'Starsand Island' hits early access on Xbox Game Pass: This Ghibli-esque life sim has evolved into a truly special cozy adventure that just keeps getting better

Last summer, I had the opportunity to preview Starsand Island, a cozy farming life sim with a Studio Ghibli-esque aesthetic and an impressive gameplay loop that ultimately left her desperate to play more.

Unfortunately, at the time, only a short demo was available with the promise of a Winter 2025 release window. As the seasons ticked on, the game was nowhere to be seen.

Until February of 2026, that is, when Starsand Island launched in Game Preview on Xbox and Xbox PC with Play Anywhere support and as part of the ever-growing Xbox Game Pass catalog.

Anime-styled Stardew Valley 'Starsand Island' hits Xbox Game Pass - YouTube

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Developed and published by Seed Sparkle Lab, Starsand Island boasts all the hallmarks of a classic cozy game. The customizable player character has ditched the hustle and bustle of city life to wistfully return to their childhood hometown on the titular Starsand Island. After the player chooses between a male or female protagonist, they’re greeted with a very robust character creator.

Nearly everything can be customized from the start, including hairstyle and color, eye style and color, beauty marks, freckles, and more. The clothing options are a little light in the beginning, but don’t worry — that’s a problem that’ll be taken care of later on. After sifting through the countless options in the character creator, it’s time to reacquaint with the family home. Your childhood best friend, Solana, is there to greet you and help you get settled back into life on the island.

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Though Starsand Island’s starter home isn’t quite as depreciated as starter homes in similar titles, it is certainly a little extra cozy. It’s small, ok? Really small. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. Like any good life sim, Starsand Island starts the player character with some of their grandparents’ heirlooms. In this case, it’s a trusty old stump of a workbench where you can craft a hatchet and a pickaxe using sticks and stones you picked up out of the yard. It’s a little rudimentary, but it gets the job done in those early days until you craft something a little harder-hitting.

Before you know it, you’ll be taking down trees and crafting furniture, and while that’s a great way to spend your free time, there’s really so much more to do. Starsand Island is alive with a cast of townspeople from all walks of life — each made to feel real and engaging with their own routines, back stories, and interests. Chatting and giving gifts to the locals unlocks new story beats, quests, and even romantic possibilities.

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Some of the townies can also help you choose and advance through the game’s different career paths, all of which lean into helping you become a self-sufficient homesteader and productive member of the community. Pastelle, the local rancher, is gentle and sweet but also eager to share her love of animals with you. Progressing through the rancher career under Pastelle’s mentorship unlocks livestock for your farm.

Cows and sheep can provide milk, but you must ensure all their needs are met, including housing, food, and hygiene. Chickens and ducks can provide eggs, but they’ll also help to keep your garden pest-free. Rabbits may be adorable, but they are also vital for keeping your garden weed-free. Livestock can be purchased or bred, which can lead to the discovery of unique variants that produce different byproducts.

Like the rancher career, the angler career track can provide animal byproducts (like fish meat) that can be used for crafting delicious recipes, or you can work on selectively breeding fish in order to fill the island’s aquarium.

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In all, Starsand Island offers players five career paths: ranching, farming, crafting, exploring, and fishing. Each track starts the player as an apprentice and requires the completion of trials in order to become certified. Completing each trial leads to new blueprints and tools for further completing more trials.

Running errands for mentors and helping out the folks of Starsand Island also opens up romantic possibilities, and there are plenty of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes around the island to woo with gifts and small talk — including some memorable favorites from the My Time at Portia series. Players of the My Time series will recognize Nia, Gust, Ginger, and Fang upon their arrival on the island.

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Even in its early access state, Starsand Island is lush with content. Players can rent a yacht to go fishing on nearby islands for the day, or go on a mining adventure and face giant rock monsters lurking in the caves of the Moonlit Forest. There is always something to do in this massive open world — and a new roadmap recently released from Seed Sparkle Lab indicates a lot more is on the way in the coming months.

The roadmap includes plans for an enhanced NPC dating system in April, mod support in May, and cooperative multiplayer in June.

Starsand Island is available now in early access on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, compatible gaming handhelds, and Xbox Cloud with Xbox Play Anywhere support. The game is available as part of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscription, or you can take advantage of a sweet launch discount to pick it up for under $30.

Cozy up

Save 30% ($11.85)

Starsand Island: was $39.49 now $27.64 at xbox.com

Cozy up and settle down on Starsand Island. Create your own island paradise in your old hometown and immerse yourself in the relaxing tasks of running a homestead. Raise sheep and chickens, ride an ostrich, go fishing on a yacht, fight a rock monster in the mines, or just sit back on your swing and watch the day go by.

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