I named this blog Escape to Pause because that’s exactly what gaming is to me – a new world for me to live as I take a break from the mundane hustle of the daily grind. In reality, whenever I imagine peace and tranquility, it’s always a small town with charming townsfolk and a farm of my own to tend and nurture. Maybe that’s why I’ve always been drawn to farming simulation games growing up. Of course, this all started with Harvest Moon: Back to Nature as with probably all of the genre’s fans.

With a classic such as Harvest Moon, the standards for farming sims have always been high for me since the line between inspiration and imitation has always been a blurred one. Having said that, imagine my skepticism when Stardew Valley came out in 2016. At first glance, it’s easy to label it as a rip-off of its predecessor, but as we all know by now, Stardew Valley shattered all expectations by adding depth and gameplay mechanics to an already beloved genre. When Coral Island was officially launched in November of 2023, I approached the game with the same raised eyebrow. However, I’m happy to report that Coral Island follows in Stardew’s footsteps as it brings its own charming flair.

The obvious selling point of Coral Island would be its art design and graphics. Though Stardew’s pixelated approach has an appeal of its own, it’s surprisingly refreshing to see a farm sim amped up in the visual department. The map design is also a treat with its size and cozy aesthetic which would easily captivate new and old gamers alike. However, The real highlight of the art style would be the character designs because let’s face it, one of the main draws of farming games is the dating sim component. In Coral Island, there are twenty-eight eligible spouses, each having their own unique storylines and personalities. Moreover, this game went above and beyond to ensure that there’s a diverse set of characters from ethnicity to body types, so there’s sure to be a match for your preferences.

Regarding the game’s plot, there’s not much deviation on the premise of the main character from past games of the genre. As per usual, you inherit a plot of land which you then have to improve over the years to accomplish specific goals and milestones. The unique aspect of the plot (which I really appreciate) is the focus on restoring the former glory of the town itself by restoring the museum, cleaning the ocean, and offering to the goddess. The sense of community and shared responsibility is more prevalent in the game adding more depth to storytelling. Environmentalism is also at the forefront with gameplay that involves ocean cleaning and reforestation. Though Coral Island is obviously inspired by mechanics from other games, it manages to carve its own corner by adding these unique elements.

Customizability is another exciting aspect of the game. Apart from your character design, you can also select from a range of outfits to personalize your look. Though limited, there are also options for the look of your farm buildings as well with a wide array of indoor and outdoor furniture. As the game expands, the developers did assure that more design choices will be implemented in future versions.

Despite the great features of the game, there are some disclaimers that I need to provide. As of writing, I stopped playing Coral Island because of the many bugs that plagued it. It’s a bummer since conceptually and visually, this game is addictive and enjoyable, but the execution is still wonky and borderline unplayable. Even at its launch, the game is a work-in-progress and I say this not as a jab, but as a matter of fact since there are literal text placeholders for some items that say “WIP”. Worst of all, the game crashes with specific actions and since you can’t save mid-game, you’re forced to repeat a day when this happens. Admittedly, I have not played since January 2024 (a result of a rage quit from a crash) and there have been some patches since then, so these issues could have been resolved. Obviously, I intend to update this review once I get back on the game after more content is added in, probably in the 3rd or 4th quarter of the year. Until then, this is just a fair warning based on my experience months ago.

I want to conclude this review by stating that I really love this game and because I love it, I want it to succeed. The potential it has is enormous, but it’s sadly derailed by a few development issues. I do however have faith in the developers as their passion for the game is apparent and they are very gracious with their time as they constantly update the community on their progress. I look forward to seeing Coral Island in its intended state and I urge everyone to do the same.