Despite being released nearly a decade ago, Stardew Valley remains 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 being kept fresh by the modding community as ConcernedApe focuses on his next project. But there’s good news for Stardew Valley fans who want to play something new that captures the spirit of the game without being a clone.
Developed by Stairway Games and published by Humble Games, Coral Island is a similar cozy farming sim that takes the Stardew Valley feel and places it on a small island instead of the middle of a valley. PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers will be able to play Coral Island for free this month when it arrives in the service’s games catalog today, August 19.
Coral Island Is The Perfect Followup To Stardew Valley
It Might Fill The Stardew Valley-Shaped Hole In Your Heart
Coral Island was released in 2023, after a successful Kickstarter campaign that reached its funding goal within just 36 hours. The game features a lot of the things that made Stardew Valley so popular among the cozy community, but set on a beautiful, lush tropical island.
Like Stardew Valley, Coral Island has plenty of cozy staples, including farming, 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 true Stardew Valley fashion, you can even befriend several characters and beings that may not necessarily be human.
The premise of the game may sound familiar to Stardew Valley fans, 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 restore Coral Island to its former glory.
Coral Island Has A Lot To Offer For Cozy Gaming Fans
Not Just A Stardew Valley Clone
As similar as Coral Island is to Stardew Valley, it’s by no means a carbon copy. The game clearly draws inspiration from many other cozy games, like its isometric 3D style, which is more reminiscent of Harvest Moon—the game that inspired Stardew Valley in the first place.
The title features beautiful villager storylines (and a whopping cast of 25 marrigeable characters) and an island-themed spin on cozy gaming. This includes new 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 Island will now be available for PlayStation Plus fans to play for free with an Extra or Premium membership, and it’s worth picking if you’re looking for a Stardew Valley-like experience that has its own soul and style.
Stardew Valley
Systems
- Released
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February 26, 2016
- ESRB
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E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco)
- Developer(s)
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ConcernedApe
- Publisher(s)
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ConcernedApe
- Engine
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Proprietary
