Gaming: Starsand Island Is The First Can't-miss Cozy Game Of 2026 And It's...
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Every couple years we get one: that farm sim game that everyone talks about. In 2024 it was Fields of Mistria and in 2026 I think we're already looking at this year's belle of the ball with Starsand Island. It's taken me 25 hours just to complete my first season in Starsand and I fear I may sink another 100 hours into it before the month is over thanks to some big crafting quest demands and a shockingly detailed home building system.
I've also broken down Starsand Island's early access features if you're trying to judge whether it meets your personal fam sim checklist.
After growing up on Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life and clocking thousands of hours in modern farm sims, I may be a little set in my ways. I'm a known build mode hyper-fixater and fishing minigame hater. I've also got a strong preference for 2D and pixelated farm sims, usually finding the 3D ones have awkward controls and a less polished visual style. So, Starsand Island had its work cut out to win me over but (spoiler alert) I'm happy to be proven wrong.
Source: PC Gamer
