I was told at work to play Stardew and I said that I would try it. I usually never play cozy sim games because I instantly get lost and lose track of time, which happens quickly.

I know that Stardew Valley is loved by the overwhelming majority, but I never knew why. This week I will update everyone on my almost full year on Stardew, about twenty hours in.

I am currently in the Fall with a load of pumpkins and wheat planted. I cleared out some space for a coop and a silo so that my chickens can eat.

I am really excited to see the day that the pumpkins will be ready because I put a lot of time into constructing a swath of land just for the cash crop of the season.

The real point of this post was to talk about how great Stardew Valley is and how stupid I was to never play it until last week.

• The game really lets you do whatever you want.
  • I wanted to roleplay as a potato farmer for a season and there was no punishment for doing that.
    • I got nothing done toward the completion of the Community Center, but that was okay because I was giving potatoes to everyone.
  • I ignored mostly everyone in the town for the first season until I got the day/night cycle under control and that was also okay.
    • There is no punishment. Quests may take a bit longer but time is your friend and when you want to get to it, you can.
• You can tackle anything at any time within reason.
  • I bought a coop way earlier than I should have but I was rewarded with eggs to take to the mines to keep me energized while I ran head-first into the deeper levels of the mines.
• The pixel graphic game is the most charming thing on this planet.
  • The game is absolutely beautiful. The big changes to everything and even the small changes really just add to the already incredible atmosphere.
    • It did not hit me until Autumn came around.
• The music is so good that I have GameChops’ Stardew and Chill bookmarked.
  • It really nails the small-town country vibe and DJ Cutman and Coffee Dates lo-fi reimagining is on par with some of the best music.

So far, Stardew Valley is shaping up to be one of my favorite games ever. It is such an attractive-looking game with absolutely stunning visuals. I love interacting with every character, seeing what they have to buy, sell and what they have to say for the day.

and lastly, somehow the game is still getting updates. It is wild.

Here is to a lot more hours being pumped into this game!