Nintendo Switch drops free taster for must-play 8/10 Animal Crossing rival
Nintendo Switch players searching for their next cosy gaming obsession have a new freebie to look forward to, and this one should particularly appeal to Animal Crossing fans.
There are plenty of relaxing life simulators out there, but finding one that properly scratches that Animal Crossing: New Horizons or Stardew Valley itch isn't always easy. Fortunately, Nintendo's latest free trial comes with an impressive recommendation of a port that’s been out for just over a year now.
The game in question is Hello Kitty Island Adventure, which received an excellent 8/10 score in our review last year, and it's now being offered to Nintendo Switch Online subscribers at no additional cost. As a bonus, you can also buy the full game on sale after the trial runs out.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is free for a limited time
Developed by Sunblink in collaboration with Sanrio, Hello Kitty Island Adventure originally launched on mobile devices in 2023 before arriving on Nintendo Switch in January 2025.
Advert
Rather than concentrating entirely on building your own little home, the game sees players exploring a tropical island alongside Hello Kitty and her friends, helping restore an abandoned holiday resort to its former glory.
There's plenty to keep you occupied, from fishing and catching bugs to crafting furniture, solving puzzles, and building friendships with familiar Sanrio characters.
It might be easy to think, just based on the surface, that this is an Animal Crossing clone, but the unique twist you’ll get from Hello Kitty here is the added more emphasis on completing quests and uncovering the island's secrets rather than just perfecting your new home.
That's something GAMINGbible's Kate Harrold particularly enjoyed when reviewing the Switch version, praising its variety of activities and refreshing lack of repetitive grinding.
In fact, she was so impressed that she concluded: “If there’s anything about cosy gaming that appeals to you, Hello Kitty Island Adventure should undoubtedly be high on your to-play list.”
As confirmed by Nintendo, the free Game Trial runs from Oct. 9 at 10am PT until Oct. 15 at 11.59pm PT, granting Switch Online members access to the entire game rather than just a small demo.
You can buy the full game at 40% off, or just under the same price on Amazon
If you end up liking Hello Kitty Island Adventure after your free trial, Nintendo has bundled in a well-timed sale of the full digital game: now £21.59 at Nintendo UK with 40% off (until Oct. 16), or for $21.99 at the US Nintendo store with 45% off (available until Oct. 19).
What’s more, you’ll be able to carry over your save progress and continue right from where you left off.
For any Nintendo Switch 2 owners, as well, the titular Switch 2 Upgrade Pack (with higher framerates, better resolution, Joy-Con mouse control, and faster loading times) is also on sale for only £5.99 at 40% off its usual £9.99 price; in the US, it’s now $5.49 with 45% off $9.99.
If you don’t prefer digital editions of full games, you can buy the physical Nintendo Switch version of Hello Kitty Island Adventure for just a few pounds more — currently £24.99 at Amazon UK.
In the US, Amazon actually has the same version of Hello Kitty Island Adventure on sale at $26.
As for Switch 2 owners wanting to complete the physical collection from the get-go, Amazon is also selling the Hello Kitty Island Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Friendship Bundle (including both the City Town and Wheatflour Wonderland DLC expansions) for only £52.99 in the UK and $59.99 in the US.
Topics: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Online, Free Games, Animal Crossing