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Overview
The Island Life app is the primary progression system in Starsand Island. Accessed through the in-game phone (Tab on PC, Y on Xbox), it tracks your overall Islander ranking and connects you to major milestones. Each completed rank provides tangible rewards. Gold, Starsand currency, recipes, and cosmetics, and unlocks new features like the Buy Land app, fast travel, and access to new homestead locations.
Island Life essentially serves as your long-term progression guide, always pointing you toward your next overarching goal. It is one of the most important phone apps in the game.
Rank tiers
The Island Life ranking system progresses through the following tiers. Each tier requires completing a set of tasks before you can claim its rewards and advance to the next.
1. Island Newcomer
Your starting rank. Completed upon finishing the tutorial, which introduces basic resource gathering, crafting, and home decoration. There is a corresponding Steam achievement: "Island Newcomer. Tutorial complete! Enjoy your life on the island!"
2. Aspiring Islander
Early progression tasks including reaching Apprentice level in any profession by training with a mentor (Graminova, Delphin, Zephyria, Pastelle, or Zerine).
3. Budding Resident
Tasks include placing 6 furniture items inside your house using build mode. Furniture can be purchased from Lex Woodworks (Alex's shop).
4. Active Citizen
Tasks include accumulating 2,000 coins and meeting 10 Islanders.
5. Skillful Star
A key milestone rank. Requirements: reach Junior level in any profession AND complete 5 Bulletin Board requests at the Community Center. Costs 2,000 Gold + 50 Starsand to claim.
Rewards: 5,000 Gold, 70 Starsand, Ribbit Onesie recipe, Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms recipe.
Key unlock: The Buy Land app becomes available on your phone. This is the critical feature that lets you expand your Hopeland farm by purchasing surrounding tiles.
6. Island Pro
Unlocked after completing additional Island Life tasks beyond Skillful Star.
Key unlock: Fast travel via the Starsand Station system. The quest involves helping Marston build the Maritime Bureau, followed by helping Solara rebuild the Starsand Station.
7. Home Builder
Requirements: expand your Hopeland land 6 times (out of 8 possible expansions) and complete additional Island Life tasks.
Key unlock: Access to Cloudrest Lake a bamboo forest lakeside property north of Starsand Town. Costs 6,000,000 coins + 750 Starsand to purchase.
8. Bright Star
Requirements: purchase Cloudrest Lake and complete additional Island Life tasks.
Key unlock: Access to Blue Beach property.
9. Starsand Legend
The highest rank in the current Early Access build. Requirements: build 10 fast travel stations AND purchase Blue Beach plots.
Key unlock: Access to Windflute Island (the final expansion area. Related achievement: "Living Legend) Everything under the sun... and then some. Mine! All mine!"
Homestead unlock order
Each homestead environment is gated behind a specific Island Life rank:
Hopeland Starter farm (free). Available from the beginning.
Cloudrest Lake Home Builder rank. 6,000,000 coins + 750 Starsand.
Blue Beach Bright Star rank. Requires Cloudrest Lake.
Windflute Island Starsand Legend rank. Requires 10 stations + Blue Beach.
Hopeland land expansion
Once you unlock the Buy Land app at Skillful Star rank, you can purchase up to 8 surrounding tiles to expand your Hopeland farm. Each tile costs increasing amounts of Gold and Starsand:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Tile 1 | 2,000 Gold + 50 Starsand. |
Tile 2 | 15,000 Gold + 75 Starsand. |
Tile 3 | 30,000 Gold. |
Tile 4 | 50,000 Gold. |
Tiles 5-8 | Costs escalate steeply (exact values still being confirmed by the community). |
Once purchased, land is permanent with no way to refund. You need at least 6 expansions to reach Home Builder rank.
Starsand currency
Starsand is the premium progression currency used for land expansion and Workpedia profession perks (like Recuperate, Effortless Tilling, and other skill upgrades). It cannot be purchased with real money, it is earned entirely through gameplay.
How to earn Starsand
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Island Life milestones | Completing each rank awards between 50 and 1,500 Starsand Points. |
StarNote app | The game's achievement/reward track system grants Starsand and cosmetic items as you progress. |
Bulletin Board requests | Daily quests at the Community Center reward coins, relationship points, and Starsand. |
Tourist photo requests | Random tourists in colorful clothes spawn around town, beaches, and piers. Completing their photo requests grants Starsand plus gifts. |
Profession leveling | 100 Starsand for every 3 profession levels gained (the amount doubles at higher tiers). |
Islandpedia stamps | Earning stamps through item documentation rewards Starsand. |
Related phone apps
The Island Life app works alongside several other phone apps that make up the overall progression system:
Item | Description |
|---|---|
Island Life | Main progression tracker (this article). |
StarNote | Achievement/reward track system. Completing challenges awards Starsand and cosmetic items. |
Workpedia | Spend Starsand to unlock and upgrade profession perks across Apprentice through Expert tiers. |
Islandpedia | Item catalog with Stamp Collection (Cuisine, Bio Research, Crafting, Plants, Gatherables, Home Items). |
Buy Land | Unlocked at Skillful Star rank. Shows a top-down view of your property for purchasing new tiles. |
Social App | NPC relationship management with Locate and Follow tracking features. |
Tips
Focus on reaching Skillful Star rank early: the Buy Land app is essential for long-term progression.
Complete Bulletin Board requests daily. They are one of the most consistent sources of Starsand and help you meet the request count requirements for ranking up.
Tourist photo requests are easy Starsand, keep an eye out for colorful tourists near the beach and town plaza.
Do not rush land expansion. Each tile is increasingly expensive, and the Gold is often better spent on profession upgrades and shop items early on.
Profession leveling is a reliable Starsand source. Advancing multiple professions simultaneously provides a steady income of Starsand Points.