Another day-one release has just hit Xbox Game Pass, and it will surely be of special interest to where I assume there is a huge crossover between cozy game and Studio Ghibli fans. 2026 is shaping up nicely for Xbox, even before we get to blockbusters like Forza Horizon 6 and Fable, and February 12 has brought a new indie title to Game Pass that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Starsand Island has just released into early access, and is available via Game Pass for no extra cost, letting you skirt its $40 entry fee if you were to buy it on Xbox or PC. Anime styled and heavily inspired by Studio Ghibli’s beloved films (it even has an ocean-traversing train à la Spirited Away), Starsand Island is the latest entrant into the rural life simulation genre. While its early access version comes with some not unexpected technical hiccups, the reviews are quite glowing (as collected by Pure Xbox).
DualShockers’ reviewer claims it’s easy to look past Starsand Island’s bugs, saying they “can’t stop playing Starsand Island,” and that “for what it might lack in some current polish and optimization, it more than makes up for in options, charm, and [its] gameplay loop.” Technical problems appear to have adversely affected Nook Gaming’s experience more, but their review still concedes that Starsand Island “has the potential to be one of the most engaging games in the genre.”
Starsand Island Has Landed On Game Pass
Game Pass is a great place to try out early access titles, though. Since Starsand Island is included in Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions, the technical problems are a bit more forgivable without having dropped $40 on the game. If you want to wait a while to jump into Stardew Valley meets Studio Ghibli, though, Starsand Island is expected to have its full 1.0 launch this summer, where it will also arrive on PlayStation 5 and Switch 2.
Starsand Island has an early access launch sale going until February 25, temporarily bringing its price down to $28 (30% off).
Starsand Island’s Game Pass release is a win-win for players and the developers at Seed Sparkle Lab. Subscribers get to play one of the most anticipated cozy games of the year, and the influx of players will likely be a huge help to the developers in cataloging and fixing bugs and performance issues.
It’s Already A Massive Hit
Starsand Island appears to be the most likely game to next take the cozy scene by storm. Its visuals and Ghibli inspiration are immediate draws, but according to Nook Gaming, “It improves on the life simulation genre in several ways.” A lot of life sim games suffer from simply being Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley clones, but Starsand Island has big ambitions. “At its heart, Starsand Island is designed to be a spiritual utopia,” the developers told us in a recent interview.
“Whether it is farming, building, forming meaningful relationships with NPCs, or simply watching the seasons change, the experience is meant to feel comforting, emotionally resonant, and deeply personal,” Technical Director and Producer Golton Gao said. “Our goal is for Starsand Island to feel like a gentle companion during moments when players want rest, reflection, and joy.”
Xbox Game Pass’ Studio Ghibli-Inspired Day-One RPG Is A Hit
