Stardew Valley

I'm sure little needs to be said about what Stardew Valley is, but for posterity's sake, why don't we take a look?

The game begins with the player moving out to the little town of Stardew Valley. Their grandfather left them the family farm for when the day came that city life became too overwhelming. Here, our stories begin…

Seems simple, right? Yet Stardew takes this concept and knocks it out of the park. For anyone who has played the original Harvest Moon games, the formula is much the same, but has been elevated for modern appeal. Stardew used that old formula as a foundation to build a brand-new one with additions like combat and crafting. Many developers now look to Eric Barone’s masterpiece as an inspiration for how to make a lucrative farming and life sim.

As a farming sim, farming is, of course, a main component of the gameplay. However, there are other things you can do to occupy your time. Fishing, mining, and befriending the townsfolk, among other things, keep you from spending all your time tilling away on the farm.

Everything feels rewarding. At the end of the day, you get the feeling of a job well done.

The townsfolk are a menagerie of diverse personalities, and getting to know them can be very entertaining. By befriending them, you can unlock new dialogue, and they will even send you gifts.

Bachelors and bachelorettes have their own events that help you get to know them on a deeper level.

Do I Recommend It?

Yes! This is the quintessential cozy farming game, no matter how many years pass. It has the vibes, the relaxed gameplay, and the affordable price of $14.99. Considering the amount of hours of content that are available in the game, the price is a steal.