Stardew Valley meets Studio Ghibli in our new gaming obsession

I have unearthed what appears to be a delightful game.

If you enjoy the cosiness of titles like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, but yearn for the added fantastical whimsy of the works of Studio Ghibli, Starsand Island could be a title to keep on your radar.

Developed by Seed Lab, Starsand Island is an upcoming life-sim meets RPG that’s due to launch on Steam in the final quarter of this year.

A console version is in the works although won’t be ready at launch.

“Leave the hustle of the city behind and embrace life on Starsand Island. Fish, farm, raise animals, and befriend or fall in love with locals to learn their secrets,” the synopsis reads.

“Customise your world with our DIY system, and invite friends to help build your dream paradise!”

You can take a look at Starsand Island in action below.

As the synopsis suggests, all of the typical cosy fare is here.

You’ll tend to a farm, raise animals, and befriend local townsfolk, but venture around the star-shaped island and you’ll also encounter a number of foes.

Yes, Starsand Island features combat.

“Venture into fog-shrouded depths where ancient ruins, rare treasures, and hidden mineral veins await. Master combat skills, and face off against bizarre creatures—each battle promises unexpected surprises and rewards,” devs teased.

While you can wishlist the game on Steam right now, you can also help fund its development as a Kickstarter campaign recently got underway.

Backers can unlock a wide array of incredible rewards for getting involved.

If you donate $20, you’ll receive a Steam key, five “backer wallpapers”, and a “special heartfelt thank you from devs”, although that bundle is limited to 300 early bird backers. Those rewards will unlock at $25 after that point.

$35 will bag you alpha test access, while $45 unlocks an “exclusive Discord role”, your name in the game’s credits, and a copy of the game’s digital soundtrack too.

The $65 and $100 rewards include exclusive in-game items, while $200 will nab you a signed physical artbook.

At $400, you can unlock all of the previous rewards, plus your own personal artwork featured in-game.

Backers who donate $800 will become a dialogue customisable NPC and while that’s a big price tag, that’s an incredible reward.

We’re reaching the top end of rewards now.

The first 20 people to donate $2000 bag the previous rewards, plus attendance to an online studio open day, a custom in-game high-end outfit, a custom in-game book design, and an exclusive artist-drawn custom photo.

Two backers who donate $5000 will also be made into romanceable NPCs and receive an in-person day with the devs.

Finally, the first person to donate $10,000 will also bag the opportunity to name “the new Outer Island”.

Of course, not everyone has cash to spare, whether that’s $45 or $10,000.

I’m sure the devs will appreciate you wishlisting the game and awaiting its launch later this year at the very least.