Coral Island vs Stardew Valley – All differences

Choosing to play multiple games in the same genre can sometimes make players nervous about getting a game that is too similar. In the case of Coral Island and Stardew Valley, is this the case?

Coral Island does borrow a lot of ideas from Stardew Valley, like having festivals, but I found overall for it to be from a place of love and not copying. Read below to see exactly what differences are found between the two.

Differences between Coral Island and Stardew Valley

While the games are both related closely to one another, there are some notable differences between Stardew Valley and Coral Island. Lining the two up against each other, I noticed:

• In Coral Island, you can adjust how quickly a day passes by in your settings. You cannot do this in Stardew Valley.
• Stardew Valley focuses much more heavily on an American and mostly white setting for its game. Coral Island is much more diverse, both in culture and race.
• Coral Island features more romanceable characters than Stardew Valley, and also contains characters who feel more real and nuanced. Stardew Valley characters sometimes feel archetypal.
• Similar to games like Dave the Diver, Coral Island features a secret mermaid group who you can eventually find living underwater. Stardew Valley does not have a secret group of mythical beings like this, though it does have Ginger Island and Calico Desert.
• Coral Island has more variety in pet types, beyond the simple cats and dogs in Stardew Valley. You can own cats, dogs, monkeys, foxes, and developers have plans for more to be added.
• You can catch bugs in Coral Island, but you cannot in Stardew Valley. The only bugs in that game are enemies in the mine/cavern.
• Children can grow up in Coral Island. In Stardew Valley by comparison, the kids don't grow up or become adults.
• Coral Island utilizes a more modern art style for its game, while Stardew Valley is famous for its retro pixel art style.

Related: Is Coral Island on Game Pass?

Similarities between Coral Island and Stardew Valley

If you were to play Coral Island and Stardew Valley side-by-side, you'd immediately notice that Coral Island takes a lot of inspiration from its predecessor. You'll notice between similarities such as:

• Both games are under the cozy gaming umbrella, featuring low stakes quests, farming, and romanceable characters. They both take place in a small town you've recently move to.
• Coral Island and Stardew Valley have a cavern, hot springs, town with shops, beach, personal farm, and other such locations.
• There is a timed system every in-game day, making you feel more immersed. Both also have energy bars for labor done, and neither will save until the day is over with.
• Both of the games feature a shipping bin outside your home to sell items that you'll be paid for overnight.
• Coral Island and Stardew Valley both have companies as antagonists of the game, challenging the local town's welfare.

Want to read more about Coral Island and Stardew Valley? If so, check out Coral Island pets – How to adopt and What is the Best Farm Type in Stardew Valley? on Pro Game Guides.