Coral Island (video game)

Coral Island
Developer(s)	Stairway Games
Publisher(s)	Humble Games
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)	PlayStation 5 Windows Xbox Series X/S
Release	November 14, 2023
Genre(s)	Farm life sim
Mode(s)	Single-player

Coral Island is a 2023 farm life sim developed by Stairway Games and published by Humble Games. Its gameplay takes place on a tropical island and contains features similar to other farm sims such as Stardew Valley. The game was a huge success on Kickstarter, reaching its initial goal within 36 hours. The game entered early access in October 2022 before fully releasing November the next year.

Gameplay

Players control a customizable protagonist who has become disenchanted with city life and moves to a small farming community on a tropical island. On the island the player is given an overrun farm and is tasked with enacting repairs and planting crops, allowing players to harvest and sell their crops, with the potential for increased profits through various methods. The player engages in a variety of familiar farming simulation game activities such as animal husbandry, fishing, crafting, cooking, combat with monsters, exploring caves and mines for rare resources, and interacting with the town's non-player characters (NPCs) with whom the player can form relationships. The more the player learns about them, the more stories and conversations they will uncover. Players can marry their chosen partner, including options for same-sex marriage, and have the opportunity to conceive a child with their spouse. Players can make offerings at each of the four altars, with each altar requiring six offerings. The offerings can be made in any order, and players receive a reward upon completing the entire bundle. Additionally Coral Island features activities unique to the ocean setting such as diving and the cleanup of an oil spill. In a day, character’s energy and in-game clock will measure activities players are able to engaged in. Energy can be given by consuming food and certain dishes can grant benefit certain activity buffs and situations. The game features a simplified calendar with four 28-day months, each representing a season. This system influences which crops can be grown and which activities are most effective. As players progress, they can restore a greenhouse and unlock a tropical island, allowing them to grow any crop year-round, regardless of the season.

Plot

The player returns to their hometown on Coral Island to work on a farm there. They then meet Conner, the town's mayor. It turns out the town is falling into disarray and may be forced to work with an oil company called Pufferfish Corporation, who secretly plans to convert the town into an oil facility. The player makes it their goal to revive the island and stop Pufferfish Corporation from taking control of the town, all while befriending the townsfolks and helping to increase the museum's popularity. During their mission, they help revive small monkey-like creatures called giants and meet the island's harvest goddess along with the merfolk who live near the island; however, the merfolk are distrustful of humans, but the player soon manages to befriend them by reviving their coral tree, which in turn fully revives the island.

Once the town’s popularity reaches Rank C, Karen, Pufferfish Corporation's CEO, becomes more determined to take over the town. When Rank A is reached, Pufferfish Corporation will end their operations and leave Coral Island. When Rank S is reached, the main story ends.

Development

The developer, Stairway Games, is in Indonesia, which inspired the setting. Its 3D art style is influenced by Disney animation. Coral Island had one of the most successful video game crowd-funding campaigns of 2021. After it entered early access in October 2022, Humble Games released Coral Island for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S on November 14, 2023. Shortly after its release, an imposter account on social media targeted fans with NFT scams. Coral Island does not feature any NFT content.

Following the closure of Humble Games in July 2024, Stairway Games was unable to update the console versions of the game. The game's launch for the Nintendo Switch was also put into doubt.

Kickstarter campaign

Coral Island was partially funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign that ran from February 1 to March 3, 2021, raising $1,639,368 from 36,374 backers. The campaign surpassed its initial funding goal of $70,000 within 36 hours and unlocked additional content through stretch goals. While pledges can no longer be made, altered, or canceled via Kickstarter, backers can still edit their pledges for add-ons through BackerKit. Stairway Games is also working on a pre-order option for those who missed the Kickstarter.

Nintendo release issue

Due to 'restructuring,' Humble Games has laid off employees, which is having an immediate negative impact on some of its published games, including Coral Island. The game is currently available on Xbox, PlayStation 5, and Steam, and had been scheduled for a Switch port through Kickstarter, but the reorganization has cast doubt on that. Citing a publishing agreement and NDA, the developer, Stairway Games, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of updates for the Switch version. Since Humble Games manages console updates and hotfixes, Stairway is unclear on how to proceed. Due to the uncertainty surrounding the port, Stairway is now offering backers a Steam key. Many fans have expressed sympathy for the situation.

Reception

Coral Island is often compared to Stardew Valley and has been called one of the best Stardew Valley clones by multiple gaming publications. The game was notably funded through a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, raising over $1.6 million from more than 36,000 backers. The campaign achieved its initial goal within 36 hours, underscoring the considerable anticipation for a novel approach to the farming simulation genre.

The visual design of Coral Island has drawn frequent comparisons to the animation style popularized by Disney. The game's character models are characterized by expressive, colorful, and polished designs, contributing to a whimsical, approachable atmosphere. This aesthetic choice plays a critical role in establishing the game's tone, positioning it as both family-friendly and visually engaging. The art style also reminds of the game Disney Dreamlight Valley, said Gayming magazine.

The project places significant emphasis on eco-conscious themes, such as environmental sustainability and the preservation of coral reefs, resonating with contemporary concerns around ecological issues. One notable feature is the sea diving mechanic, which allows players to clean the ocean of debris and revitalize coral reefs, contributing to marine conservation efforts. While diving, players can also visit the Merfolk Underwater Village, home to the mermaids.

Coral Island  received positive feedback for the LGBT options and representation for the player character and game mechanics. Gayming Magazine commended the LGBT friendly atmosphere and inclusivity that is shown throughout the game via character customization, non-player characters' disability and range of sizes and color.

Salomé Grouard writing for South China Morning Post wrote that some countries in Southeast Asia still have punishment legalization for homosexuality issues such as Singapore, Malaysia, and some parts of Indonesia or counties that don't provide equal treatment for LGBT rights. Coral island is a tool for people in the community to fully express themselves and improve the perspective and well-being of the community

Moreover, Coral Island represents Southeast Asian culture mixing western with the game setting and culture. For example, the game offers a unique cooking system that highlights traditional Indonesian recipes. Players can prepare dishes such as Sayur lodeh, Spring rolls, Klepon, and traditional herbal drinks like Jamu (herbal medicine). The architecture is also inspired, for example, by the Balinese Hindu temples. The animals and plants in the game are also based on local Southeast Asia plant fauna and flora and animal species.

Stairways Games has been translating Coral Island into multiple languages according to Kickstarter stretch goals and surveys on social media platforms.

Early access

Rock Paper Shotgun said the early access release was a little buggy in October 2022 but was overall mature. They recommended it to players looking for a game similar to Stardew that has quicker rewards and less grinding. GamesRadar said that although the gameplay was similar to other farm sims, especially Stardew Valley, Coral Island implemented it well and added their own unique twists. Reviewing the game in May 2023, TechRadar said they were "thoroughly excited" by its roadmap and said Coral Island proved to them that there was room for more farm sims.

Release

On release, Coral Island received positive reviews on Metacritic. Siliconera said that, although not innovative, it builds upon its influences and add quality of life improvements. Although they called it essential for farm sim fans, they suggested that people hold off for bug fixes on the PlayStation 5 version. TouchArcade said it "feels unfinished in parts" and may have left early access too soon. However, they said it has "a fantastic base to build on" and is a "joy to play" on the Steam Deck despite some technical issues. GameSpot included it in a list of hidden gems released in 2023 and called it "a breath of fresh air" for the genre for its tropical setting, large and diverse cast, large map, and compelling story. At the 2023 Steam Awards, Coral Island was nominated for the Sit Back And Relax award.

Sales

Coral Island, a popular farming simulation game developed by Stairway Games and published by Humble Games, has made significant strides in terms of sales and popularity. Since its early access release on October 11, 2022, the game has generated approximately $21.46 million in gross revenue, with an estimated net revenue of about $6.33 million

In its first month alone, Coral Island sold nearly 100,000 copies, bringing in almost $2 million As of August 2024, total ownership reached around 400,000 players, showcasing the game's strong following, The game has been well-received, holding a positive rating on Steam, where about 70% of its players are English speakers, followed by notable percentages of German and Chinese players

Award

Coral Island received recognition from the gaming community for its fresh take on the farming sim genre. It was nominated for the "Sit Back and Relax" category at the 2023 Steam Awards, reflecting its appeal as a cozy, immersive game

Additionally, it was a 2024 entrant in the Independent Games Festival, highlighting its status as a notable indie title

With its tropical setting and unique environmental themes, Coral Island was celebrated as a hidden gem by GameSpot, which emphasized its relaxing gameplay, visually engaging environment, and commitment to sustainability. This has helped it stand out among other farming simulators and further solidified its reputation among fans and critics alike.

Other Media

Additional content and soundtrack

The Coral Island soundtrack, highly regarded for its soothing farm-life ambiance, features over 140 tracks. These pieces capture the essence of each season, providing music for specific areas and events. Seasonal tunes vary from gentle day and night tracks to music for each festival, like the New Year and Harvest Festival. Mining and diving have their adventurous themes, and various in-game locations, such as the Beach Shack, General Store, and Blacksmith, feature unique tracks that enhance immersion.

The game's additional downloadable content (DLC) includes this full soundtrack, available on platforms like Steam for those interested in experiencing the music outside of gameplay. The soundtrack highlights the commitment of Coral Island to create an atmospheric and culturally resonant experience within its simulation setting.

See also

• My Time at Sandrock, another farm sim that was released shortly before this

External links

• Official website