Over the last decade or so, indie games have become an incredibly important part of the gaming industry. While big AAA releases and first-party exclusives will always have their place, the last 10 years have shown gamers that even the smallest budget, one-person-developed titles can stand just as tall as the industry giants. Now, a game doesn't need to have a big budget to stand out from the crowd, just an exceptional idea, and Coral Island may just be the latest indie game to showcase that.
With the immense success of titles like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, life and farming simulators have become some of the most popular video game genres in recent years, and Coral Island wants in on the action. Releasing on October 11 2022, Coral Island takes clear, heavy inspiration from Stardew Valley, with its central gameplay loop tasking the player with creating their own farm and ranch, and improving said island's economy and appearance. However, Coral Island is far from being just a Stardew clone, with a few surprises up its sleeve.
Coral Island Is Another Relaxing Farming Sim
Coral Islandputs relaxation at the very forefront of its gameplay experience. While fueling the island's economy and leveling the town up is the game's central mechanic and driving force, the player is allowed to do everything in their own time, with no external stressors or time pressures. After players have customized their avatar and their outfit, they'll have free rein over the island. It's up to the player on what crops they grow, what animals they tend to, and how they choose to decorate their ranch and the surrounding town. The more they do, the more the town and island will grow.
Another aspect that'll be familiar to any Stardew Valley fans is the ability to talk to a variety of townsfolk. With a cast of over 50 characters, there are plenty of conversations to have and relationships to build. There's also a romantic system in place, where 20 of the cast can be wooed and eventually brought back to live with the player on their farm. Coral Island has plenty of side activities to enjoy, ranging from catching fish to embarking on various fetch quests for the townsfolk.
One of the more unique features of Coral Island is its focus on underwater gameplay. As the title would suggest, the island is surrounded by a range of beautiful coral beds, all of which are diving locations. Players can journey down to the bottom of the sea and plant a variety of different plants to help grow the underwater ecosystem, or venture deep into underground caverns in the search for precious minerals that can then be used to upgrade a slew of farming tools.
Though Coral Island does share a lot of DNA with both Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, it should still make for a neat alternative when it releases onto early access on October 11. Coral Island is also dropping day-one on PC Game Pass, so there's an extra incentive for those on the fence to give it a go. According to the developer's notes on Steam, when Coral Island eventually has its full release, there should be a slew of new content in the game, most of which really separates it from Stardew and Animal Crossing. For instance, Coral Island's full release will apparently feature an entire Merfolk kingdom, packed with new Merfolk NPCs.
Coral Island is set to release in early access on October 11 for PC.
