Coral Island's late April update has teased further planned mechanics, including an expansive indoor customization system with different themes.
An update for Coral Island has revealed several new features, including a look at the detailed customization options for home decorating. The ability to decorate and personalize homes and locations in simulation titles has always been a popular mechanic for slice-of-life players. However, since the widespread success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons' elaborate customization options, many players look specifically for decorating features when choosing new games to play, and Coral Island appears ready to offer a good selection.
Recent updates for Coral Island have already revealed a large amount of exciting content. With gameplay that is a mix between Stardew Valley and Story of Seasons, players will be able to explore a unique, tropical island, build a thriving farm, and befriend a wide selection of local townsfolk. Players will also be able to explore the waters around the island, offering a chance to learn about the importance of coral reefs and what needs to be done to protect them. While it appears Coral Island is perfect for New Horizons fans, early gameplay footage and teasers were primarily focused on how players could customize farm areas, potentially creating concerns about how much decorative power they will possess.
Related: Every Way Coral Island Is Like Animal Crossing: New Horizons
However, in a recent April update from Coral Island developers, further footage teased a series of gameplay reels and short descriptions. This includes gameplay footage of the player character riding a horse, a demonstration of the "Dash" and "Vault" abilities, and a quick peek at the indoor decoration UI. The developer note states that "There will be A LOT of decorations for you to choose from on Coral Island", confirming that players will have a wide selection of interesting furniture and decorations to pick between.
Additionally, the update offers a look at the combat system similar to Stardew Valley, showing the player character in what appears to be a mining location battling a large spider with a sword. Combat has never been a part of Animal Crossing: New Horizons gameplay, but the inclusion in many simulation titles like Stardew Valley, Littlewood, and Rune Factory has made it more popular in recent years. The combat update also shows that players will be able to destroy boxes and crates with weapons to find hidden items, adding to exploration when working through different maps.
Additionally, it has been confirmed in previous updates that players will be able to fully customize their character's appearance and that LGBTQA+ options will be available for both playable characters and for the in-game romance mechanics. While there isn't a set release date for Coral Island currently, those eligible will be able to access the game in Alpha on May 9, 2022. Hopefully, an early access or full release window for Coral Island will become available soon, giving those excited about the new island adventure a chance to jump in and explore everything the game has to offer.
Next: Everything We Know About Coral Island
Laura Gray is a writer, illustrator and gamer in cozy Boise Idaho. They have had a wild freelance career in being a nerd, spending time traveling as a professional cosplayer and becoming a published illustrator while working the night grind as an IT tech. Laura is currently a content writer for D&D campaigns and Screenrant while working on personal writing projects for publication. They are also busy welcoming their first child into their life, which has been the best adventure life has given yet.