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Moving in and Cohabitation - Version 11 vs Version 12
May 23, 2026, 02:29 PM
Corrected wikilink existence flags
May 27, 2026, 05:38 PM
Restored body text in sections that were rendering empty
11Overview22Starsand Island has a Cohabitation and Dynamic Romance system rather than traditional marriage. The highest level of a romantic relationship is having your partner move into your house, which happens when you reach Heart Level 5 with a romanceable NPC and invite them to move in. The game currently does not include marriage or children; the developers at Seed Sparkle Lab have confirmed these features are planned for the 1.0 release.44There are 15 romanceable NPCs on the island: 7 bachelors and 8 bachelorettes. Romance is gender-neutral, meaning you can pursue any character regardless of your avatar's gender.66Heart Level System88Every NPC relationship is tracked through a 5-heart affection system. You can check your current standing by opening the Social app on your in-game phone and navigating to the Residents tab. Romanceable characters display the label "Bond" beneath their portrait. A heart gauge also appears at the top of the dialogue box when speaking to an NPC.1010Heart LevelPoints NeededCumulative TotalWhat UnlocksHeart 19090Return gifts (NPC sends items via mail)Heart 2130220Photo invites; outings become availableHeart 3150370Access to NPC's private bedroom; special gift chestHeart 4400770Bulletin board requests; personal story questsHeart 5750~1,520Cohabitation (Move In option)1313The jumps from Heart 3 to Heart 4 (400 points) and from Heart 4 to Heart 5 (750 points) are significantly larger than the earlier levels, so reaching cohabitation takes sustained effort.1414How to Earn Affection Points1616ActionPoints EarnedDaily conversation+5Gift (universal like)+5Gift (liked item)+10Gift (loved / favorite item)+15Returning a lost item+20Bulletin board request (easy)~15Bulletin board request (hard)~25 to 30Profession quest completionUp to +50Gift (disliked / hated item)0 points (no affection lost, but wastes daily gift slot)18+You can give only one gift per NPC per day.Disliked and hated gifts cause affection loss. Trash, weeds, failed dishes, and Red Firefly (except for Sylvain and Youfang) are universally hated.Neutral gifts award zero points. The game does not flag neutral gifts, so you need to track them yourself.Profession mentors are easier to romance because you naturally earn affection through profession quest progression.1819Romance Progression2121There is no separate confession or dating phase in the current version. The relationship progresses organically as you accumulate affection, and the Move In dialogue option appears once you reach Heart Level 5. The full progression looks like this:2323Meeting (0 Hearts)2525Encounter NPCs around the island. Check the Social app to see who you have met. Some NPCs arrive later in the game; for example, the crossover characters Fang and Nia from My Time at Sandrock arrive on Autumn 1, Year 1.2727Heart 1: Return Gifts2929The NPC begins sending you small gifts via mail. You can have basic daily interactions and start building the relationship through conversation and gifts.3131Heart 2: Outings and Photos3333You unlock the ability to take group photos with the NPC and go on outings together. Activities include bike rides, picnics, and beach visits.3535Heart 3: Bedroom Access3737You gain access to the NPC's private bedroom. Each bedroom contains a special gift chest you can open. Shared outings expand to include hot springs (requires Hot Spring Tickets, 100 Gold from the General Store or vending machines), backyard swings, and more.3939Heart 4: Personal Quests4141Character-specific requests appear on the bulletin board. For example, Zephyria requests items from the Moonlit Forest, while Delphin requests rare fish. Personal story quests also become available, giving deeper insight into each character's background.4343Heart 5: Cohabitation4545The Move In dialogue option appears when talking to the NPC. You must actively select it; cohabitation never triggers automatically. Once confirmed, the NPC moves into your house.4747Move-In Requirements4949Reach Heart Level 5 (~1,520 cumulative affection points) with a romanceable NPC.Have adequate space in your house. The game warns you to make sure you have room to accommodate your partner.Place an extra bed. The NPC will sleep at home if you provide one.Select the Move In option through dialogue. It does not happen automatically.5051All Romanceable NPCs5353Bachelorettes5555CharacterRole / LocationFavorite GiftAlexFurniture store owner at Lex WoodworksDiamondLunelleClothing retailer at Ethereal StylesFlannelNeonaVehicle customizer at G-Power BikesCopperPastelleRanching Mentor at Green Pasture RanchRabbit FeedSerenaCosmetologist at Bloom AtelierDiamondSolaraCommunity guide at the Community Center (childhood best friend)Strawberry MousseStellaPet shop owner (former idol) at Woof & Wow PetsBlack Tea MacaronZerineCrafting Mentor at General StoreStone5757Bachelors5858CharacterRole / LocationFavorite GiftAurelisChef at Aureleaf KitchenAurorite OreDelphinFishing Mentor at AquaBlue OutpostLight Blue HydrangeaGraminovaFarming Mentor at Happiness Seed ShopWheat SeedsLorenArcade owner at Chrono ArcadeCopper IngotSylvainMusic shop owner at Silvan NotesBlue HydrangeaYoufangFortune teller at Barston HeightsBamboo LeafZephyriaExploration Mentor at Explorer ClubMoonflower6060Important Notes6161Youfang is the one romanceable character who cannot be invited to move in as of the current Early Access build. This appears to be a deliberate design choice related to his backstory as a monastery disciple.Gust and Ginger (crossover characters from My Time at Portia) are capped at Heart Level 4 and cannot be romanced.Fang and Nia (crossover characters from My Time at Sandrock) arrive on Autumn 1, Year 1 and are also crossover characters with limited romance progression.6263For detailed gift preferences for every NPC, see the Gift Guide article.6565What Happens After Moving In6767Once your partner moves in, their daily routine changes. They still go to their shop or workplace during the day but return to your house in the evening and sleep there.6969Farm Help7171Your partner contributes to household tasks when they are home:7373Clears debris from the farm.Pets and cares for animals.Waters plants.Cleans rabbit pens and collects wool (if you have ranch animals).7475Shared Activities7777You can enjoy the following activities together at home and around the island:7979Watch TV together on the couch.Relax at the hot springs.Swing on the backyard swing.Ride bikes together.Go on picnics and beach visits.8081Schedule Changes8383The NPC keeps their daytime job (they do not abandon their shop or role).They come home when their workday ends.They sleep at your house overnight.They leave your house in the morning to resume their regular schedule.8485Multiple Partners8787You can only have one partner living with you at a time. However, you are free to build all 15 romanceable NPCs to Heart Level 5 simultaneously. The game does not penalize you for having high affection with multiple characters; you simply choose which one to invite to move in.8989Outing Activities9191Starting from Heart 2 and expanding as your relationship deepens, you can invite NPCs on outings. Some activities become available at higher heart levels.9393ActivityDescriptionBike ridesRide through town togetherBackyard swingSit and swing together at your homeHot springsRequires Hot Spring Tickets (100 Gold from General Store or vending machines)Scooter ridesDrive around the island togetherPicnicsRelax in meadows togetherBeach drinksHave drinks by the beachTV binge-watchingWatch shows on your couchSleepoversSpend the night togetherNPC-specific activitiesUnique interactions based on character (e.g., Youfang offers fortune readings)9595NPCs may also proactively invite you to outings, send surprise letters, or meet you after activities. Shy NPCs may decline invitations if the relationship is not close enough.9696NPC Autonomy9898Starsand Island uses a dynamic NPC system where characters process environmental cues and player behavior signals. According to technical producer Golton Gao, NPCs evaluate their interest level and make independent choices about deepening relationships. They remember your habits and preferences, and conversations evolve as your bond grows. Each relationship supports multiple endings and personalized companionship paths.100100Related Achievements102102AchievementClueRequirementCould It Be Fate?"The moment our eyes met, I knew it was destiny."Heart Level 1 with a romanceable NPCHello, My Friend"Nice to meet you."Heart Level 1 with 5 NPCsLoved By All"You're always noticed, wherever you go."Heart Level 1 with 10 NPCsMutual Understanding"Your bond is skyrocketing."Heart Level 2 with an NPCSincerely Yours"Here's my little heart."Heart Level 2 with 5 NPCsFriend Ship"A ship loaded with friends!"Heart Level 2 with 10 NPCsGroup of Friends"Beep, another message from a friend."Heart Level 3 with 5 NPCsFull House"Just open the door, another friend has arrived."Heart Level 3 with 10 NPCsTelepathy"Just one glance is enough."Heart Level 4 with an NPCLonging for You"I want to see you today, from sunrise to sunset."Heart Level 4 with 5 NPCsInseparable"Sharing life, sharing moods."Heart Level 4 with 10 NPCsWholehearted"My heart's set on you."Heart Level 5 with an NPCWe Are..."Living happily together is what matters most."Heart Level 5 with 5 NPCsLifelong Companions"This is a big family."Heart Level 5 with 10 NPCsJust Roommates"We're just roommates, really."Have an NPC move in with you104104Tips105105Give a loved gift every single day for the fastest affection gain (+15 per gift, +5 for daily conversation = +20 per day).Profession mentors (Zerine, Graminova, Pastelle, Delphin, Zephyria) gain affection naturally through quest progression, making them the easiest to romance.Complete bulletin board requests at Heart 4 for large affection boosts (25 to 30 points per hard request).Do not give hated items. A single hated gift can undo multiple days of progress.You can raise all 15 romanceable NPCs to Heart 5 before choosing who to invite. There is no penalty for having multiple maxed relationships.Place an extra bed in your home before inviting a partner. The game checks for available sleeping space.Your partner's farm help is a meaningful time saver. They water plants and tend animals while you focus on exploration or crafting.Check the Social app frequently to track your progress toward the next heart level.106107Future Updates109109The developers have confirmed that marriage and children are planned for Starsand Island's 1.0 release. The April 2026 roadmap specifically mentions expanding NPC voice content and further developing the NPC Dating System, which may introduce a more formal confession and dating phase before cohabitation.
