We want Star Sand Island to be a game where NPCs feel like they're really alive. At the root of the developer's commitment and slow life was the teachings of Chinese Taoism, "Poetry and Wine Life"

 

The slow-life simulation game "Stars and Island" is attracting attention mainly on SNS and Kickstarter.
In the crowdfunding on Kickstarter conducted until May 31, 2025, the target amount of 100,000 dollars (about 14.56 million yen) finally achieved more than 300% support. Additional content such as water parks, pets, and hoverboards have also been decided.

The setting is a mysterious tropical island called "Hoshisa Island". Away from the hustle and bustle of the city, you can grow crops, interact with animals, and enjoy a carefree island life. It will be released in the fourth quarter of 2025 and will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 (PS5), Xbox, and PC (Steam).

The reason why this title has captured the hearts of Japan game fans so much is because of its warm graphics influenced by Japan anime and the presence of NPCs and animals that make you feel that they are "really alive". On SNS, there are many comments such as "The anime style design is cute", "The degree of freedom in architecture is amazing", and "I am worried about the interaction with NPCs".

This time, we contacted the development team behind "Stars and Island" directly. We took the time to talk about the background of the project and the commitment that went into the production.

Cultivate the fields, fish and live with animals. The Slow Life of Hoshisa Island

First of all, I would like to introduce the gentle flow of time on Hoshisuna Island. Life on this island is with the blessings of nature. Cultivate vast tracts of land to create your own fields and grow seasonal vegetables and fruits for a living. Once in a while, it's a good idea to go out to sea and hang a fishing line at a leisurely pace. The fish you catch is a feast that colors the dining table. Life on the island is enriched by the player's efforts.

In addition, the island is inhabited by unique residents, and interacting with them is the real pleasure of life. As you deepen your friendship by giving them gifts, the residents will eventually open up to you and show you more and more special feelings. In addition, there are special episodes that only occur in certain weather conditions and times, and unexpected encounters may be waiting for you at the place you casually stopped.

There will be plenty of interactions with adorable animals, and there will be some hilarious happenings such as secretly nibbling on the crops in the field.

Attention to detail, free architecture and design of life

The biggest attraction of this work is the construction system, which boasts an overwhelming degree of freedom. It is said that it is possible to arrange not only the way the walls are erected and the material of the floor, but also furniture, home appliances, and even small items that color daily life. Even the position of the outdoor unit attached to the exterior wall of the house and the memo attached to the door of the refrigerator can be freely decided by the player. From simple huts to elaborately designed mansions, it is a system that allows you to pursue your "ideal home" to the fullest.

In addition to the house, you can also expand the garden and create a space for animals, and you can shape the entire living environment with your own hands. It can be said that the real pleasure of this system is that you can carefully build your own space after smoothly preparing the foundation of your life.

Animal-loving residents diligently take care of them, and capybaras share rice with small birds. A gimmick in which the player "lives in a world with NPCs"

Here's an interview with the development team about the background of the game's planning and commitment to production.

――What was the concept behind this work? Please tell us about the setting of "Hoshisa Island" and how you came to the direction of a slow life simulation.

Development The starting point for this game was the desire to create a "peach source of the heart" in the game. In today's society, while economic affluence is emphasized, mental space and healing are often overlooked. We felt that we didn't have enough space or time to relax, so we wanted to create a space where players could truly unwind, free from the fatigue and anxiety of reality.

In developing the product, we also focused on the healing culture that has been popular in Japan since the 90s, and we were also inspired by ancient Chinese Taoist thought.

The stage "Star Sand Island" is actually modeled after the scenery of Zhuhai, where our studio is located. Just as the stars in the night sky illuminate the path of travelers, we hope to make it a place that serves as a guidepost for people living in the present day.

As for the genre, the emphasis is not on the so-called farm management simulation, but on the slow-life experience that depicts rural life itself. We wanted the game to allow players to find their own way of living at their own pace.

――There are various elements such as cultivation, architecture, fishing, and interaction with residents, but what were the key points that you were particular about in the development?

Development We were particularly conscious of the fact that players were free to envision their own country life. Influenced by Taoism's philosophy of cherishing tranquility and inner richness, he gives shape to a calm and profound experience.

In the game, you can enjoy a variety of activities such as farming, fishing, animal husbandry, crafting, building, and adventure, and each element has a solid response and depth.

In addition, we focused on the elements of play that add color to everyday life, such as enjoying cooking and taking pictures of the scenery of the island. "I'm going to take it easy today," and I value a play experience that allows me to spend freely in the mood of the day.

――The relationship with the residents and the romance element are also features of this game, but were there any points that you were conscious of when creating the characters and designing the dialogue system?

Development: I was conscious of making NPCs feel like they were really alive. We try to give each character their own values and sense of life.

In addition, as the relationship between the characters deepens, we tried to create a dialogue that allows the player to empathize with them.

For example, NPCs who like animals voluntarily take care of the animals on the island, and NPCs who like photography teach players tips on shooting, so that their personalities and hobbies are directly reflected in their actions and conversations.

――In the construction part, you can freely lay out the notes to be attached to the refrigerator, but please tell us why you decided to design the building with such a high degree of freedom, and what you thought about it in development.

Development This work is designed with the theme of healing journey and Chinese Taoist "poetry and wine life".

In order to deliver this theme as an experience, we first made it possible for people to experience a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment through elements such as cultivation and livestock farming that bear fruit.

Next, we are devising ways to give them a sense of unity as a member of the community through interaction with NPCs. Ultimately, the player will be able to create his or her own ideal life through DIY with a high degree of freedom, leading to self-realization. With this step-by-step flow in mind, we assembled the overall structure.

The ideal country life is really different for everyone. That's why we're very particular about the freedom of construction, and we've prepared a system that allows players to fully demonstrate their creativity and individuality.

The development was based on the structural building system of The Sims and the use of MinecraftWe took the creative construction elements of "" and optimized them through trial and error. As a result, we are proud to have achieved the industry's top-class free building system for a life simulation game.

In order to make the operation not too difficult, we have also made small changes to the UI/UX such as operation prediction. Of course, it is also compatible with controllers, creating an environment that anyone can enjoy comfortably.

――You said that you were influenced by Japan's anime culture, but how do you express that in terms of graphics and direction?

Development Since childhood, we have been familiar with Chinese Taoism and have been greatly influenced by Japan's "healing anime" such as Ghibli works.

That's why, when I decided on the theme of this work as "a romantic and healing worldview," I once again deeply analyzed and researched Japan's healing culture.

First of all, in terms of graphics, we were conscious of the softness and warmth seen in Japan anime, and adopted anime-style visuals.

In addition, for example, the vending machines scattered throughout the game are designed with attention to detail, referring to motifs that often appear in Japan anime.

――I heard that many Japan people support crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Please tell us your honest thoughts about this.

D: It was a really good experience. Immediately after the store page was released on Steam, there were many opportunities to be featured in the Japan media, and I was very impressed by the strong interest of Japan players.

For quite a long time, the number of wishlists from Japan has been the highest overall, which has been a great encouragement. With that in mind, the Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign has also prepared a Japanese introduction page and rewards.

As a result, both the number of supporters and the amount of support from the people of Japan are very high, and I feel that we have achieved very strong results compared to many other projects. In response to their enthusiastic support, we are currently prioritizing requests for mobile device support and the implementation of Japanese voice.

We will also be exhibiting at events in Japan such as BitSummit and Tokyo Game Show. The entire development team is very much looking forward to meeting you in person.

――I have the impression that the gestures and facial expressions of the animals are very lively in this work. What did you keep in mind when creating a realistic presence?

Development Depicting the animals as beings who really live in the world, rather than just a stage, was one of the essential elements of the film.

We take a lot of inspiration from our daily lives and try to replicate the movements and expressions of emotions as realistically as possible. For example, you can see a dog hiding its bones in the grass with its friends, a cat lounging in the sun on a roof, and a capybara and a small bird lining up to share a meal. Each of these natural behaviors should give you a sense of the individuality of the animals and their daily lives.

He also carefully depicts the process of protecting stray animals, building a relationship of trust over time, and welcoming them into his home. If you don't give them proper love and try to build a comfortable relationship, the animals won't open up to you. Not only pets, but all the creatures that live on the island live their own time. Such a feeling of "living together" is more important than anything else.

――There are a variety of transportation options such as skateboards and boats, but what kind of ingenuity did you put into these experiences? <br / >
Development Zhuhai, China, where our studio is located, is a place rich in nature facing the sea. Every day, the time I spend looking out the window at the scenery and the sea makes me feel calm. Inspired by these daily experiences, I decided to focus on life on an island surrounded by the sea.

Therefore, in this work, we have incorporated elements that allow you to enjoy "life with the sea", such as traveling by boat and boathouses like water parks. In addition, we prepared casual means such as skateboarding, and we were conscious that the movement itself would lead to a little discovery and healing.
In the future, we would like to add elements that allow us to collect plants and ingredients on remote islands, and expand the scope of exploration.

Beautiful sea scenery provided by the staff.

――It seems that there are some extraordinary elements in the game, such as encounters with monsters.

Development We designed the overall worldview with an awareness of the balance of 8% reality + 2% fantasy. The base is a slow-living experience rooted in reality, but by adding a little fantasy to it, we try to make people feel fresh and surprised in their daily lives.

For example, the rides include a pumpkin carriage inspired by mythology and fairy tales, rainbow-colored deer, and fantastical moonlight mushrooms. The fantasy elements are placed in the mysterious ruins area of the island, and I was conscious of creating a production that subtly blends the extraordinary into real life.

We hope that the player will be able to suddenly feel a mysterious atmosphere in their casual daily lives, and that it will be a little surprise and color.

――Lastly, what kind of time do you want players to spend on Stars and Island? As a developer, please tell us about the "unique experience of this game" that you would like to convey.

Development: Stars and Island wants to be a place where players can relax and take a break. Even if things don't work out in real life, I hope that this game will give you a break from the warm country life and give you an opportunity to take another step.

This experience is supported by two unique features of this game. The first is a romantic and heartfelt and healing worldview based on Eastern thought. The other is a simulation that combines sandbox freedom and creativity to create a peaceful life in the countryside in your own way. We hope that you will find a time where small happiness accumulates in "Stars and Island".