Starsand Island Hits Early Access Very Soon, And It Can't Wait To Fill Your Cozy Schedule

You read that right, Starsand Island will be playable for almost all of you very soon indeed. The initial Early Access launch will, as all do, give the devs time to work out a few bugs before the full release in the future.

Don’t think that just because this is an Early Access launch, there won’t be much to do in the game. This is a cozy life-sim, after all, so you’ll need to clear a big chunk of your schedule if you want to have time to get everything done.

Starsand Island Will Be Playable In A Little Over A Week

If you’ve been waiting for the cozy-looking gem Starsand Island to drop, you’re definitely not alone. We’ve all been pretty keen on this one at Bonus Action, and now we can confirm that the title is launching in Early Access on Steam and Xbox Preview on February 11, 2026. I’d recommend playing the Steam version, not just because I’m boycotting Microsoft, but because it’s playable on the Steam Deck.

So, for those not in the know, Starsand Island is a cute-looking cozy game that takes inspiration from Stardew Valley and sees your character leaving the big city for a much quieter life in the countryside. Said countryside is actually an island, far away from the hustle and bustle of mainstream life. This alone is fulfilling my need to retire early to Cornwall and do nothing but paddleboard for the rest of my life, but somehow, there’s more.

The game’s story is one of healing. If you’ve ever suffered from burnout or the horrific burden that can come with the stress of an office job, then this is probably for you. Away from the crazy day-to-day, your character can breathe, get a bit of perspective, and find new friendships with the island’s inhabitants to help them feel whole once more.

You’ll construct a house and get it just how you like it. Then, when you’re done with that first round of tittivating, you can make a garden and start growing food and plants for materials used in crafting. Since this is a cozy game, there’s a decent fishing mechanic, all of which I’m sure plays into the food and crafting system, and pets to look after, too.

Don’t go thinking this is all chill like Animal Crossing, though. The island hasa series of ruins that act as a home to mysterious creatures you can battle. I reckon they’ll have collectibles to earn and yet more materials you can gather by beating them to a pulp regularly.

If all this sounds exciting to you, then wishlist Starsand Island on Steam so you don’t miss the Early Access launch. Follow our socials so you can see when we post more about this brilliant-looking game, and check out our free Patreon to get all that right to your emails.

Jamie Moorcroft Sharp

Editor

Jamie adores the indie games that you don’t hear about until you’re on a video essay binge at 3AM and suddenly the sound of them changes your life. He’s played games all his life and loves looking at the intricate details that make them magical and different. If there’s a wierd list, embarrassing feature, or something else far too out there on Bonus Action, there’s a good chance he wrote it. But that’s not all! He’s also an absolute fiend who never knows when to stop when he puts on his dirty robes and takes on his D&D persona as a Mud Warlock who acts on that tiny voice in your head when it wonders what would happen if you did something really dumb right now. He’s easy to beat in a TGC, though, just keep an eye out for his crazy card combos.

Visit Website View All Posts