Starsand Island Romance Guide: All Gifts, Dates & Characters
If only real-world dating was as simple as throwing a raw fish at someone every morning until they agreed to marry you.
In Starsand Island, the path to true love, or just unlocking useful perks, is paved with bribery. Whether you are looking for a spouse or just trying to get the locals to stop ignoring you, you need to understand the social game. There are 15 romanceable characters, a whole town of NPCs, and a very specific mathematical formula for friendship.
I have compiled everything you need to know about who you can date, how to find them, and most importantly, what specific junk from your inventory they actually want.
How to Buy Love (The Mechanics)
You cannot just stand there and look pretty. You have to put in the work. Affection is tracked in points, and you can check your standing with anyone via the Social App on your phone.
Here is the math on how to raise those numbers efficiently:
Talk to them (Once/Day): +5 Affection. It is small, but it adds up. Do your rounds.
The Daily Gift: You can give one gift per day.
Neutral Gift: +5 Affection.
Liked Gift: +10 Affection.
Loved Gift: +15 Affection.
Bulletin Board Requests: +15 to +25 Affection. This is the big one. If you see a request from a romance target, do it immediately.
Quests: +50 Affection. Completing a main story or profession quest for someone (like Zerine or Zephyria) gives a massive boost.
The Perks: Why bother? Aside from the warm fuzzies, befriending people has tangible benefits. At higher friendship levels, you can enter their rooms, they will send you gifts in the mail (sometimes rare recipes), and you can eventually invite them to move in or marry them.
The 15 Romanceable Singles
Not everyone in town is available, but the roster is pretty big. You know you have met a romanceable character because the game triggers a special "Meet-Cute" cutscene the first time you see them. Standard NPCs just get a wave; future spouses get a cinematic.
Here is who is on the market:
Alex: The woodworker. Guarded and cold initially, but loves animals. Runs Lex Woodworks.
Aurelis: The cooking prodigy. Meticulous, blunt, and obsessed with ancient recipes. Runs Aureleaf Kitchen.
Francis: Your childhood friend and surfing rebel. Runs Dive & Reels. He is the Fishing Mentor.
Graminova: The quiet scholar. Obsessed with crops and soil. He is the Farming Mentor.
Loren: The protector. Runs the Chrono Arcade to support his sick sister. Polite but distant.
Lunelle: The runaway artist. Fled a forced marriage to run Ethereal Styles (Clothing). Independent and classy.
Neona: The mechanic. Loves machines and tinkering. Runs G-Power Bikes (Vehicles).
Pastelle: The animal whisperer. Prefers cows to people. She is the Ranching Mentor.
Serena: The stylist. Talented in music and art, she is Stella’s best friend and manager.
Solara: The Mayor’s granddaughter and your childhood bestie. The golden retriever of human beings.
Stella: The pop idol. Energetic, imaginative, and runs the pet shop.
Sylvain: The musician. Runs Sylvan Notes. Friendly, helpful, and composes his own tracks.
Youfang: The monk. Sent from a monastery to "calm his spirit." Weirdly detached but wise.
Zephyria: The archaeologist. Confident show-off who loves ruins. He is the Exploration Mentor.
Zerine: The shy crafter. Struggles to talk to people but has a vivid imagination. She is the Crafting Mentor.
The Ultimate Gift Guide
I have pulled together the data on what these people actually want. Warning: If a cell says "TBA," it means I haven't found a specific item that triggers that reaction yet, but generally, sticking to the "Likes" column is safe.
Pro-Tip: Most villagers hate trash, weeds, and failed cooking dishes. Don't be that guy.
Stalking Your Crush (How to Find Them)
The island is surprisingly big, and characters have schedules. They aren't always standing behind their shop counters.
If you are running around trying to find Francis to give him a fish and he is nowhere to be found, do not panic. You have a tracker.
Open your Map.
Click the Residents Icon (Third one down on the left).
Scroll to the character you want.
Click "Track" in the bottom right corner.
This puts a waypoint on your screen leading exactly to their current location. It works for everyone, even the non-romanceable NPCs. Use this. It saves hours of aimless wandering.
What about the others?
You can befriend almost everyone in town, not just the romance options. Characters like Delphin (the fisherman), Marston, and Bruce all accept gifts. Generally, the rule of thumb is:
Delphin: Loves seafood (Red Beaded Starfish).
Bruce: Likes insects (Glazed Cicada).
Momo: Likes flowers (Hydrangeas).
If you are unsure, Chilled Twilight Salad seems to be a universally "Safe" gift that most characters at least Like (or don't hate). When in doubt, make a salad.
