Stardew Valley has been around since 2016. Since then, this farming RPG has cemented itself as a modern classic with charming retro vibes. Indeed, by 2020, over 10 million copies of the game had sold. Wondering why gamers are still loving Stardew Valley in 2021? Let’s take a look at what makes this title such an appealing one to its devoted fan base.
1. Stardew Valley offers a relaxing, stress-free gaming experience.
So many of today’s modern games keep you on edge, pumped up with adrenaline (and sometimes rage). While it can be fun playing adrenaline-fueled FPS games and fighting to dominate your opponents, sometimes you just want to cool off.
Stardew Valley’s relaxed pace allows you to unwind and get into a chill frame of mind. Players love being able to immerse themselves in relaxing gameplay that helps reduce stress instead of adding to it.
That became more important than ever for a lot of players during the course of 2020. While under lockdown, many gamers discovered Stardew Valley for the first time, and turned to it to help them find a much-needed escape from their worries.
2. The music and atmosphere of the game are endlessly enjoyable.
Stardew Valley’s pixel art is gorgeous, and the game’s soundtrack is really beautiful. The animals are cute, and every aspect of the ambiance really pulls you in, helping you to escape from your mundane, everyday life. You’ll probably find yourself listening to the soundtrack even when you are not actively playing the game, thinking about when you’ll be able to kick back later after a long day of work to return to Stardew Valley.
3. There is an amazing amount of content.
You won’t run out of things to do in Stardew Valley. The game offers numerous tasks and a well-built progression system that keeps you hooked. Whether you are checking on your parsnips and watering them, getting to know the townspeople, or buying your first chicken coop, you will never get bored.
There is a serious “grind” aspect to Stardew Valley—it’s true. That is part of what makes it so relaxing. But at no point is that grind soulless. You always will feel a genuine connection to what you are working on, and there is so much variety that you will stay fully engaged.
4. You can lose yourself living in the Stardew Valley universe and getting to know its residents.
As mentioned before, Stardew Valley is a world populated with neighbors you can get to know. Every one of the residents has their own personality and backstory. You can build relationships with them and impact their lives. You can even marry one of the villagers. The process of learning about the residents and weaving your story through with theirs is one you will find endlessly compelling.
5. Stardew Valley multiplayer mode adds a whole new dimension of fun to the game.
While you will spend a lot of your time playing the single player mode of Stardew Valley, you will doubtless also sink many hours into the game’s popular multiplayer mode. In this mode, up to four players can work together with one serving as the host and the others as farmhands. This mode can work remotely online or over a LAN.
Sometimes players may encounter lag when they are trying to play Stardew Valley in co-op mode. If that happens to you, you can try a VPN online to improve your ping and enjoy a faster, more stable connection. Using a VPN has a lot of other advantages as well as you are browsing the web. It protects your privacy by hiding your IP address, and may even help you access sites and services that you normally could not from your region.
Even though it has now been years since Stardew Valley came out, this farming simulator/RPG has stood the test of time, remaining a favorite relaxing go-to game for millions of players. If you haven’t yet explored all this open world has to offer, consider giving it a try. You’ll enjoy countless hours of immersion in a beautiful, rich game with a setting, characters and tasks that keep you coming back for more.