The Promise of a New Life

The game starts with you, the player, getting a plot of farmland from your now-dead grandfather. It's a great metaphor about leaving your previous life and getting yourself immersed in a new place with new faces.

You start the game at your new plot of land. Depending on the starting map you chose, you will face different terrain and new hurdles throughout the game. Of course, you barely have the resources to think that far ahead at this point in the game. Step one is starting your first area for planting some crops.

The genius behind this game is how the farming portions of the game are shared with the more social aspect of interacting with the town's people. You can only work so much before you become drained of energy, which leaves the rest of the day talking to others and exploring very deep and immersive backstories.

Each townsperson has their own unique story that you can unlock by getting to know them better. As you progress, you begin to get an understanding of why people are the way they are. It's a very beautifully told but fulfilling tale that unfolds before you.

But I'm no Farmer!

Most people, such as myself, came into the game thinking that it was a farming simulation. And these people wouldn't be entirely wrong. This is indeed a farming simulator. There are seasonal crops for you to plant, quality of plants to figure out, foods to create from the plants you grew, and so much more. However, people don't always see that the game really doesn't need you to farm at all.

A great example of being able to make money without farming would be fishing. There are plenty of places throughout the game to go fish, and you can even get chests containing materials from time to time. It's an excellent pastime for when you're already done with your farming chores and can even be your main moneymaker if you're not really into farming.

Mining is another excellent way to make money and is actually quite extensive. There are many floors to the mine and plenty of challenges as you progress further. Once you unlock more of the stories, you will gain access to a mineshaft in another area. Mining enables you to fight monsters and get many expensive minerals and gems.

Creating a Routine

The game can start off as a rather daunting task. You have a plot of land with infinite possibilities, but how to begin? At first, you will feel that the job is indeed a massive ask. However, as you understand the game better, you will see that things get much more manageable. You will begin to develop a schedule for yourself to manage both your farm and your relationships with the townsfolk.

The general routine starts with taking care of your farm in the morning. This is an essential part of the game since it's still a fantastic farming simulator. You will need to water your crops and take care of your animals. It's a bit of a chore at first, but as you progress, you will gain access to a few machines that will make life a lot easier.

Once you've taken care of your farm, you can head off to talk to the townspeople on one day, and the next, you can venture deep into the mines in search of rare minerals. Want to take a day off? Just go off to the docks and fish the day away.

The schedule will become a part of your life very quickly, and you will find solace in the repetition. As you continue on your routine, you will see the town slowly come to life. Slowly but surely, you can make a real difference in the lives of those beautiful AI villagers.

Carefree Experience

The most significant appeal to Stardew Valley is the carefree and relaxed experience that you get from the game. I sometimes compare it to the very easy-going feeling that Animal Crossing gives me. However, there's something about Stardew that is just very different.

Unlike Animal Crossing, there's a sense that you are actually changing things that you simply cannot get. This feeling of change is a great motivator that keeps you playing the game and wanting more.

While you cannot just stand around and do nothing, given that you are still a farmer, there are still plenty of freedoms for you. This allows you to relax as much as you need to without feeling like you're doing absolutely nothing. There's a constant feeling of movement without ever feeling tedious.

A Calming Experience Where you are Accepted

Suppose you ever need a very carefree and wholesome experience. In that case, Stardew Valley truly is one of the greatest games for you. You can choose what you want to do every day of the week and get into a nice routine that you can use to find the perfect gaming strategy that fits your own needs.

The game's charm comes from the characters and the feeling of being a part of a tight-knit community. The more you talk to everyone, the more you get closer to these imaginary characters. It's a beautiful game that really shows us the power of storytelling through gaming.

Stardew Valley is available on various devices, so I suggest searching through your App Store of choice to see if you can give this fantastic game a try.