When discussing the cozy genre, two names that are almost always going to come up are The Sims and Stardew Valley. The former has been around for decades, thriving due to its immensely satisfying life management mechanics. The latter offers a charming pixel art style and relaxing farming mechanics that have been mimicked by countless indie games. Both of these IPs are downright beloved, so it’s safe to assume that the upcoming Steam game Mayday: The Survival Island will be a hit, as it cleverly combines both of them into a single experience.
However, the Sims game that Steam’s Mayday resembles isn’t a traditional Sims game where players trap their civilians in pools and build houses. Instead, it’s taking inspiration from one of The Sims franchise’s many spin-offs, The Sims 2: Castaway. Released in 2007, this console spin-off of the series saw players creating up to six Sims and tasked them with keeping these characters alive on a series of uncharted islands. More linear and quest-based than traditional Sims releases, players had to manage their characters’ needs, gather resources, and eventually escape the island. It also offered direct control over the player-made characters, a trait that Mayday: The Survival Island...
