Should You Play Stardew Valley? Discover Life on the Farm

Intro

            When you see the term “Cozy Gaming” the one game that tends to come to mind most often is the cottagecore farm simulator Stardew Valley. Released in the year 2016 by Concerned Ape the game has become the textbook example of what many cozy gamers have in mind as the “perfect” cozy experience.

The game’s graphics and the wholesome storyline create a world in which many have chosen to escape to for days at a time to avoid their responsibilities (not that I would know). While this game is widely popular it can be difficult to ascertain whether this game is right for you personally. This article is here to help you gain the (spoiler free) insights to help you decide whether you should play this game. With that onward to the article!!

This post contains affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a product through one of these links, I may receive monetary compensation. This will in no way alter the opinions that I share on this website as they are all mine unless otherwise stated. Please see my full blog disclosure for more information regarding this matter here

Story

            The game begins with the death of your in-game grandfather who gives you a letter and tells you not to open it until you decide that you hate your life as a corporate slave (no relatability there). The letter reveals later that your grandfather has left you a farm to inherit upon his death.

After moving to your new farm that is nestled at the edge of a town called Stardew Valley it is now your task to turn this rundown farm into a bustling success. Grow crops, herd cattle, and upgrade your farm in order to become a successful farmer. Earn the villagers’ trust (and possibly their love) as you learn more about your neighbors through interacting with them daily. Create meaningful relationships and maybe even start a family as you learn more about the locals and the new town around you.

            The story is a very fun and interesting as Stardew Valley is no ordinary town. Many secrets, backstories, and various creatures live within the valley’s borders and as you go through the story the game reveals more to you as you explore. Even the non-datable characters are interesting as you learn more about the many people who call Stardew Valley home.

Your own character also has a part to play as you progress through the story. Exploring the mines, attending events, and watching the seasons pass bring about new situations for your character that will create a story for you that you will thoroughly enjoy.

While the main storyline is great, and in many ways customizable, there is a good chunk of the game’s storyline that requires you to interact with the NPCs. Like, a lot. You need to be able to go around town and talk to various characters every day to get them to open up to you. This can be a lot of work for some players so it’s important to keep the social aspect of the game in mind when deciding if you’re going to play the game. However, spending time with the locals is often a charming experience and many of their milestone events (or heart events) are worth the effort.

Remember that corporate job you used to work at before starting a farm? Well now the same soulless corporation (known as Joja Corp.) plans to use the town’s community center for a new Joja warehouse. Decide whether you will help breathe new life into the town’s economy by rebuilding the community center or aide Joja in their quest to build their warehouse. Either way it’s up to you as you create the cozy story of your dreams within the town of Stardew Valley.

Gameplay

            In terms of gameplay if you’ve never played a farming sim before here’s the breakdown of generally how it goes:

• You grow crops and take care of plants.
• Slowly accumulate animals to produce more products such as eggs, milk, wool, etc.
• You advance further by upgrading your tools, abilities, and farm buildings.
• Usually some other activity such as fishing or mining to supplement your income.

All of this is within the daily responsibilities and gameplay of Stardew Valley. There is also combat, and the social aspects mentioned before that the game encourages you to utilize to your heart’s content. Stardew Valley is jam packed with many activities and aspects that can keep the game from growing stale despite much of the work being repetitive.

You also unlock new areas and face new quests as you venture through the story that can add to your gameplay. While this can be fun for many players it can also become overwhelming at times if you are unable to keep up with everything. While not all of the tasks are mandatory, they do stack up to be important to get the most out of the game.

Pros

• Heartwarming story.
• Charming NPCs.
• A wealth of play options.
• Fun exploration.

Cons

• A wealth of play options.
• A lot of socialization.
• Some tasks could become monotonous.

Conclusion

            Given all the wide variety of NPCs, wholesome story, and the many options for gameplay it’s safe to say that you will not get bored playing Stardew Valley. If farming, mining, combat, socializing, and cattle driving are activities that you enjoy in your video game experience this is the game for you.

However, keep in mind that the constant socializing, the repetitive tasks, and the volume of activities to do might be overwhelming for some players. Farming and socializing take up a good portion of the game and it’s important to remember that when going into this gaming experience. However, if farming, chatting with charming villagers, and a large list of things to do sounds like fun to you, you should check out Stardew Valley.

Ready to move to the valley? Check out the links below to see where you can snag this game for your own gaming sessions:

Steam (PC): Buy.

Gog.com (PC): Buy.

Humble Bundle (PC): Buy.

Nintendo eshop (Switch): Buy.