2025 is an absolutely stacked year when it comes toRPGs. From the obvious examples ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33andKingdom Come: Deliverance 2to the slightly more obscure titles likeInazuma Eleven: Victory Road, there is more than enough role-playing goodness to entertain fans of the genre as well as newcomers. Of course, that doesn’t stop us all from looking for our next best obsession, as, despite often being 100 hours long, every RPG ends eventually.
Finding the verybest RPGs availablecan be tricky, though, especially as they are a dime a dozen. Fortunately, every so often, one will pop up out of nowhere with a unique mechanic and hook that has us all intrigued.I, for one, am absolutely ecstatic about an upcoming 2025 RPG that could just become the next game I devote my life tofor an unhealthy amount of time, and it’s all for one key reason.
Starsand Island Looks Incredibly Cozy
It Could Be The Ultimate Cozy RPG
Starsand Islandis an upcoming RPG life-simfrom developer Seed Lab. It is scheduled to be released in Q4 2025, although it currently doesn’t have a fixed release date. More importantly, it looks absolutely gorgeous. This is an open-world game, one set in a beautiful tropical island that’s ripe for the classic cozy game activities. You can fish, farm, ride around in classic cars with your best buddy in the sidecar, and even fight monsters in dungeons.
The closest comparison is theMy Timeseries, which features similar mechanics and concepts. However, what makesStarsand Islandstand apart and could potentially make it one of thebest indie RPGs of 2025is its approach to romance. Rather than have you aggressively give NPCs gifts and pick the right dialogue options, you’ll actually need to pay attention to their likes and interests. Helping an animal lover tend to their animals, or bringing up their favorite sheep in conversation, shows you listen.
NPCs that like you will also actively pursue you, so it doesn’t feel like quite a one-sided relationship. That’s a huge improvement over the likes of evenStardew Valley. However, for those RPG folks who want something a little more action-packed, fear not. Beyond the life-sim gameplay, you’ll also be able to delve into ruins, uncover treasure and hidden secrets, and battle huge bosses. There’s really something for everyone.
Cozy Fans Shouldn’t Miss Starsand Island
It Could End Up Being GOTY For Many
Of course, at the end of the day,Starsand Islandis a cozy RPG. It has captured the vibe and tone of the genre exceptionally well, and includes all the trappings you’d hope for. There are cute animal companions - including my favorite, the capybara - as well as fully-customizable characters. You’ll be able to decorate your garden and even “shape the island’s landscape” according to the game’sSteamstore page. Basically,this isAnimal CrossingmeetsPersonameetsMy Time in Portia. What’s not to love?
I can easily seeStarsandIsland quickly becoming one of thebest cozy games, if only because of its unique approach to relationship dynamics, as well as the inclusion of a vast open world. There isn’t a cozy RPG game quite likeStarsand Island, and that is incredibly exciting to me. This is not one to miss, especially for fans of both or either genre. So, everyone should mark their calendars so they don’t miss this amazing-lookingRPGwhen it launches in late 2025.
