A Long-Awaited Release for PC and Console

After being exclusive to Apple Arcade, Hello Kitty Island Adventure finally launched for PC and console on January 30th. As a long-time fan of cozy games—and someone who spent an embarrassing amount of time on Animal Crossing in 2020—I was eager to jump in. After a few months of gameplay and spending $60 on the deluxe edition, did I decide if it was it worth it? Here’s my take.

First Impressions: Adorable but… Shallow?

Visually, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is undeniably charming. The colorful world and cute characters make it a joy to play initially, and I often found myself wandering around just for the sake of it. The excitement of unlocking new areas and meeting new Sanrio characters kept me engaged early on. However, as I progressed, I struggled to find reasons to keep playing.

Gameplay & Progression

One of my biggest disappointments was the lack of meaningful gameplay. Most of the so-called 80 hours of heartfelt quests are basic fetch quests, and I eventually resorted to button-mashing through the dialogue because it didn’t feel engaging. Characters have minimal dialogue—usually just a single sentence—and interacting with them doesn’t even raise friendship levels. Instead, you have to gift-spam them once per real-life day, making relationships feel more like a chore than a rewarding feature.

The game also lacks skill-building mechanics. Instead, you unlock tools that allow you to access new areas, such as a snorkel for underwater exploration. While I enjoyed the automatic nature of cooking and the satisfaction of discovering new recipes, there wasn’t much else driving me to continue playing after unlocking everything.

Deluxe Edition – Is It Worth It?

The deluxe edition included various outfits, furniture from past holiday events, and a starter bundle of materials. I do wonder if some of these items helped me unlock things faster—like additional cabins and easier crafting—but it didn’t feel like $20 worth of extra content, so I do regret upgrading. These things were nice, but not game-changing, although I was grateful for the clothing options because it seems like the stores sell the exact same items every day.

A Game Designed for Short Play Sessions

One of the biggest limitations of Hello Kitty Island Adventure is its real-time gameplay mechanics. However, this may be a selling point to those with limited time. Many quests are locked behind friendship levels, which means you can only progress so much per day. While this structure makes sense for a mobile game on Apple Arcade, it feels restrictive as a full-priced release.

Final Thoughts: Fun but Lacks Longevity

While I had fun with Hello Kitty Island Adventure, its appeal faded over time. The game thrives on its cute aesthetic and relaxing vibes, but beyond that, it doesn’t offer much depth. If you enjoy daily check-in games with a strong focus on collecting and decorating, this might be a great fit for you. However, if you’re looking for a more immersive long-term game, you may find yourself losing interest quickly.

Would You Play Hello Kitty Island Adventure?

Have you tried Hello Kitty Island Adventure? Do you enjoy its slow-paced, cozy nature, or do you crave more depth in your cozy games? Share your thoughts in the comments!