It's easy to compare Coral Island to Stardew Valley since many mechanics and ideas are similar or even identical. If you've played one, you’ll quickly feel at home with the other. However, as a Stardew Valley player, it doesn’t feel like just another clone. Coral Island takes what Stardew Valley does best and expands upon it in creative and refreshing ways.

The town in Coral Island is massive, vibrant, and stunningly beautiful, almost idyllic. Its lush environments and thoughtful design make exploring a real pleasure. There are 58 unique characters (not including secondary ones) to meet, each with distinct personalities, stories, and relationships you can develop. The festivals are engaging and reward you for participating year after year, adding a sense of progression and excitement. Beyond farming, you can dive to explore the sea, catch insects and critters, and uncover the island’s many secrets.

What really sets Coral Island apart is its embrace of fantasy elements. The game introduces beings like merfolk and "giants", which weave into the lore and gameplay in unique ways. These touches of magic add depth and charm, making the world feel alive and mystical.

At around 20 hours in, I’m already blown away by the sheer amount of content the game offers. It’s clear the developers have poured a lot of love into the game, and with frequent updates on the horizon, it’s only going to get better.

The only downsides I’ve encountered so far are:

1. The combat system, which feels underwhelming and rushed. It lacks responsiveness and depth, making it one of the weaker aspects of the game, if not the weakest. Using the starter sword was particularly frustrating: it felt clunky and ineffective. Thankfully, you gain access to a hammer shortly after, which is a noticeable improvement and makes combat a bit more tolerable. However, the overall experience could still benefit from refinement, such as smoother mechanics, better hit detection, and more engaging combat options.

2. Some dialogues don’t adapt well to the current situation. For example, I once saw a character say something like, “Look at these cute animals!” while standing in front of the animal shelter yard. It was winter, and all the animals were indoors. The yard was completely empty. Inconsistencies like this are fairly common, sometimes they break immersion, but other times they’re just funny.

If Stardew Valley is a 10/10, Coral Island currently sits at a solid 9.5/10 for me. It’s familiar yet innovative, relaxing yet exciting. A fantastic addition to the life-sim genre that deserves your attention.