
In some methods, this text has been eight years in the making.
Stardew Valley is not simply my recreation of 2024, it is quietly been my recreation of the 12 months yearly since 2016.
Its launch just about coincides with my begin in video games media; I began in January 2016, Stardew Valley launched in February, I interviewed developer Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone in April. And my obsession with the indie farm sim began instantly.
I’ve clocked simply shy of 400 hours of playtime, helped this 12 months by the launch of its 1.6 replace, the most vital content material growth since its authentic launch, including even more layers to a world already crammed to the brim with issues to do, finely crafted particulars, and persona.
The 1.6 replace, which launched in March on PC and November on console, has felt like a masterclass in tips on how to evolve a recreation with out taking something away from earlier variations, and the way a single-player indie title can keep related greater than eight years after launch.
High quality of life enhancements, new quest traces, and contemporary mysteries add valuable worth to the title however the core expertise stays untouched, challenges arising in several manners, and by no means in a manner that is made me remorse doing issues otherwise in earlier playthroughs.

Whereas the 1.6 replace has given a brand new lease of life to the recreation, I should be sincere: I am simply utilizing it as an excuse to lastly discuss Stardew Valley in a recreation of the 12 months piece as a result of I did not get to jot down one in 2016. As I am leaving GamesIndustry.biz, let this be my swan music.
At the same time as a lifelong gamer, I do not assume I had skilled this kind of obsession with a recreation earlier than. The ‘only one extra in-game day’, making pages of notes, consistently interested by it, enjoying till 4am, sort of obsession.
I had additionally by no means performed a farming sim earlier than Stardew Valley. I had by no means actually cared for Animal Crossing-type titles, and Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons meant nothing to me. I used to be extra of a Zelda and Baldur’s Gate sort of child. However one thing about Stardew Valley grabbed me immediately and by no means let me go.
It sees you escaping a late-stage capitalism hellhole, tasked with returning your grandpa’s farm to its former glory all whereas nurturing relationships with the city’s inhabitants and restoring its neighborhood heart. In sensible recreation phrases, that interprets into planting seeds, petting cattle, crafting gadgets, speaking to NPCs, and doing it yet again the subsequent day.
You would be forgiven for considering that is all there may be to it; taking a look at Stardew Valley’s screenshots would not give away its depth, in spite of everything.
However there’s additionally mysterious caves to discover the place you get to struggle a plethora of monsters, a faraway island with secrets and techniques to uncover, sea creatures to fish, trains to catch, doorways to open, and the cryptic Mr Qi.
Every of the 34 NPCs in the recreation has a singular and in-depth storyline exploring subjects together with PTSD, melancholy, alcoholism, loss, the hardships of rising outdated, dwelling on the fringes of society, discovered household, and extra.

However there’s additionally a deeply endearing lightness and pleasure to all of it, whether or not you are witnessing a personality organising a charity occasion to help schooling in the city, watching an aspiring robotics engineer saying goodbye to the sentient droid she constructed, or just feeding maple syrup to a pleasant bear.
As I hinted at again in 2021 when Unpacking was with out contest my recreation of the 12 months, I discover quite a bit of pleasure in depictions of the mundane. And Stardew Valley excels at that, displaying you the easy magnificence in taking care of your self and others, whether or not people or animals, getting one’s palms soiled and rising issues, being open air and simply, respiration for a second.

However there may be additionally a lot to do at any given time in Stardew Valley that I all the time flip to it when my mind wants a break from interested by real-life points. And god is aware of there’s been quite a bit of causes to wish to do this this 12 months. I began enjoying Stardew Valley once more mid-2024 as a approach to cope, and one way or the other by no means put it down once more.
The strengths of Stardew Valley’s recreation loop are price celebrating, all the time leaving you wanting extra and mentally planning what you can be doing subsequent. Even after 400 hours, together with 170 hours in a single playthrough began this 12 months, I’ve by no means encountered an in-game day the place I did not know what I could possibly be doing. And there is nonetheless tons of content material I have never skilled for myself but!
If that is not a testomony to how efficient Stardew Valley is as an object of play, I do not know what’s. The sheer selection, complexity, and depth of all of it simply scratches a specific itch in my mind that’s merely perfection to me.
Stardew Valley is the recreation I by no means stopped enjoying – all of us have one. Whether or not it is a stay service title that is repeatedly up to date or only a favorite that you just’re consistently replaying or going again to. Throughout chats in preparation for this very piece, I observed everybody at GI had one – James’ is The Witcher 3, Chris’ is Sea of Thieves, George’s is Elite Harmful, Sophie’s is Alan Wake 2, Vikki’s is Dishonored.
Mine is Stardew Valley and I do not intend to ever cease enjoying it.
