Title: Stardew Valley Publisher: ConcernedApe
Developer: ConcernedApe
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Genres: Farm Sim, Indie, Simulation
Platform: PC, Steam, macOS, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Playstation Vita, iOS, Android
Where to Find It: Website
Rating:
You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home? It won't be easy. Ever since Joja Corporation came to town, the old ways of life have all but disappeared. The community center, once the town's most vibrant hub of activity, now lies in shambles. But the valley seems full of opportunity. With a little dedication, you might just be the one to restore Stardew Valley to greatness!
Review
What is there to say about Stardew Valley that hasn’t been said a million times over? Stardew Valley turns ten this week, and I would be remiss if I didn’t properly review the game. I’ve been playing this game on and off since it was first released and it has remained one of my all-time favorite games.
For the uninitiated, Stardew Valley is a cozy farming simulation game. That right there I know immediately turns many gamers off of this game. This was the case for my husband and several of our friends, until I got them all into a multiplayer game and they got hooked. At this point my husband has played more cozy farm games than me; there’s a reason that this game has such a massive fanbase.
Tired of the corporate grind, you (the main character) move to the titular Stardew Valley to start a new life on your grandfather’s old farm, which has fallen into disrepair after his passing. Along the way you master skills to build up your farm, meet the townspeople, become part of the community, maybe fall in love and start a family, discover the magic hidden in nature, and maybe just maybe leave an impact on your little town. There are echoes of the original Harvest Moon in the story for sure, but Stardew Valley does a great job of breathing new life into tired old tropes while acknowledging its’ inspiration.
I grew up playing the Harvest Moon games, and I had continued to play each new iteration into adulthood despite the clear decrease in quality. I had always missed the magic that I had felt playing those games as a kid, and I found that magic again with this game. I came to love the extensive cast of characters, their stories, and the colorful town that they inhabit. Rebuilding my farm, exploring the mines, and completing fishing and collection missions felt rewarding. It’s clear that every piece of this game was developed with a high degree of intentionality and polish.
The theme of slowing down in a world that is moving far too fast has resonated with me more and more as time passes, and I will never stop loving the game for that reason. This game has stood the test of time and it’s an easy entry point into the cozy farm sim genre. It remains one of my all-time favorite games, and one of the very best of it’s genre that I will never stop recommending.
As a bonus, I wrote more about the impact that this game has had on the farm sim genre here. (will be published in 2 days, February 26, 2026)
Quote
“If you’re reading this, you must be in dire need of change. The same thing happened to me, long ago. I’d lost sight of what mattered most in life… real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belong.”
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