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Subscribe from just £3 Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love Try a single issue or save on a subscription Issues delivered straight to your door or device From$12Subscribe now Gamescom 2025 schedule Battlefield 6 Horror Special New Games for 2025 Recommended reading Simulation Games I was already obsessed with Fields of Mistria, and the princely Stardew Valley-like's big summer update adding everything from dating to greenhouses has grabbed me all over again Simulation Games My favorite indie game of 2024, a perfect mashup of Sailor Moon and Stardew Valley, just got a massive new update adding romance – and I already know who I’m dating Simulation Games The most farm sim-looking farm sim I've seen all year just dropped, and it's unsurprisingly an instant hit on Steam with 3,000 glowing reviews after 3 days The best farming games to help you reap what you sow Survival Games Palworld update introduces its Terraria collaboration, fishing, a friendship mechanic, and lets you "sleep together with your Pals," so "stop asking" Simulation Games Former Stardew Valley dev's new farming sim boasts animals that "produce multiple types of items," like sheep milk usable for pecorino cheese – and the carbonara lover within me is thrilled Action Games Thanks to No Man's Sky's Switch 2 update, I've finally found time to become the mech-wielding Mayor of my very own alien Settlement Simulation Games Stardew Valley Coral Island is the best farming game I've played since Stardew Valley with over 300 hours so far, but a new update adding multiplayer and more romance means I'm not done with the cozy gem just yet Anna Koselke 14 August 2025 The 1.2 update has me yearning for more When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Stairway Games) One of my favorite farming and life sims reminiscent of Stardew Valley is Coral Island, with its cozy gameplay loop and whimsical vibes – and even though I've already clocked over 300 hours in-game, its latest update has me ready for more. The new Coral Island update, patch 1.2, has been in the back of most fans' minds ever since Stairway Games' debut title was first released into Early Access nearly three years ago on Steam in 2022. That's because it harbors one of the most hotly anticipated features – co-op, or multiplayer. Today marks its long-awaited arrival, but the ability to play alongside friends isn't the only exciting addition to come as part of the 1.2 update. As outlined in the official patch notes on Steam, Coral Island's romance system has now been revamped. There are new "hangout events" players can spend with their chosen partners, like picnics, jam sessions, and spontaneous beach bonfires, along with some unique cutscenes to accompany each one – and they're entirely separate from the normal heart events. There are, however, also new heart events to look forward to, too. You may like I was already obsessed with Fields of Mistria, and the princely Stardew Valley-like's big summer update adding everything from dating to greenhouses has grabbed me all over again My favorite indie game of 2024, a perfect mashup of Sailor Moon and Stardew Valley, just got a massive new update adding romance – and I already know who I’m dating The most farm sim-looking farm sim I've seen all year just dropped, and it's unsurprisingly an instant hit on Steam with 3,000 glowing reviews after 3 days Coral Island 1.2 “Multiplayer and Romance” Update Trailer - YouTube These new events pop when players have at least 11-15 hearts with their married partners, featuring both "deep conversations" in which spouses reveal everything from their aspirations to their deepest fears, and special cutscenes to "experience intimate moments in daily life, from quiet mornings together to romantic dates." Should people choose to, though, they can also marry fellow players thanks to multiplayer. There's co-op farming, fieldwork, and marriage now with the 1.2 update, just like in Stardew Valley, and I'm personally so here for it. That's not all, either – players can expect to see residents donning spooky new outfits during the fall season, and I'm sort of obsessed. Pablo's costume is literally a recreation of that Dwayne Johnson meme (you know the one, where he's sporting a black turtleneck and gold chain). Stairway Games has more planned for its beloved sim, too, with the Nintendo Switch release still in the works and a launch for the upcoming 1.3 update planned "for the second half of 2025, toward the end of the year" sometime. Itching for even more? Here are our favorite games like Stardew Valley, and some of the most exciting new games to look forward to. Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. See more PC Gaming News Xbox Series X PlayStation Anna Koselke Social Links Navigation Staff Writer After spending years with her head in various fantastical realms' clouds, Anna studied English Literature and then Medieval History at the University of Edinburgh, going on to specialize in narrative design and video game journalism as a writer. She has written for various publications since her postgraduate studies, including Dexerto, Fanbyte, GameSpot, IGN, PCGamesN, and more. When she's not frantically trying to form words into coherent sentences, she's probably daydreaming about becoming a fairy druid and befriending every animal or she's spending a thousand (more) hours traversing the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3. If you spot her away from her PC, you'll always find Anna with a fantasy book, a handheld video game console of some sort, and a Tamagotchi or two on hand. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. I was already obsessed with Fields of Mistria, and the princely Stardew Valley-like's big summer update adding everything from dating to greenhouses has grabbed me all over again My favorite indie game of 2024, a perfect mashup of Sailor Moon and Stardew Valley, just got a massive new update adding romance – and I already know who I’m dating The most farm sim-looking farm sim I've seen all year just dropped, and it's unsurprisingly an instant hit on Steam with 3,000 glowing reviews after 3 days The best farming games to help you reap what you sow Palworld update introduces its Terraria collaboration, fishing, a friendship mechanic, and lets you "sleep together with your Pals," so "stop asking" Former Stardew Valley dev's new farming sim boasts animals that "produce multiple types of items," like sheep milk usable for pecorino cheese – and the carbonara lover within me is thrilled Latest in Simulation Games As Mario Kart World and The Outer Worlds 2 grapple with $80 price tags, the much-expanded PowerWash Simulator 2 sticks with the original's price: "Clean out the dirt, not your wallet" We get a lot of cozy life sims, but not many of them crack Steam's top 20 best-sellers in 4 days with 95% positive reviews, and thank goodness this adorable bookshop management sim has nothing to do with a farm After failing to capture The Sims 4 market, inZOI pushes the panic button and goes for Stardew Valley instead with a new DLC filled with crafting, farming, fishing, and mining A Stardew Valley player got their mom into the farming sim, only for her to spend 1,000 hours in-game divorcing "everyone possible to intentionally become enemies" with the entire town As the wait for Haunted Chocolatier continues, this magical new shop sim with Dreamlight Valley and Hogwarts Legacy vibes is here to tide us over in a post-Stardew Valley world After 13 years away from The Sims limelight, Katy Perry returns to the community with a live Simlish performance of Last Friday Night that I can't stop watching Latest in News Leonardo DiCaprio says there is only one movie of his that he will rewatch, and reveals his biggest career regret People didn't like the face plate on Corsair's Nautilus liquid cooler, so now there's a fancy LCD screen upgrade instead Indie devs in shambles but "still laughing" after translation error turns their dungeon roguelite into "Crap Dungeon" on Steam: "Please give our game a try, I'm hoping it's not actually crap" Doctor Strange 2 star's confusing response to Avengers: Doomsday questions has Marvel fans thinking they're in the movie After months of radio silence, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure director breaks Steel Ball Run silence in typically bizarre fashion: "I want an Emmy Award for Best Sound. What should I do?" 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