Summary
This week marks the one-year anniversary ofHello Kitty Island Adventure, the cozy, tropical title made a big splash last summer on Apple Arcade. It’s grown a lot since release, and the Sunblink simulation is still just getting started, with an arsenal of future updates and ports for PC and consoles arriving sometime in 2025. Earlier this summer,Screen Rantjourneyed to the game’s booth at Summer Game Fest to see an early version of the aforementioned port and chat with Sunblink’s Chief Product Officer Chelsea Howe to reflect on everything that’s happened since launch and discuss the title’s future.
Island Adventureisn’t the first time the adorable titular protagonist - who, for the record, is canonically not a cat - has ventured into video games,but it’s arguably the most successful. The initialreviews forHello Kitty Island Adventurewere overwhelmingly positive, and since then, updates have added even more depth. One of the largest complaints about the game was simply its exclusive platform, launching only for iOS devices, but that will be remedied next year. In doing so, the developer aims to open up the game to a whole new audience, meaning that making a strong first impression is key.
10 Best Cooking Recipes In Hello Kitty Island Adventure
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The Initial Reception To Hello Kitty Island Adventure
A Unique Blend Of Ideas That Paid Off
Amidst a loud showroom of new games and excited players,Island Adventure’s section served as a sort of oasis, bringing a pleasant pause to the chaos as I sat beside Chelsea Howe and strolled around the tropical world. There have been many changes since I first played, fromnew characters like the Little Twin Starsto weather and flower breeding. For some players, the game may not have been what they were expecting before jumping into it -while it certainly draws some inspiration from games likeAnimal Crossing, it sets itself apart within the genre in several ways.
With a market currently inundated with releases where players completely control their own destiny, Sunblink opted to go a more hybridized route, infusing a main storyline with cozy, more open-ended elements. Because of this, the game managed to strike a chord with a wider breadth than many other similar releases. “We were seeing Sanrio fans who didn’t game come in and enjoy it,” Howe reflected, “we were seeing cozy fans who came in and realized how many new mechanics it had versus other games and were thrilled to play it.”
Landing that correct balance was no easy feat, but it was made easier in part by a strong relationship with Sanrio, which “trusted [Sunblink] a lot to just do what we’re best at.” This trust has undoubtedly paid off, with not only positive fan reactions, but impressive critical reception as well -it took home the title of Apple Arcade Game of the Year for 2023, and received nominations for Mobile Game of the Year from both The Game Awards and the D.I.C.E. Awards. Developers could easily rest on their laurels following this success, but Sunblink has much more up its sleeve.
What’s Next For Hello Kitty Island Adventure
Consistent Updates, Fixes, & Future Ports
“Can you explain the egg?” I ask, referring to a giant one Howe had casually collected. With a laugh she explains the recent Month of Meh event, which tied into everyone’s favorite indolent egg, Gudetama, and a dancing, yellow-bodysuit-clad character named Nisetama-san that joined as a contrast to Gudetama’s nihilism and led to a wide range of fan responses. “We had the people who were like, ‘Oh my God, he’s so creepy,’ and then we had people who were like, ‘No, he is my soul twin, and I want nothing more than to protect this man forever.'”
Since launching,Island Adventurehas released updates every three to six weeks, ranging from events - like the Friendship Festival that began last week - to new mechanics and expansion on the overarching story of the Sanrio islanders. The most recent was the 1.8Sound of Summerupdate, which added music players with collectible songs, new visitors, a special Ghostgleam flower, and more - and it’s only just getting started. “We’ll be continuing to update and support the game as long as people are continuing to play and enjoy it,” Howe says, “we’ve got a two-year plus roadmap.”
In many ways, going to the community and getting the sentiment there, hearing what is working or not working, is just hugely valuable for us. - Chelsea Howe
The story additions aren’t simply a few new quests here and there, either - when the game launched, it contained about 40 to 50 hours of main story content,but by the time it reaches consoles, that number will be closer to 80 or 90. A large 2.0 update is planned for September, and while many of the finer details are still under wraps, it will introduce both a new character and area into the game. She refers to the project as an “ongoing, living destination” for players, and expresses just how great of a motivator fan response continues to be almost a year in to continue building the title even further.
The Importance Of Island Adventure’s Players
The Game’s Thriving Community Is Integral For Success
Sunblink’sHello Kitty Island Adventureteam is small, consisting of only about 40 people, and the relationship between developers and players has been a cornerstone of the title’s success from the very beginning. The game’s official Discord currently boasts almost 50,000 members, and serves as a place for fans to chat about the game, report bugs, make suggestions, and - perhaps more important than anything - share their excitement. Howe opens the server on her phone with a smile, scrolling through people sharing outfits and new flower hybrid combinations with a sense of pure exuberance.
For an IP as large as Sanrio, it’s surprising how intimate the game’s community is. Members of the Sunblink team speak directly with players on the server “pretty much constantly,” Howe says,implementing their feedback and learning what to prioritize next based on fan responses. “In many ways, going to the community and getting the sentiment there, hearing what is working or not working, is just hugely valuable for us.” The passion for the game runs deep on the developer side too, which continues to drive constant ideating and desire to improve.
“I think it’s such a gift to be able to work on a project with a team that actually, legitimately cares and intrinsically enjoys what they’re making, and has such pride in it,” Howe reflects as we near the end of our session. “We’re really proud of it,” she continues, “we’re really happy about it. We love continuing to make it more awesome and developing it out.” With multiple years more of content already being planned, and a vibrant, ever-growing community, the future ofHello Kitty Island Adventurelooks brighter than ever one year in.
Hello Kitty Island Adventurewill release some time in 2025 for PC and Nintendo Switch as a timed console exclusive, followed by PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 releases.
