| Stardew Valley | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
| Release Date | |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2016 More Details | |
| Genre | |
| RPG, Simulation, Indie | |
| Platforms | Price (MSRP) |
 |
$14.99, $4.99 (Mobile) |
| Developer | Publisher |
| ConcernedApe | ConcernedApe |
| Number of Players | Age Rating |
| 1-8 | ESRB E 10+ |
| Time to Finish | Cross Platform |
| 150-200 Hours | No |
| Official Website | Stardew Valley Website |
Stardew Valley Latest News
⚫︎ Stardew Valley's two new marriageable candidates in the 1.7 will be Clint and Sandy. The announcement came with the retrospective video from ConcernedApe that went live on February 26.
⚫︎ Stardew Valley will mark its 10th anniversary with a February 26 YouTube broadcast previewing Version 1.7, including pre-release footage and the reveal of two new marriage candidates, while creator Eric Barone said he will never charge for updates.
⚫︎ Among Us and Stardew Valley collab brings in a new wave of Pelican Town-themed cosmetics to the game. Dress up as Abigail, Sebastian, the Farmer, and more!
⚫︎ Eric Barone confirms that Stardew Valley will have a 1.7 update. He first announced it during a Symphony of Seasons concert, and followed it up with a post on X/Twitter.
⚫︎ Stardew Valley Nintendo Switch 2 is a Free Upgrade for Those Who Already Own It (ConcernedApe Official X (Twitter))
Stardew Valley Overview
Stardew Valley (also known as Stardew or SDV) is a farm and life simulation game that was released back on February 26, 2016. It is currently available to play on Switch, PS5, PS4, PC, Mobile, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Switch 2.
The game was made by ConcernedApe, real name Eric Barone, over the course of 4 years. It was his first title as a game developer, and he drew heavily on the classic Harvest Moon games, which were his favorites growing up. Barone took it upon himself to create Stardew so he could add in any missing quality he felt the Harvest Moon series lacked. A month after its launch, the game reached 1 million copies sold and has since accumulated over 30 million as of February 2024.
Stardew Valley stars the player as they move into the town of Stardew Valley. Inheriting an unkempt farm from their deceased grandfather, they are tasked with refurbishing and restoring the plot of land to its former glory. Players can cut the weeds, chop down overgrown trees, break apart the rubble, and make space for their crops and farm animals. Going into town and meeting the villagers will provide them with their own services, such as advice or quests. By giving them gifts and engaging in frequent conversations, players can forge deeper bonds and friendships that may also lead to marriage.
The town community center is also a vital part of the players’ main questline, as they can donate goods to restore the building to what it once was, making the villagers happy and hailing them as heroes.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
GoG |
PS |
|||
| Xbox |
Switch |
 Switch 2 |
|||
| $14.99 | |||||
| App Store |
Google Play |
||||
| $4.99 | |||||
Stardew Valley Gameplay
Stardew Valley is a 2D pixel top-down life and farm simulation RPG where you play as a farmer living out their life in Stardew Valley. The game is immensely open-ended, with countless features available, meaning players can choose to progress only on specific quests, mechanics, and skills as they wish, either individually or simultaneously.
Players can farm by tilling the soil, planting seeds, watering them daily, and harvesting them when they have grown. Farm animals can be brought in to be cared for, and once raised enough, will yield products such as eggs, milk, or wool. One can also fish in rivers, lakes, or the ocean. Mining is also a big part of the game, where gamers can venture into the mines to collect ores and battle monsters as they get further and further down. Players can then walk into town or all over Stardew Valley to talk to different characters and form significant bonds with them by gifting them items.
Players are limited by the always-ticking clock of the day: they start at 6 a.m. and can keep going until they are forced to pass out from exhaustion at 2 a.m. They have an energy meter that is spent from various farm actions, making players prioritize which actions to perform before they run out of energy for the day. Energy can be restored through various means such as eating food, resting in the sauna, or sleeping.
Organize tasks for each day, prioritize what to do, and live off the land in Stardew Valley.
Stardew Valley Characters
Farmer
Players take on the role of Stardew Valley's farmer (male or female) who inherited their grandpa's old farmland. They do not have a default name, allowing the player to customize their name and appearance as they see fit.
Grandpa
He is the farmer's grandfather, who passed away and left the farm to them at the start of the game. He encourages the player to find fulfillment in the slow, rural life, abandoning the lifeless hustle in the city in favor of meaningful connections with people and nature.
Lewis
He has been Pelican Town’s mayor for over twenty years. He oversees local events and often acts as a guide for new farmers.
Robin
She is the town carpenter and has her own shop in her home in The Mountain. She lives with her husband, Demetrius, and her children, Maru and Sebastian. The farmer can visit her to construct and upgrade buildings, such as the farmhouse.
Bachelors and Bachelorettes
They are villagers of Pelican Town with whom the farmer can romance and eventually marry. The bachelors are Alex, Eliott, Harvey, Sam, Sebastian, and Shane. Meanwhile, the bachelorettes consist of Abigail, Emily, Haley, Leah, Maru, and Penny. Clint and Sandy have been announced as the new marriage candidates in the upcoming 1.7 update.
Stardew Valley Reviews
Beloved Indie Darling All Over the World
Stardew Valley has garnered critical and fan acclaim since its 2016 release, and gamers still revere and play it as it continues to receive updates, with over 30 million copies sold since 2024.
IGN back in 2016 gave it a ‘Great’ at 8.8/10 during its initial launch, citing how it manages to seamlessly connect every system with one another, proving itself to become an intricate game compared to how it might seem at the start. The game was nominated for IGN’s Game of the Year Award during that year. Afterwards, IGN once again reviewed it in 2024 for its 1.6 Update and granted it a ‘Masterpiece’ at 10/10. They cite how the continuous updates over the years have further refined the farming and life simulation game across every aspect, affirming its status as a genre-defining game, one it spearheaded to reinvigorate.
Pocket Tactics published a very introspective review in which the reviewer, Connor Christie, goes into detail about how the game altered their brain chemistry for the better during times of instability. They were granted an outlet, something to focus and latch onto, during their life’s turbulent times as they battled and overcame their hardships.
This pattern of coping and healing is apparent for countless users across different platforms. Metacritic lists the title as Generally Favorable at 89/100, while its user rating is nearly the same at 8.9/10. Steam’s Overall and Recent Reviews (as of writing) have held an Overwhelmingly Positive rating since its launch.
Stardew Valley Announcement Trailer
Stardew Valley Trailer
Stardew Valley Trivia
⚫︎ Stardew Valley was made by ConcernedApe, real name Eric Barone, alone for four years. His girlfriend supported him financially while he worked part-time jobs on the side while developing the game.
⚫︎ The game was originally titled Sprout Valley, before ‘Stardew’ came to ConcernedApe and "just clicked."
⚫︎ Stardew is said to have everything ConcernedApe wanted from the Harvest Moon series, from which it took heavy inspiration.
⚫︎ The game reached 1 million copies sold within its first month of release.
⚫︎ Eight years later, as of February 2024, the game has sold over 30 million copies.
⚫︎ The game has received constant updates throughout its lifespan, all of which ConcernedApe has released for free. He said he cares more about the players enjoying the game rather than profiting from it.
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