Push Square has reviewed Starsand Island for PS5, a cosy life simulator with anime-style visuals that lets players explore, build, craft and farm on a magical island. The game draws clear inspiration from Stardew Valley, Palia and My Time at Portia, but distinguishes itself with an ambitious blend of farming, elaborate house-building, platforming and light combat, making it a strong contender for fans of the genre.

Progression revolves around five overlapping careers – crafting, farming, ranching, fishing and exploration – which inevitably intertwine as players advance, along with an extensive, block-by-block house-customisation system that allows near-total creative freedom. The reviewer praised the depth of character creation, the satisfying fishing mechanics and the unique Moonlit Forest exploration dimension, but found the building controls fiddly, particularly the lack of a snap-to-grid function, and felt some crafting stations were awkward to arrange.