Why Stardew Valley Is Popular: 10 Reasons We Love It

Updated:

08 Apr 2023

Every gamer has likely heard about Stardew Valley. Perhaps you found out about the game via the Internet. Or maybe you see your friends play it on Steam all the time. Who knows, you might even be considering buying it yourself. If you do, don’t. Stop considering and just do it. It will be one of the best games you’ll ever play.

But in all seriousness, I do love Stardew Valley and I am hardly alone. If you wish to find out what the hype is all about, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll explain why Stardew Valley is such a popular game. I’ve prepared the following 10 reasons people love it so much.

10. Comes with a multiplayer option

Two heads are better than one when it comes to finishing the museum collection.

Stardew Valley features a multiplayer mode, which allows you to share the experience with your friends. This was an excellent way to spend some time with them during the lockdown. Playing with others can be a lot easier since you can divide the workload among yourselves.

9. It’s a sandbox

There's no end to the things you can do in Stardew Valley.

I’ve always been a fan of the sandbox game. I suppose that’s part of the reason why Stardew Valley grew on me. Unlike most RPG games, you can keep playing Stardew Valley even once you finish the main story. Once you do, you decide what your next goal will be. This can be anything from decorating your farm to trying to make as much money as you possibly can. You can even play the Casanova and go on a heartbreak spree.

8. Immersive

The life in Stardew Valley is very realistic, without the difficult parts.

Few games are as immersive as Stardew Valley. I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the game the moment you set foot on your virtual farm. The game design focuses on leveling up your character, improving your skills, and unlocking new items. Before you know it, you’ll want to experience everything the game wants to offer.

The immersion may compel you to keep playing for hours. We’ve all had those moments of ‘I’ll go off after just one more day’. If you’re anything like me, you likely repeated that mental note at least ten times before you finally went off.

7. Interesting characters

The game features a lot of NPCs you can interact with.

Another reason Stardew Valley is such a popular game is its unforgettable characters. You can befriend over thirty different characters. Each one comes with their unique events during which you learn more about them. Some of these events are funny while others are surprisingly deep.

I’ve always liked mysterious characters and hoped Stardew Valley would come with one. It didn’t disappoint. My favorite one is easily Mr. Qi, a helpful but reclusive man who helps you on several occasions in the game.

This is my favorite quote from him: ‘The world’s like a bowl of rice. It’s got substance, but it ain’t worth nothin’ without a good, zesty sauce. That’s where we come in’. This quote tells us that life is what we make it and it’s up to us to make it worth living. It’s one of the reasons I’ve decided to become a writer.

6. Great value for money

The game has an amazing replay potential.

If you’re unsure about whether to buy the game or not, don’t be. I promise you you’ll fall in love with this game for years to come. As someone who’s played his fair share of games, I can say this is the one game I won’t ever regret getting into. Not only is it cheap compared to most modern games, but it also comes with great replay value.

5. Simple yet pleasant graphics

Stardew Valley has stunning graphics. You can enhance them further with mods.

Stardew Valley proves that you don’t need a large animation studio to create a successful game. Though the pixel art design may be simple, it gives the game a cute, down-to-earth touch. The bright colors make it appear warm and lively, which is one of the many reasons we love playing it.

Another advantage of pixel art graphics is how undemanding it is for your computer. You can play Stardew Valley on several devices, from laptops to mobile phones.

4. Good replay value

You can play as many saves as you want to.

Stardew Valley is one of those games that never fade from your memory. I guarantee you will keep returning it to it every once in a while, even if you think you explored everything the game has to offer. I usually get sucked back into the game every few months. And believe me, no two playthroughs are ever the same.

For instance, you can always try out a new farm map. You can also experiment with what production you’ll focus on. And perhaps you may even, god forbid, choose to destroy the Community Center and build a JoJa Warehouse instead (to this day, I still haven’t done that).

And if you ever get bored of the base content, you can install many mods that add more storylines to the game.

3. Soundtrack

Stardew Valley has an amazing soundtrack.

What Stardew Valley excels in is its flawless soundtrack. When I first started playing, I remember being completely mesmerized by the Spring themes. And during my first year, I always looked forward to new seasons just to listen to the new themes.

What truly blows my mind is the fact that ConcernedApe designed the entire track himself, together with most game elements. With the addition of the Ginger Island patch, the game currently features over 100 unique tracks.

Not only is each track relaxing and unique, but it fits the theme it was designed for flawlessly. The summer themes make you think of summer, while the desert one has an exotic ring to it.

Many people listen to the soundtrack even when they’re not currently playing Stardew Valley, myself included. I find it to be the perfect music for studying and working. My favorite track is Sun Room (Alone with Relaxing Tea). But every single remains firmly etched into my memory to this day.

2. Good break from other games

There is no toxicity in Stardew Valley and its community.

The main selling point of Stardew Valley is its relaxing nature. This is the combined result of its soundtrack, graphics, and gameplay. While I like playing competitive games from time to time, they can be mentally draining (I’m looking at you, League of Legends). Even solo offline games can feel a bit intense at times.

Stardew Valley comes with none of that. You can play it at your own place. It doesn’t matter if you unlock all achievements in the second or tenth year. Whenever you just want to play without worrying about being good and bad, you can always revisit Stardew Valley.

1. The perfect comfort game

Stardew Valley is the perfect game to relax and unwind.

Stardew Valley represents the perfect comfort game you could ever ask for. I often turn to it whenever I’m feeling a bit down. And from what I’ve seen, I’m not the only one. The world of Stardew Valley is the perfect place to turn to when life’s responsibilities get too heavy to bear. While I’m not saying hiding in a video game will make your worries go away, it can certainly help you recover your strength to deal with them.