Welcome back to campus! With two weeks already behind us, the semester is in full swing. The pressures of classes, clubs, sports, part-time jobs, internships, or anything else you may be involved in are probably already piling up. That’s where Stardew Valley can save you.
In this charming game, you move onto your very own farm in the valley. Your new home is characterized by a close-knit community, an abundance of natural resources, and a beautiful landscape. What you do with these things is completely up to you.
Planting and raising crops is a staple of Stardew Valley, but there’s much more to discover! You can fish in the lake, river, and ocean. You can explore the local mines to gather ore and precious gemstones. You can talk, give gifts to, and befriend the residents of the valley. You can also raise animals, cook, decorate your house and farm, and attend community events, to name a few more.
Another notable feature of Stardew Valley is that you can find love, get married, and have children. There are six bachelors and six bachelorettes to choose from, each with their own unique story arc. Same-sex couples are also possible!
This game is stress relieving magic. Its homey atmosphere combined with a gorgeous soundtrack will put you in a perfect place to relax. Since there is no pressure to play the game in any particular way, you don’t need to worry about anything but enjoying the ride and figuring things out for yourself. You can set goals within the game and watch with satisfaction as you complete them.
“But I don’t have time for video games!” you exclaim, gesturing towards a schedule that leaves you with an hour of free time each night— if you’re lucky. I hear your concerns, but consider this: Each “day” in game lasts for about 20 minutes, and the game is played in these increments. Therefore, it’s pretty easy to play a day or two of Stardew Valley as a breather, and then get on with your life.
It can be played on PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation Vita. Depending on what you play on, you can get it for as low as $10 or $15, but definitely no more than $20.
Recently, a multiplayer update was added to the PC version of the game (and is currently being developed on other platforms). Now, you can start a farm with up to three of your friends. This is also a great game to try with your significant other!
Try something new this semester and invest in Stardew Valley. It’ll pay off when you’re starting to feel overwhelmed.