Coral Island: First Impressions

Coral Island is like playing a more thirsty version of Stardew Valley. You create your character who returns to their home town of Starlet on Coral Island to take over an old, run down farm. You begin with some basic tools and a handful of seeds but over time, you’ll clear the land, expand your plots, craft materials and new tools and reinvest what you earn so you can earn even more next season.

There’s a ‘dungeon’ of sorts where you fight your way down level by level to mine more rare materials. And there’s a town full of people to get to know, befriend and potentially ‘romance’ by giving them shit they like. There’s even an evil corporation threatening to muscle in on the little local economy. So far, so unoriginal.

What sets Coral Island apart is, primarily, the tropical island setting. There’s a big emphasis on cleaning up the island and surrounding ocean after a recent oil spill and you’re tasked with protecting and healing the land and water. And there’s scuba diving! In fact, there’s a whole underwater map to explore and mer-folk to meet and potentially f**k! I’ve not progressed far enough to meet them yet at the time of writing though.

I figured I’d knock out a first impressions post for this one because it’s going to take some time to play through and I’ll likely be dipping in and out of it around other stuff. So far though, I’m having fun with it! As a fan of Stardew Valley, Coral Island scratches the same itch but it does offer its own unique twist.

Coral Island is an island full of hot singles looking to hook up and that’s undoubtedly one of its main selling / marketing points. I’m more interested in the business side of things but even I can’t deny how hot everyone is. I’d say it’s like Love Island, but with far less Turkey Teeth and fake tan. Also, these people can actually string a coherent sentence together so maybe it’s nothing like Love Island at all.

Everyone has their own routines depending upon the season and their own preferences regarding gifts. I can’t say I’ve really bothered with that stuff yet because I’m more focused on my farm right now, but I’m sure I’ll give it a try later. I’m curious if it works the same as Stardew whereby you just keep giving someone gifts until you get married and have kids.

Seriously, why do these games always just go straight from friend to marriage? On an island full of single hotties, you’d think casual hook ups would be pretty common? Why can’t I bang my way across the entire island? I am joking – mostly.