Coral Island

About

Coral Island is a single player and multiplayer open world role playing game. It was developed by Stairway Games and was released on October 10, 2022. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Coral Island" is a farming/life simulation game where you restore a coral reef and breathe life back into a forgotten island. Build your farm, grow crops, raise animals, and explore the ocean to learn about marine life. Engage with the local community, help them with quests, and uncover the island's secrets.

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88%

Audience ScoreBased on 20,326 reviews

story1.2k positive mentions

grinding4.9k negative mentions

grinding
4,920 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The reviews for "Coral Island" highlight a mixed reception regarding the grinding aspect of the game. While many players appreciate the variety of activities available—such as farming, mining, diving, and fishing—some find the gameplay to be excessively grindy and repetitive, particularly in tasks like ocean cleanup and resource gathering. Overall, the game is praised for its charming visuals and engaging mechanics, but the grind can detract from the enjoyment for some players, especially those seeking a more relaxed experience.
- “Also, compared to other games, I feel like it isn't as grindy.”
- “No grinding, no sweaty try-hards.”
- “Awesome game, any farming sim player would love this.”
- “This is on a whole other level of pain, I would call it mental torture and I played most grindy farming/factory/idle/clicker/incremental games.”
- “It ended up getting a little grindy towards the end, and I couldn't manage to get to rank A for the extra features (underwater farm etc) before becoming bored.”
- “One downside is how much grinding is required.”
story
4,479 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
70%
3%
The story of "Coral Island" is a blend of familiar farming sim tropes, such as restoring a community and battling an evil corporation, reminiscent of titles like "Stardew Valley" and "Harvest Moon." While players appreciate the engaging characters and the environmental themes, many express frustration over the incomplete main storyline and numerous quests marked as "work in progress," which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its unfinished state, the game is praised for its beautiful graphics and potential, with players eager for future updates to fully realize its narrative depth.
- “I also love the concept of land and ocean lives; the main quests including the giants and the merfolk were adorable and appealing.”
- “Beyond that though, I really appreciate the representation of Southeast Asian culture, the tropical setting, and the departure from the cliché storyline into something that honestly felt both more meaningful and refreshing.”
- “The story is engaging and there is lots to do.”
- “The game is really bad in explaining stuff, most stuff is locked behind other later stuff at different locations/events in a combination with season bound stuff for 'main story quests' so if you miss it, because you don't know it, because it's not explained anywhere.”
- “The main story is not completed, there hasn't been an actual update in months other than hotfixes and a 'beta' test.”
- “The main story isn't even finished yet.”
graphics
3,089 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The graphics of "Coral Island" have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and charming art style, which many players describe as a significant upgrade over the pixelated visuals of "Stardew Valley." The game features beautifully designed characters and lush environments that create an immersive experience, although some users have reported graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the visuals are praised for their creativity and detail, contributing to a cozy and engaging gameplay atmosphere.
- “The visuals are beautiful, the world is full of personality and has a strong environmental identity which is easy to get immersed in.”
- “The art style is absolutely stunning, with lush environments, diverse wildlife, and a colorful cast of characters to befriend.”
- “Coral island seamlessly blends engaging gameplay with breathtaking visuals.”
- “Despite running on the lowest graphics settings, it continued to crash when loading in and out of buildings.”
- “Certain mechanics are still broken, riddled with graphical glitches that drop you into an empty void when entering buildings, and cut scenes that loop at the start of every day.”
- “I shouldn't be booting it up long past its launch to be greeted with graphical glitches and no background music and stuttering even when I set the graphics down to the point where it looks like I am playing RuneScape Classic.”
gameplay
2,442 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
66%
4%
The gameplay of "Coral Island" has been described as a blend of familiar farming sim mechanics, heavily inspired by titles like "Stardew Valley" and "Animal Crossing," while introducing unique elements such as diving and ocean cleanup. Players appreciate the engaging and relaxing gameplay loop, vibrant visuals, and diverse characters, although many note that some mechanics feel unpolished or borrowed, leading to a sense of repetitiveness. Overall, while the game shows promise and offers a cozy experience, it still requires further development to fully realize its potential.
- “The underwater mechanics kept it fresh and definitely helped the game stand out from its similar counterparts.”
- “The day-to-day gameplay loop is engaging and relaxing, with a variety of activities to keep things fresh, whether it’s diving for treasure, decorating your farm, or participating in island festivals.”
- “The farming and crafting mechanics are top-tier, offering the same satisfying loop of planting, harvesting, and crafting that we all love, but with a freshness that keeps you coming back.”
- “However, nothing is perfect and there are quite a few things and problems you need to consider, the worst of it all (at least for me) was the massive grind and boring gameplay loop, and even though in the short term you feel like you are progressing in everything you do, the game fails in awarding you for all the trouble and massive hours of grind.”
- “The writing and gameplay clearly took a backseat to a goal of ‘make this a pretty game.”
- “The gameplay feels a little 'grindy' at times and fighting monsters in the mines is not especially fun or rewarding.”
stability
695 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
97%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers feel that the game was released in an unfinished state, resembling an early access title rather than a polished product, leading to frustrations with gameplay interruptions and incomplete features. While some players acknowledge the developers' efforts to address issues through updates, the consensus is that the game remains too unstable for a full release, with many recommending waiting for further improvements before purchasing.
- “It looks great, runs great, and much to do to keep you busy.”
- “So far gameplay has been smooth and bug free for me.”
- “No glitches, no bugs.”
- “The game is still buggy, especially barrels in the shed when combined with auto chest.”
- “It should've stayed in early access because it really is not finished and if it is then this is just another buggy Bethesda game in disguise.”
- “The game is not only buggy, but just lacks in a lot of areas.”
music
680 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its soothing and relaxing qualities, often comparing it favorably to the soundtracks of similar titles like Stardew Valley. However, several users have noted issues with the music cutting off abruptly when transitioning between areas, leading to awkward silences that detract from the overall experience. While some find the soundtrack charming and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others feel it lacks memorability and originality, with some tracks feeling derivative or overly repetitive.
- “The music is so beautiful as well as soothing to listen to while playing.”
- “The soundtrack, with its mellow and tropical tunes, complements the serene atmosphere, making every farming day soothing and enjoyable.”
- “The music is lovely and soothing, the environments are very pretty, lots of pleasing colors, the dialog between the characters is actually interesting enough that I don't automatically skip it like I tend to in other games.”
- “The game feels silent a lot of the time, and it very, very jarringly starts and stops music when you change zones on the island.”
- “There are long stretches of gameplay that there is literally no music unless you go into town. This may be a small issue for some, but for me, the music of farm sims contributes to the aesthetic and the feel of the world, and to go long stretches without any music at all makes the world feel hollow.”
- “The music is boring and uninspired; the townspeople are boring and say weird combinations of things that just don't make sense. There's no consistency or cohesion.”
character development
243 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the stunning character designs and diversity, which enhance the game's charm and inclusivity. However, several reviews express disappointment in the limited depth of character interactions and storylines, noting that while the characters are visually appealing, their personalities and development feel shallow or repetitive. Overall, while the character design is celebrated, the narrative and relational aspects are seen as areas needing improvement.
- “Coral Island shines when it comes to character development and world building.”
- “The character development and relationship building is one of the best in a farming sim I've seen.”
- “What makes the game amazing to me is the depth of character development and interactions, the level of detail put into things like gathering and crop selection, and the general theme of the story/town.”
- “Additionally, the game experiences frequent crashes, and the character development is quite limited.”
- “Right now the romance character development is very bland and friendship/romance scenes between the player and NPC are not very romantic.”
- “I'm not marking off points for the bug crashes (I experienced 7 playing about 3 hours, which is more painful when you have to start the day over) or for the lack of character development of individual NPCs (they only have a few lines each that repeat and are pretty shallow), I trust that at a minimum both will be improved before full release.”
emotional
184 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is predominantly described as "wholesome" and "heartwarming," with many players appreciating its cozy atmosphere and inclusive representation. While some express a lack of deep emotional connection to the characters, others find the storytelling and character interactions to evoke genuine feelings, making it a comforting escape. Overall, the game is celebrated for its positive themes and the emotional resonance it can create, particularly through its diverse character portrayals and engaging narratives.
- “The music and soundtrack gives me life, the characters are wholesome and lovely, I feel my anxiety melting away when I play... this game is just a serious gem.”
- “I love how involved you become in the story and the emotional aspect *chef's kiss*.”
- “It is extremely inclusive and shows pride for the LGBTQIA+ community in many ways, including the flag in the town center that made me cry tears of pure joy to see.”
optimization
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
49%
35%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, particularly on the Steam Deck, where players report severe stuttering and performance issues that worsen over time. Many users have experienced graphical glitches, lag, and crashes, even on high-end systems, indicating that the game is not well-optimized for various platforms. While some players have found smoother performance at lower settings, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial optimization improvements to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Hopefully they can add some optimization patches because I would love to give it another shot.”
- “The game is solid, I only wish it was better optimized as well as when it's fully released that some artifacts and NPCs that sometimes pop up or walk out of nowhere are fixed; otherwise, a very nice and fun time.”
- “It's so smooth and despite early access I've run into very few issues performance-wise.”
- “I will begin with the bad: if you plan on playing it on Steam Deck like I do, be wary that it is poorly optimized.”
- “Tried it on three different machines (high-end PC, gaming laptop & Steam Deck) and could not get this game to stop stuttering with any settings, so I got a refund.”
- “It's just too bad that the game is so poorly optimized and bug-ridden that I'm struggling to get to where I can enjoy it.”
atmosphere
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxing, vibrant, and immersive qualities, combining beautiful graphics with a charming tropical setting and dynamic characters. Players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and the engaging activities that contribute to a cozy, island life experience, making it an ideal escape for those seeking a calming gameplay environment. Overall, the game successfully creates a lively and welcoming atmosphere that enhances the enjoyment of its farming simulation elements.
- “The meticulous attention to detail in both the aquatic and terrestrial landscapes creates an immersive atmosphere that elevates Coral Island above and beyond typical farming simulations.”
- “The soundtrack, with its mellow and tropical tunes, complements the serene atmosphere, making every farming day soothing and enjoyable.”
- “With its charming graphics, immersive gameplay, and chill atmosphere, this game is sure to provide hours of entertainment and relaxation for gamers of all levels.”
- “The atmosphere feels a lot more modern but still home-like.”
- “Game has its bugs, no surprise all games do, but the music is relaxing and the atmosphere.”
- “Coral Island covers the majority of the essentials that make farming sims great, including numerous crops, a relaxed atmosphere, and simple, yet rewarding animal husbandry, while avoiding a number of pitfalls from more retro entries in the franchise (such as missable time-gated events, overly tedious crafting systems, and structures/items breaking, never to be seen again).”
humor
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, characterized by sharp dialogues, quirky characters, and amusing situations that often elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the clever references, puns, and the lighthearted atmosphere, although some find certain comedic elements to be hit-or-miss or overly reminiscent of other games like Stardew Valley. Overall, the humor contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “A wonderful storyline with funny, interesting, and unique characters (personal favorites are Cho Oyu, Mark, Chieftain, and Lin).”
- “With its humorous characters, ridiculous situations, and stunning visuals, it offers endless laughter and amusement.”
- “There are so many references and puns, the stories are funny/cute, there are different types of shows to watch; it is obvious there was so much work put into this.”
- “Others like the cooking/late night shows are really not funny, though that is entirely subjective.”
replayability
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
51%
9%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, particularly through various romance options, seasonal events, and evolving quests, which keep players engaged. However, some critics note that the ease of gameplay and lack of certain features, like family dynamics, may limit long-term replay value. Despite these concerns, many players find the game enjoyable and worth revisiting, especially for fans of similar titles like Stardew Valley.
- “The seasonal events and evolving quests contribute to the game's replayability, ensuring that returning players always have something new to discover.”
- “Coral Island is a stunning game with lots of hours of replayability.”
- “Definitely worth it if you like games like Stardew Valley, Sun Haven, etc. Tons of hours you can already sink into it, and there are still a bunch of features to be added, so even if the price might seem a bit high compared to the very cheap Stardew Valley, it's perfectly reasonable given how big and replayable the game is/will be.”
- “That being said, I am quite critical of the genre and I feel there are far too many people putting out subpar games that lack longevity of gameplay and replayability.”
- “In terms of difficulty level, it's very easy to make a lot of money and get all the upgrades, so there's not much replayability value.”
- “I'm not sure if it has the same kind of replayability as Stardew.”
monetization
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many users perceiving it as a cash grab due to misleading advertising and the rushed nature of its 1.0 release. Concerns have been raised about potential future DLC charges and the lack of promised features, leading to a general distrust in the developers' intentions. While some players appreciate the game's elements, the overall sentiment suggests that the monetization strategy undermines its potential and accessibility.
- “And with no in-game purchases whatsoever!”
- “Honestly, it kind of feels like they did a cash grab 1.0 release and are going to let this rot, which is really sad because the graphics are beautiful and as far as fantastical life sims, the story had so much potential.”
- “It has a lot of promise but is honestly in such bad shape, there's no way this would have passed even a simple QA check, which makes this game seem like it may just be another half-baked cash grab like plenty of other Stardew-likes on Steam.”
- “I cannot in good conscience recommend this game as it is right now and the way it left early access so suddenly has my 'My Time at Portia' cash grab vibes.”