I Became Addicted to Stardew Valley
I was determined to dislike this game. So how did it come to this?
Show me a gritty, dark fantasy RPG and I’m there. So how on Earth did it come to this? I was determined to think the worst of Stardew Valley. But instead, I became its latest victim.
There’s a hype about Stardew Valley that nagged at me.
Like an itch to play it and discover how the developer, ConcernedApe, managed to amass his cult following.
And so began my fall down the rabbit hole. . .
How Stardew Valley Looked to an Outsider
Let’s not sugarcoat it. Stardew Valley looked like an overdose of people pleasing and agricultural micromanagement.
A rinse-and-repeat mission to befriend everyone and harvest crops. Riveting.
How could a game developer ever dream of a player used to Elden Ring graphics becoming emotionally attached to these pixelated blobs?
It’s a game that defied my growing hunger for professional voice-acting, satisfying combat, and wow-factor graphics.
But one week in. . . I had a Stardew Valley printout of all the characters’ favourite things, and I was religiously listening to the OST like it was the only music I needed.
I was a fish delighted to be caught.
Why Stardew Valley Is So Addictive
What the Developer Prescribed
At its core, Stardew Valley is a mouse trap with an incredibly tasty piece of cheese.
The game gives players what they want most but experience least in today’s rat-race way of life.
Genuine, non-superficial relationships with people, a strong sense of community, a connection to nature, and an undeniable feeling of belonging.
So simple. But clearly the medicine that millions of people needed.
Sure, it has some unsettling game mechanics that don’t translate into real life.
I can’t gift a leek to a stranger and expect to build rapport on the spot. The blatant attempt to suck up to people just won’t fly.
But in Stardew Valley, if you take the time to remember people’s birthdays, favourite things, and help them out when they need it, you will be rewarded.
No strings attached.
So many games promise meaningful relationships but don’t deliver, with shallow and limited NPC interactions that only end up feeling hollow.
It’s built into numerous games that notable NPCs are there to be used, whether to further your questline, hire as a meat shield, or make a pretty penny.
Especially if you being ‘the chosen one’ underpins the game.
But in Pelican Town, you’ve got to put your blood, sweat, and tears into making a friend.
Slimes will be slaughtered, money will go down the drain, and crops will be harvested on a manic level . . . all in the name of friendship.
The harder the challenge, the sweeter the reward. Because Stardew Valley NPCs are not a means to an end, but an end in themselves.
They don’t exist for you, but co-exist with you in the world. How refreshing!
It’s a game that is deeply satisfying in its simplicity.
Yet the more I played it, the more I realised that this wasn’t your average farming sim.
A Cosy Gaming Experience
My go-to games are designed to unhinge me — make me feel on edge, stressed, and mentally drained.
Demanding combat, party management, anxiety-inducing stealth operations, and intense boss fights were baked into my idea of what gaming was.
Stardew Valley introduced me to an entirely new genre and experience. Like a battle-scared panda finally discovering life in the tranquil bamboo grove.
ConcernedApe still gives you the fundamentals of combat, crafting, and quests, but wrapped up in the cosy game genre — making players feel comfortable, safe, and content.
The addition of magic, mystery, and fantasy elements never failed to keep things spicy.
Stardew Valley is by no means the first of its kind, and the cosy genre is becoming oversaturated.
But it was the first time I had crossed paths with the cosy experience.
The ribbon that beautifully wraps up this wholesome parcel is the soundtrack, composed by ConcernedApe — along with the art, design, programming, animations, writing . . . the whole caboodle.
The music is unbelievably addictive and lived in my head rent-free and on repeat.
The OST is like a recipe that throws together peculiar ingredients, yet the final taste test proves that the flavours work.
It blends classic country-style banjo and guitar with instruments like the harp and flute.
The soundtrack is what gives Stardew Valley serious character and makes you sit on the edge of your seat in anticipation of the next season.
Keeping You a Busy Bee (and Farm Finances)
Another factor in my Stardew Valley obsession was how the game kept me crazily busy.
Like a happy hamster racing on a continually spinning wheel.
You can never fit your hectic schedule into a single day.
You can try, but you’ll only be a regular patient at the hospital — which isn’t operated out of the generosity of Dr Harvey’s heart.
Another drain on my limited farming funds!
Money management is a must, and my desperate desire for financial success fueled me. Pelican Town is not a paradise for the compulsive shopper!
You’ve got to be sharp with your finances and investments.
It’s all tulips and cauliflowers . . . until you’re broke.
With my insane daily to-do list and ongoing money woes, I fell into the addictive ‘one more day’ cycle.
There was no hope for this hamster jumping off his spinning wheel any time soon.
Not when the hamster loved doing it.
What Is ConcernedApe So Concerned About?
Before accepting our new farm life, we’re shown our existence in a sea of grey cubicles, plugging away on our computer, with only a security camera for close company.
We pan through the Joja office of burnt-out employees being monitored by their black-suited corporate overlords.
No fun here. Just endless, lifeless work.
There will come a day when you feel crushed by the burden of modern life . . . and your bright spirit will fade before a growing emptiness — Grandpa
If this hits a nerve, you’re not the only one.
And to think that ConcernedApe nearly pulled the plug on Stardew Valley’s development.
We’d still be stuck in our Joja offices, plugging away, with no Pelican Town to escape to.
