To say I have been impatiently waiting for Hello Kitty Island Adventure to land on Nintendo Switch would be an understatement. I was completely jealous when my colleagues at CGM were able to jump in over a year ago on iOS. Being an Android and console girl, it felt like a cruel, cruel joke. But the time has come, Hello Kitty Island Adventure is on Nintendo Switch and PC today, and I’ve been playing non-stop for the last little while.
Cozy is my MO lately, playing a lot of “chill” titles like Cuisineer, Fields of Mistria, Coral Island and the like. Hello Kitty Island Adventure looked like the perfect game for me, but it was always just out of reach. As you can see from writer Chris de Hoog’s review, “… but here on iOS’ subscription service Hello Kitty Island Adventure stands out like a technicolour beacon.” The game was a haven for iOS users, and I wasn’t convinced it was ever going to come to Android or Switch until I got to go hands-on at Summer Game Fest 2024.
Unfortunately, my time at SGF with the game was less than stellar. I got a general idea, but it was not optimized for Nintendo Switch yet. Things were lagging, and load times were insane. I am happy to report that on Nintendo Switch now, the load times aren’t an issue at all, aside from the first load in of the day and the way the game plays feels just perfect. We got to speak to the Chief Product Officer from Sunblink, Chelsea Howe, on bringing Hello Kitty Island Adventure from iOS to Nintendo Switch and PC.
“Hello Kitty Island Adventure brings nothing but smiles, even if you aren’t a Sanrio fan.”
I encourage you to read over our original review of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, as the gameplay elements are ultimately the same, and Chris and I both enjoyed the game thoroughly. Having played the game thoroughly now, I am grateful for Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s port over to Nintendo Switch, as it scratches an itch that not many games have filled since the Pandemic.
If you’re a Hello Kitty or Sanrio fan, there’s so much to enjoy here. But even if you’re not, as long as you love things that are cute and cozy, you’ll feel right at home with Hello Kitty Island Adventure. I was amazed by the sheer amount of content available in the game. Perhaps I underestimated it as a mobile title, but the map alone is massive. The fact that I needed to track down this lazy egg character in a top hat (Gudetama!) seemed like an impossible task. However, each time I found him, I was filled with an incredible sense of pride.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure is packed with Easter eggs like Gudetama and more. If you enjoy collectibles, seasonal celebrations, new Sanrio characters, and building relationships, this game is perfect for you. However, I will offer one warning: if you lack patience, this might not be your favourite game. Initially, I felt like there wasn’t much to do in this massive universe. I talked to everyone and collected materials until I eventually gave up.
What Hello Kitty Island Adventure rewards is consistency. By checking in daily and befriending the Sanrio characters, you’ll receive not only gifts but also, as your friendship levels increase, access to more quests, tools, areas, and activities. You can collect items, decorate, cook, swim, gather, craft, play games, and so much more—as long as you’re willing to put in the time.
“Hello Kitty Island Adventure belongs on a platform like Nintendo Switch…”
Something I really loved, though, is that even though many of the puzzles in Hello Kitty Island Adventure are extremely simple, it is a game that anyone can pick up. I have been playing with my 5-year-old daughter, and she is actually able to move around, talk to people, gather items and more. Soon, she might be able to solve some of the puzzles and explore more complicated features like climbing or swimming—she’s still a little young for a stamina wheel.
Hello Kitty is an extremely popular franchise, so catering to a wider audience is always a good idea. Sunblink is proving this by expanding to Nintendo Switch and PC from iOS, and with the number of people waiting for it, there is clearly a demand. But also making it not only playable, but enjoyable to a wide variety of ages and playstyles, too, tells me they really know what they’re doing with this IP.
I think the most notable thing to take away from all of this was something my husband said to me while I was playing the game, “You just look SO happy.” And he’s right, I was. Hello Kitty Island Adventure brings nothing but smiles, even if you aren’t a Sanrio fan. Hello Kitty Island Adventure belongs on a platform like Nintendo Switch, and seeing it more accessible to all is going to see sales skyrocket. Even in some of my cozy game groups, people have been clamouring for Hello Kitty Island Adventure on more platforms, and I am thrilled to finally be able to tell them that the wait was
