Released as an exclusive for Apple Arcade last year, Hello Kitty Island Adventure became an unexpected smash hit among cozy gamers, younger kids, and Sanrio fans alike. Now, it’s finally headed to more platforms, and players (and South Park fans — there’s a reason for this, we swear) are rejoicing.
During today’s Nintendo Direct, Sanrio announced that Hello Kitty Island Adventure is receiving long-awaited PC and Switch ports in 2025 (to be followed by PlayStation 4 and 5 releases at a later date), and fans have taken to X/Twitter to share their excitement.
HELLO KITTY ISLAND ADVENTURE ON THE SWITCH? god is good pic.twitter.com/EFmhMMgzFb
— 🗡🔥 Karis 🔥🗡 (@kwehzy) June 18, 2024
i’m sorry but if i’m choosing between mario party and hello kitty island adventure that italian man will mean NOTHING to me
— rhys’ pieces (@eyebrowpillar) June 18, 2024
Other fans were happy for Butters from South Park, who predicted Hello Kitty Island Adventure in the show’s iconic 2006 episode Make Love, Not Warcraft over 15 years before the game was announced. When the show’s kids are plotting their next move in World of Warcraft, Butters says that he doesn’t play Warcraft and instead spends his beloved computer time playing Hello Kitty Island Adventure, which didn’t exist at all at the time.
While a representative for Sanrio told The Verge last year that the game’s name is a coincidence and not affiliated with South Park, Butters has pretty much become inseparable from the game, and fans took to X/Twitter once again to lovingly revive the meme.
“Butters, you say you play your Switch all the time.”
“Yea, but I’m playing Hello Kitty Island Adventures.” pic.twitter.com/QgCmrxnDRa
— Creepy Elliot🔜TooManyGames (@CreepyElliot) June 18, 2024
me next year when Hello Kitty Island Adventure drops on the Nintendo Switch #NintendoDirect pic.twitter.com/M3rVmdX79U
— Aaron (@Hyperace) June 18, 2024
Hello Kitty Island Adventure combines the life simulation mechanics of Animal Crossing: New Horizons with Sanrio’s colorful cast of characters and some exploration, platforming, and puzzles. We previewed Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s Switch port before its release and said, “Fans of cozy games or someone who’s looking for a fun adventure for a younger gamer should keep their eyes on Hello Kitty Island Adventure if they haven’t already had a chance to play it on Apple Arcade” — despite some pretty prevalent framerate issues.
Amelia Zollner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, they’ve contributed to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun, and they’re currently developing a game called Garage Sale. Find them on Twitter: @ameliazollner.