Hello Kitty Island Adventure began as a mobile title released on Apple Arcade before later making its way to consoles and PC. The most recent version landed on PS5, which is where I spent the most time with it. At its core, it is a cozy life simulation and adventure game, featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters living together on an island. The experience is somewhat similar to Animal Crossing, but wrapped in the Hello Kitty IP. The main drawback, however, is its mobile origins, which have led to a design that feels heavily gated and grind-oriented, demanding a significant investment of time.
The gameplay revolves around helping Sanrio characters with various tasks across the island. Completing these objectives gradually unlocks new areas to explore. While the concept sounds charming, in practice, most of the tasks boil down to repetitive fetch quests and grind-heavy collectathons. The kid-friendly design makes it approachable, but the monotony of its objectives holds it back from being as engaging as it could be.
The game offers a wide range of quests handed out by the Sanrio characters. These are easy to track through a menu, and you can even toggle guidance to see how to complete them. This makes the experience very approachable and especially kid-friendly. Unlike Animal Crossing, where players sometimes had to figure things out on their own, Hello Kitty Island Adventure makes sure you are never left guessing what to do next.
There is also a crafting system that lets you build and customize your household. The inspiration from Animal Crossing is clear, but the presence of Sanrio characters adds its own unique charm. Beyond exploration, crafting, and gathering resources to create items like food or gifts, the game also includes a friendship system. Each character has a friendship level that increases as you complete quests and give them presents. On top of this, there are plenty of customization options that let you design both your home and your character, giving players a personal touch in how they experience the island.
The pacing in Hello Kitty Island Adventure is quite slow, and at times, the game relies on time-gating to stretch out objectives. This makes progress feel less rewarding compared to similar titles. While the transition from mobile to consoles and PC has been handled fairly well, some of the original design choices still linger. The user interface, for example, has a distinct mobile-game feel, and certain features—like daily recipe limits from Hello Kitty—are tied to time restrictions rather than being naturally tied to objectives.
Quests themselves are very simple, often boiling down to basic fetch-and-return tasks. The real charm lies in the world and its Sanrio characters, who bring a sense of warmth to the experience. Still, the crafting system can feel like a chore, especially since it is often tied to improving relationships by gifting items. On top of that, some restrictions feel unnecessary, which only adds to the sense of monotony in certain parts of the game.
Since it is a fairly simple game, you should not expect much in terms of story or character development. Dialogue is limited, with only short and basic conversations available. As it stands, the game feels somewhat incomplete due to its time-gated mechanics and restrictions. It is more of a cozy experience meant to help you relax and unwind, rather than something that challenges you with ranks or difficulty.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is not a game that will appeal to everyone. Its slow pacing and reliance on time-gated systems hold it back, a drawback that can be traced to its mobile origins. While the developers continue to add updates and new content, the Apple Arcade version still has the most to offer, with PC and console versions catching up over time. That said, the world design and visuals are charming, with surprisingly high production values that make for a polished and visually delightful experience.
There are also some fun minigames like fishing and foraging, along with side activities that unlock as you progress. These do help break up the repetitive gameplay loop to some degree. Considering its mobile roots, the overall package is fairly robust, especially with the promise of ongoing live-service updates. It is a must-play for fans of Hello Kitty and the Sanrio universe, though those looking for more depth may find it a little too shallow.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Sunblink
- Developer: Sunblink
- Platform: PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
