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STARSAND ISLAND Is Primed to Redefine Romance in the Life Sim Genre

Starsand Island has quickly become one of the most anticipated cozy games of the year. Following the release of its latest trailer this week, hopeful players are especially excited about the game's clean, anime-style graphics, adorable animals and, of course, romance. While dating is always a topic of interest going into any farming and life sim, what makes Starsand Island so special is how it breaks genre traditions with a more realistic approach. I was skeptical at first, since titles like last year's SunnySide kind of dropped the ball in a similar attempt. But Seed Lab's developing life sim could take genre romance in a new direction. A More Realistic Affection System Seed Lab When it comes to the farming and life sim genres, your decisions have always affected how your relationships with dateable NPCs play out. Some titles, like Harvest Moon and Fields of Mistria , lock you into a will-they-won't-they narrative until your relationship is strong enough to decide whether you'll remain friends or pursue a romantic partnership, but dating in Starsand Island seems to work a little differently. RELATED: July's Most Anticipated Video Games Developer and publisher Seed Lab says the game's NPCs aren't just 'flat characters' or 'cold quest tools.' Rather, they're fleshed-out personalities with their own memories, emotions and aspirations. In taking this approach, helping out with personal goals and appreciating the little things in life foster your bonds and encourage NPCs to evolve. As you get to know them, they also get to know you . This way, every interaction is an opportunity to take a step forward — or back. Taking the Next Step Seed Lab Starsand Island 's romance system relies on a more realistic rule of progression than others. In Seed Lab's latest reveal trailer, we got a closer look at the character profile for an islander named Pastelle. And while in-game text is still in need of a bit more polish, relationship milestones are already clear-cut. When you're just getting to know the island's singles, you can start off by gifting them items they might like. This is standard practice in the genre, and most will find this custom familiar. But once you reach two hearts, you can then go on an outing together. Your relationship continues to move forward in this way, with room visits unlocked next, then requests and, finally, cohabitation. That's not all that makes the developing title a standout ahead of launch, though. RELATED: Mobile Game Monday: Lost in Play Voice Acting Brings Starsand Island's Dating Scene to Life Seed Lab Voice acting for NPCs and the player may not be entirely unheard of in the farming and life sim genres. But–at least for me — there isn't a title that immediately comes to mind. In most cases, you carry on conversations in silence, save for a change in music. Starsand Island breaks tradition and stands out here. In the affection system trailer released by Seed Lab this week, we heard a good bit of spoken dialogue from the masculine base farmer and Pastelle. Lines were delivered between scenes of all the activities you can share with the island's most eligible. This includes watching TV, taking a seat on a backyard swing together, riding your bikes through town, bathing in hot springs — and more that's yet to be revealed. That said, it looks like these lively conversations may be limited to cutscenes. Traditional dialogue (with options) is still very much a thing here. And judging by the clips we saw in the new trailer, there's plenty of room to flirt, offer advice and lighten the mood with humor as you grow closer with the folks around Starsand Island. Starsand Island will release in late 2025 on PC (Steam). 15 Co-Op Game Announcements From June 2025 Olivia Rolls (she/her) is a weekly contributor at GGA, specializing in cozy games, anime and all things horror. Her byline has appeared at publications like The Mary Sue, The Escapist, GameSkinny and more. When she's not writing deep dives on her favorite games, shows, movies or characters, she's probably yapping about the latest pop culture trends or catching up on another Pokémon playthrough. E-mail professional inquiries to [email protected]. You can also find Olivia on Bluesky and LinkedIn.