In these stressful times, we all could use a bit of comfort. What better way to treat yourself and stave off cabin fever than by getting lost in the world of a rich and comforting game? Although Stardew Valley is on our shelves as a Juvenile title due to its E10+ ESRB rating, and although it is a great game for the whole family, I would argue that it offers even more to adult players and should not be overlooked.
In Stardew Valley, you create a character and enter into a world not unlike our own. Years ago, when your grandfather passed away, he left you an envelope which you were not to open until you had grown older, weary of the world, and you longed for a new beginning. When that day comes at your desk in a cold, corporate job, you reach into a drawer and finally open the letter. Inside you find the deed to a farm in a place called Stardew Valley. You first arrive to a bit of a shock. The farm has been abandoned for a long time and needs a lot of TLC. All the same, it has a lot of promise too. And so you set out to build a new life in a quiet, rural town.
With its rich characters and cheerful 8-bit graphics, Stardew Valley is escapism at its finest. It speaks simultaneously to childhood nostalgia and to the worries and frustrations of daily life. Tend to your plants and animals, fish in the ponds, rivers, and ocean, or battle your way through the mines which have been overrun with monsters. Or don’t. No style of gameplay, however diligent or relaxed, has a negative impact on your character. Stardew Valley is a game where you can truly choose your own path and where the choices you make and interactions you have affect the world around you in occasionally surprising ways.
Lovingly designed by a single talented and attentive developer (Concerned Ape), this is a game unlike any you may have played before, although it is frequently compared to the beloved Harvest Moon franchise. Stardew Valley is diverse, thoughtful, and LGBT+ friendly. It is also still being developed with meaningful updates that take player feedback and concerns into account. The library currently has the game for Xbox One with plans to acquire it for PS4 and Switch as soon as we are able. It is also available for PC, as well as Kindle Fire, Android, and iOS, though I personally find the touch controls to be a little finicky. Whichever platform you choose, I encourage everyone to dive in to a new life in Pelican Town, in the peaceful region of Stardew Valley.