[Series: Stunning VRChat Worlds] A beautiful world that evokes childhood memories: “Sea of ​​Sand and Stars

In VRChat, a wide variety of content is released day and night, from game worlds where you can play with friends to scenic worlds perfect for relaxing. In this series, we will pick out and introduce some of the most visually appealing worlds from the vast number of available worlds.

The game I’m introducing today is “Sea of ​​Sand and Stars – Voyage of Imagination,” a fantastical world of seaside and desert settings inspired by “The Little Prince.”

“Sea of ​​Sand and Stars – Voyage of Imagination” is a world created by creator Sakana+ for the “7DaysWorldWorks” event, where participants had to create a VRChat world within a seven-day period. After being completed for the event, it was polished up for the official release.

This world is influenced by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, the novelist known for “The Little Prince.” Saint-Exupéry had an experience of being lost in the desert, and according to Sakana+, the world was conceived by drawing inspiration from that experience and the works he wrote.

Upon entering the world, the first thing that catches your eye is the beautiful sandy landscape and the twilight-tinged sky. The reflections on the water’s surface are stunning, and the rising clouds create a picturesque scene. You could easily spend hours just gazing at this scenery.

Another stylish touch is how the world name and credits for the assets used are written along the path of the sandy beach. While many worlds display these credits on a bulletin board-like panel, this is another example of Sakana+’s excellent sense of style.

If you walk a little further along the beach, you’ll find a Cessna plane that has crashed. This may have been inspired by the story of Saint-Exupéry’s emergency landing in the Sahara Desert.

There’s also a gimmick where touching a nearby bonfire causes a quote from “The Little Prince” to appear in a bubble. This bubble also serves as a flag for a world gimmick; activating a second one completely changes the sky, which was previously a sunset, transitioning to a full moon at night.

The “Little Prince” references are scattered throughout the game. After the one on the beach, you can activate it near the pillars of a ruined building. The third one is in a collapsed ruin, and the fourth is set up near a bonfire next to the bones of a giant animal.

Another thing that impressed me in this section was the skillful way in which the player’s gaze was guided to indicate their direction of travel. Despite being in a desert, an empty field, objects indicating the direction of travel were cleverly placed so that they were always within sight, making it impossible to get lost while walking.

The “goal” of this world is a lake located beyond a crack in the ground. As you proceed through the darkness, you arrive at a desert oasis teeming with greenery, a stark contrast to the sandy atmosphere you’ve experienced so far. On a small rocky outcrop sits a table with goggles, books, and a mug, giving the impression that someone once stayed here. Perhaps it’s meant to evoke the image of Saint-Exupéry having stayed here.

“Sea of ​​Sand and Stars – Voyage of Imagination” is a world where you can enjoy the beauty of the desert at two different times of day: sunset and night. Incidentally, there is a star-shaped button floating in the back of the lake, and touching it will take you back to the beach near your respawn point. After exploring, it would be nice to relax on the beach with your friends.

Why not take a journey through a fairytale-like “Sea of ​​Sand and Stars – Voyage of Imagination”?

Access “Sea of ​​Sand and Stars – Voyage of Imagination” here (PC required).