Stardew Valley: A Timeless Classic Among 2024’s Finest 게임들

In numerous respects, this piece has been eight years in development.

Stardew Valley may not be my official game of 2024, but it has quietly held the title of my favorite game year after year since 2016.

The game’s release coincided perfectly with my entry into video game journalism; I started in January 2016, Stardew Valley was released in February, and I interviewed developer Eric ‘ConcernedApe’ Barone in April. My fascination with this indie farming simulator began immediately.

I have logged nearly 400 hours of gameplay, aided this year by the release of its 1.6 update, a significantly rich expansion of content since its initial launch, featuring even more layers to a world already brimming with activities, meticulously designed details, and personalities.

The 1.6 update, which debuted in March for PC and in November for consoles, feels like a masterclass in how to adapt a game without detracting from earlier versions, illustrating how a single-player indie title can remain relevant even eight years after its original release.

Quality of life enhancements, new quests, and fresh mysteries enrich the game, yet the fundamental experience remains unchanged, with challenges emerging in new ways, and in a manner that has never made me regret approaching tasks differently in previous playthroughs.

While the 1.6 update has revitalized the game, I must confess: I’m really using this opportunity to finally discuss Stardew Valley in a game of the year article since I didn’t get a chance to write one in 2016. As I’m departing from GamesIndustry.biz, let this serve as my farewell piece.

Even as a devoted gamer, I cannot claim I have ever experienced such an obsession with a game before. It was the ‘just one more in-game day’ mentality, filling pages with notes, constantly mulling over it, playing until 4 am—an intense devotion.

I also had never played a farming simulator before Stardew Valley. I had never found joy in Animal Crossing-style games, and titles like Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons meant little to me. I was more of a Zelda and Baldur’s Gate kind of kid. Yet, something about Stardew Valley captivated me instantly and never let go.

The game tasks you with escaping a mundane capitalist grind, as you work to restore your grandfather’s farm to its former glory while developing relationships with the townsfolk and revitalizing the community center. In gaming terms, this translates to planting crops, caring for farm animals, crafting items, talking to NPCs, and returning the next day to do it all over again.

You might assume that this is all there is to it; after all, looking at screenshots of Stardew Valley doesn’t reveal its profound depth.

However, mysterious caves are waiting to be explored where you can battle a wide variety of monsters, a distant island holds secrets and surprises, there are sea creatures to catch, trains to board, doors to unlock, and the enigmatic Mr. Qi.

Each of the 34 NPCs in the game features a unique and intricate storyline that delves into topics such as PTSD, depression, alcoholism, grief, the struggles of aging, living on society’s fringes, found family, and more.

Yet, throughout all that, there is also a deeply charming lightness and joy, whether you’re witnessing a character organizing a charity event to fund education in the town, watching an aspiring robotics engineer bid farewell to the sentient droid she built, or simply feeding maple syrup to a friendly bear.

As I hinted back in 2021 when Unpacking was undeniably my game of the year, I find great delight in representations of the ordinary. Stardew Valley excels at this, showcasing the simple beauty in caring for yourself and others, whether they are human or animal, getting your hands dirty and growing things, being outdoors, and just breathing for a moment.

Furthermore, there is so much to do at any moment in Stardew Valley that I often turn to it when I need a break from thinking about real-life dilemmas. And goodness knows there have been plenty of reasons to seek that this year. I began playing Stardew Valley again in mid-2024 as a way to cope, and somehow never put it down again.

The strengths of Stardew Valley