Despite being released nearly a decade ago,Stardew Valleyremains one of the most beloved cozy farming games. Created by solo developer Eric Barone, aka ConcernedApe, the game lets players nurture their own farm while getting to know the townsfolk, restoring the town’s community center (or siding with a large corporate company), and uncovering the secrets of the magical creatures that live around the valley.
Many still love and replay the game, which is beingkept fresh by the modding communityas ConcernedApe focuses on his next project. But there’s good news forStardew Valleyfans who want to play something new thatcaptures the spirit of the game without being a clone.
Coral Island Is The Perfect Followup To Stardew Valley
It Might Fill The Stardew Valley-Shaped Hole In Your Heart
Coral Islandwas released in 2023, after a successful Kickstarter campaign thatreached its funding goal within just 36 hours. The game features a lot of the things that madeStardew Valleyso popular among the cozy community, but set on a beautiful,lush tropical island.
LikeStardew Valley,Coral Islandhas plenty of cozy staples, includingfarming, animal rearing, fishing, crafting, and cooking. The game also has caves and mines to explore and monsters to battle. A colorful cast of NPCs is present on the island to befriend and potentially nurture a romance. In trueStardew Valleyfashion, you can even befriend several characters and beings that may not necessarily be human.
The premise of the game may sound familiar toStardew Valleyfans, too. The player returns to their home island to rebuild their neglected farm and help to restore the island.A nefarious corporation threatens to take over the island,unless you help bring the museum back to working order and help restoreCoral Islandto its former glory.
Coral Island Has A Lot To Offer For Cozy Gaming Fans
Not Just A Stardew Valley Clone
As similar asCoral Islandis toStardew Valley, it’s by no means a carbon copy. The game clearlydraws inspiration from many other cozy games,like its isometric 3D style, which is more reminiscent ofHarvest Moon—the game that inspiredStardew Valleyin the first place.
The title features beautiful villager storylines (and a whopping cast of 25 marrigeable characters) and an island-themedspin on cozy gaming. This includesnew mechanics like the ability to dive, capture marine critters, and clean up trash. It also has even more NPCs and locations to explore (some underwater).
While the game’s initial release was criticized for not being complete, the developers have been growing and updating the title.Coral Islandwill now beavailable for PlayStation Plus fans to play for free with an Extra or Premium membership,and it’s worth picking if you’re looking for aStardew Valley-like experience that has its own soul and style.
