This cozy "carefree" Stardew Valley-like that first caught my eye with its anime aesthetic officially releases into early access next week, and I can't wait

Starsand Island, the charming and new "carefree" take on Stardew Valley from Chinese developer Seed Sparkle Lab, is set to release into Early Access on Steam and via Xbox Preview next week – but that's not all, as a full launch is coming later for fans on other platforms.

If you've seen anything about Starsand Island – whether that be its stunning anime-esque art style or the fact that you can literally fly around on a hoverboard in-game – you're likely just a tad bit excited like I am (or, perhaps more accurately, off the walls thrilled for another cozy sim). It's not every day we get such a promising title in the realm of Stardew Valley-adjacent games, after all, and this certainly seems to be one.

Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer to finally give Starsand Island a go – or, well, those of us on PC and Xbox won't, anyway. Seed Sparkle Lab has just announced that its debut sim will be available to play next week, on February 11, via Steam Early Access and Xbox Preview.

Following this early access period, Starsand Island will release in full on all consoles (PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 included) sometime this summer.

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What sorts of features can we look forward to, though? Think My Time at Portia meets Stardew Valley, basically. You'll find yourself on an island far removed from the city, tasked with transforming your childhood home. There are skills to master, like farming and fishing, and friends to make with the island's other residents. You'll get to explore ruins, too, and yes, ride everything from roller blades to hoverboards and motorbikes.

I'm personally most interested to see how the house-building and decorating system works out, as that's usually my favorite part of these sorts of games. With Starsand Island's heavy stress on customization and DIY, I have a feeling I'll fall in love with it – but only time will tell.

There are only nine days to go now before we all get to experience its charms, so if you'll excuse me, I have an island home to start planning.

Looking for something else to wishlist? Be sure to browse our roundup of the best new games coming this year and beyond for even more to anticipate.

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After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand.