You work a boring 9-5 job for a soulless organisation where no one really cares about you.
Now onto the game!
No, I’m kidding. You begin Stardew Valley living in the city, working for a large organisation called the Joja Corporation. You’re bored of that life though and are looking for a change when you remember that your late grandfather had left his farm to you in his will. So you pack up and take off for your farm in Stardew Valley.
You’re met by Lewis, the town mayor and friend of your grandfather, and Robin, the carpenter. They show you the overgrown farm and your tiny house (where you don’t have a kitchen – where did your grandfather eat?), and basically tell you “good luck, kid” as they leave you with some parsnip seeds.
The game gives you a few objectives at this point, but primarily leaves you to your own devices. One of these objectives is to meet your new neighbours; is seems simple enough, but I trust you that you’ll be wandering town confused as to where the last person you need to meet actually is.
I think the characters which inhabit the game is a large factor as to why the game is so beloved. Over the course of the game, you can befriend everyone in town, and they will reveal to you more about their lives. Favourite gifts on their birthdays, saying hi every day, and doing the Wanted quests posted on the town notice board is a sure-fire way to win their hearts. And the game does literally measure their friendship level in hearts.
When you reach a certain number of hearts with a villager, you get “heart events”. These vary in nature – sometimes, it’s a recipe in the mail, or it can be a more in-depth look into their lives. As colourful and playful as the game may be, these events can be a little dark. Amidst the cheery music and adorable pixel graphics, the game discusses these such as depression, alcoholism, and PTSD. If you can reach 10 hearts with any of the elligible singles in the area, you can marry them.
Other objectives appear throughout the game via letters in the mail or by people randomly coming to your door at like 6am – because that’s totally normal, right? Usually, it’s a fetch quest based on one of the game’s mechanics (farming, fishing, forraging, or mining).
There’s more to Stardew Valley than farming; spend an afternoon chilling on the beach, fishing for the biggest catch you can find; wander the forrest for daffodils and wood; delve deep into the mines for gems and ore, but be careful of those pesky monsters that lay waiting in the darkness.
Wait, monsters? But this is a cute little farming game?
Yeah. A cute little farming game with monsters that you can slay and a whole guild based on slaying them. Whilst monster hunting might not be the most lucrative way to get money, the diamonds they hang out with may make up for it.
No matter how you spend your day, be back in bed by 2 am. Collapsing somewhere is not good for your pockets – Joja will patch you up, but they do not invoice your health insurance provider. Or, you know, you just get mugged.
Stardew Valley is a wonderful game. It’s simple, but enchanting. The mechanics are mostly composed of just clicking a lot, so it isn’t complex to play at all which makes it accessible to all skill-levels; moreover, it’s available on a whole heap of platforms. But why not make your farm more accessible, too? Well, you can! Start a farm with up to 3 friends, because a game revolved around friendships should be shared with friends.
Though you no longer need to farm solo, this game has it’s roots as a one-man show. Eric Barone of ConcernedApe, the lead developer, was the sole-creator of the game until it’s 1.3 Multiplayer Patch. Whilst more people have been involved, the ConcernedApe team is still only 2 people. Despite its small and humble beginnings, the game has been a roaring success; and despite its fame, the developers are still very involved with the community. To me, that’s what this game is all about.
When life gets stressful and you need to get away, remember that you have a farmhouse in Stardew Valley waiting for you.
Welcome to the Valley!
If you want to join in the fun, you can! Available for a ton of systems, you can enjoy this game set up at home or on the go. Below are some affiliate links to where you can get the game; they don’t cost you anymore, but do give me a little financial boost.
PanaceaPlays 