Upcoming Steam Game Looks Like Stardew Valley Meets Studio Ghibli

Highlights

• Starsand Island looks set to offer a cozy farming sim experience with Studio Ghibli vibes in a lush island setting for players to explore and enjoy.
• As the farming simulation genre grows in popularity, games like Starsand Island provide a good pick for fans of Stardew Valley.
• Other upcoming farming sim games like SunnySide and Mirthwood offer unique twists, from Japanese countryside exploration to a fantasy world setting.

A newly announced Steam game called Starsand Island has strong Stardew Valley and Studio Ghibli vibes, and it has unveiled its first trailer. Announced for a late 2025 release on Steam, Starsand Island will take players to a Ghibli-esque island paradise they can explore and live in.

Since Stardew Valley’s release in 2016, the farming simulation genre has become more popular than ever. This has led to an increased player interest in games like Stardew Valley, and Starsand Island may be a good pick for fans of the popular farming game.

Now, Starsand Island has been announced with its first trailer, which shows a glimpse of the lush island the game is set on. According to developer Creativision Studio’s Steam page, Starsand Island will be a game with strong Studio Ghibli vibes, including vibrant environments such as meadows, beaches, and a friendly village. In the game, players will be able to perform all the usual activities of the genre, including farming, taking care of animals, decorating the player’s home, fishing, and talking to some of the 40-plus local NPCs, which will all have unique stories. The farming game will have its own unique activities, though, such as diving into the depths to seek coral or hidden pearls or exploring the wilds to gather rare herbs. At the moment, Starsand Island is currently aiming for a Q4 2025 release for PC.

Starsand Island Announcement Trailer

This is just the latest of many farming sims announced recently. Last month, for instance, the Stardew Valley-inspired SunnySide was revealed with a trailer and a demo. In this upcoming title, gamers will explore the Japanese countryside, taking care of their farm while getting to know the town and the stories of its inhabitants. As its unique gimmick, SunnySide promises to use modern technology often, allowing players to have a highly customizable smartphone that will let them interact with villagers often.

Another, more distinct take on the farming sim genre may be available with the upcoming Mirthwood. This game takes its inspiration from titles such as Stardew Valley, The Sims, and Fable, and puts a big spin on the genre by radically changing its typical setting and placing the gamer in a fantasy world torn by war. In Mirthwood, gamers can expect the usual farming mechanics, but also battles, RPG mechanics, and exploration, which will hopefully make Mirthwood stand out among the many farming simulators coming out in recent years.