Genre: Simulation, RPG
Year: 2016
Developed by: ConcernedApe
Published by: ConcernedApe
Platforms: I think everything at this point
#133
Feeling Like: Finding a straw hat and playing a banjo
The further away we get from Stardew Valley’s initial launch date, the more accolades the game collects. It is a minor miracle that one of the most successful games ever was the creation of a single man, Eric Barone. He’s 35 years old and one of the most talented video game developers of all time. I won’t always recommend games on the 500 to the masses, many of the RPGs are too niche, many of the shooters are too violent. I will, and do, recommend Stardew Valley to everybody. Every single person remotely interested in gaming. Yes, that’s you.
We recently visited some friends who bought a farm, sort of. It’s a beautiful property with a charming house and three smaller buildings, all of which have varying levels of work needing to be done. There aren’t any crops to speak of, but after getting a guided tour and then eating BBQ, I felt an overwhelming sense of contentment. There’s always something to be done, but I imagine the appreciation felt is heightened when you’re the one responsible for various upgrades and improvements.
This may be the closest I get to a real life Stardew Valley, which is probably why I felt so peaceful. I mentioned in Doom (2016) that it was therapeutic to rage alongside heavy metal music while blasting super shotguns in a demonic centaur’s face, and it is, but if you really want to feel like you’re in a digital spa, you play the best non-Harvest Moon Harvest Moon-farm-social-mining-simulation game available.
It’s about $20 Canadian, by the way.
I feel embarrassed for the copycats that tried to do what Eric Barone did, with such a simple premise and titans like Zynga addicting millions on Farmville, you’d think somebody else would have discovered the magic formula years before 2016. Apparently not!
I’m a sucker for SNES style graphics. Every screen, crop, tree, person, field, house, well, window, boat and horse look warm and friendly. The cartoonish style fits right in with the overall tone of the game; there’s going to be work and deadlines, but it’s not the kind of game to stress over.
Yet I still found myself racing from one spot to another throughout the day. There’s a time limit before you get too tired, so while you’d like to attend to your crops, go visit a wizard, see what’s going on in town, pick some berries AND go mining for valuables, you’ll have to cut out a few tasks. With some crops only available at certain times of the year, you’ll have to strategically pick your priorities. Of course, I wanted to get everything done and get all the achievements, but there’s never a crippling sense of urgency, just a desire to do it all and see it all at your own pace.
Keep in mind, I played this right at launch, often a stupid move. I’m eager to be a part of the initial conversation and see what the hubbub is, but now with updates and DLC, some games get better with age. Stardew Valley is one of those gems – there is an incomprehensible amount of content now which you can read about here. These updates go beyond nice quality of life changes and completely change the game. Customizable farm locations, inclusion of multiplayer, being able to swim, plant crops on beaches (who knew?) and options that would make even the most passive gamer salivate with anticipation.
It’s such an earnest, gentle game. Wake up, water the crops. Sell crops. Build more things. Chop down trees. Clear rocks. Plan out an expansion to your field. Go for a walk. Find an adventure. Upgrade your house. Fall in love with a local townsperson. Get married. Have kids. None of which is marred by overly complex systems, or a cluttered interface.
All of which you’re doing behind some of the most cheerful songs I’ve ever heard.
The Sun can bend an orange sky.
To name a few. The whole soundtrack is worth a listen, and it may motivate you (or not) to learn that Eric Barone ALSO DID THE MUSIC!?!? This guy is a savant, he is not of this world. Amazing.
I try my best not to make my posts sound like commercials and lean into personal experiences or emotions I felt. I don’t really recall a single moment of Stardew Valley that heightened my senses, or made me fist pump the air or careened my excitement into uncharted depths, but my enjoyment was so thoroughly consistent that I’m surprised it’s not higher on the 500. And I can’t help but make it sound like a sales pitch when the game is a) wonderful b) cheap c) continues to receive additions and improvements years after its release. This is the kind of game you want to play, and support the creative endeavors of a small team.
I’m not a farmer, never will be, but I’m a Stardew Valley guy through and through.
The 500 