at higher tiers. Depending on how much money is raised before the Kickstarter concludes, it is possible that features not mentioned in this article will be added to the game whenStarsand Islandlaunches later in 2025.
