The Harmonious MDA of Stardew Valley
Pick a game you love, and identify a set of mechanics that create a dynamic that makes a certain kind of fun for you.
I’ve owned both the PC and Mobile version of Stardew Valley for around three years now and have spent hundreds of hours in gameplay. When my brother first introduced me to the game, I thought it a hardcore version of Farmville (which I also played many hours of back in my childhood, although I’d like to think that I outgrew it). While Stardew is, in fact, also a farming simulator, the harmony of its underlying mechanics makes it interesting and addictive despite the repetitive nature of farming, leading players to fully pursue all aesthetics of the game.
Designing a Prolific Farm
Virtual farming is no easy task. Beyond tending to your plants, you have to raise your farm animals and make artisan products from your harvest. Having an efficient farm is essential for being successful — however, designing a beautiful farm is not. The motivation for a player to design such a farm as you see below shows how harmonious the game’s MDA are.
Following the Narrative to Master your Skills
The game also defines five completely different skills for your character to master as you journey each day, forcing to to be a well rounded character. You benefit from building relationships and interacting with the townspeople, forcing you to entertain the narrative built into the game, attack the fantastical monsters hiding deep in the mines, and marry one of the town’s eligible bachelors.
It’s easy to fall deep into your subconscious pastoral fantasy that many don’t even know that they have before playing Stardew Valley. I feel as though the mechanics of this game does a good job of hitting upon quite a few aesthetic components, thus making it a game suitable for all types of gamers.
