Starsand Island "fills the gap" left behind by The Sims and Stardew Valley

I have a love-hate relationship with life games. I’ve put countless hours into Dreamlight Valley, tried Coral Island, and am loving the new Doloc Town. Like many others, I played plenty of The Sims in my youth and became obsessed with Animal Crossing: New Horizons during the pandemic. Though I adore the relaxing nature of the simulation genre, each demands so much time that it’s hard to get into new releases. One that might be worth trying out, though, is the upcoming Starsand Island, which combines the best elements of them all. After a few hours with an early build, I think this cute life sim has what it takes to be the next big hit.