Video games once gained a reputation for being nothing more than war simulations. Thankfully, we’ve come a long way from that narrow view, in no small part thanks to games like Stardew Valley, which demonstrate its core theme of kindness in several important ways.
17 Best Cottagecore Indie Games, Ranked
No duds, no filler—just the best cottagecore games, full of beauty, depth, and cozy surprises.
Stardew Valley goes a long way in emphasizing kindness and approaching problems with a gentle hand. It does not shy away from the dark areas of the world, such as depression and alcoholism, but your experiences are seen through the eyes of compassion. Here are some examples of why Stardew Valley is one of the kindest games ever.
10
Encourages You to Go at Your Own Pace
There is no Wrong Way to Play
In my most recent Stardew Valley game, I spent the entire last week of Winter pounding rocks in preparation for Spring. This ended up being one of my favorite weeks, partly because of Stardew Valley’s comforting game loops, but also because there were no consequences for not earning tens of thousands of gold every single day.
It just drove home that this is a game that really lets you do whatever you want. Stardew Valley doesn’t hold your hand, which means it can have a learning curve. In a world that can feel like it’s being measured in the last days, entering a world where there is no penalty for going at your own pace can be tough.
9
Everyone in Pelican City has problems
A Message of Hope Lies Here
There are many citizens in Pelican City, and getting to know them all on a meaningful level can take quite a bit of time. As their stories progress and they trust you more, they begin to open up to you. It soon becomes clear that even if a person shines in the sun, it is possible that something is difficult for them.
The problems that the citizens of Pelican City face range from dire to tragic, but they are all treated with the gravity they deserve, and from a place of empathy. There is a luxury in seeing your problems reflected in the game, especially when you have the power to help these characters overcome them.
8
Choosing Slow Life Over Company
There Is Another Way
The Stardew Valley player character comes from a corporate life, and their journey begins when they turn to a slower life in the countryside. You can experience this new life however you like, but optimizing your farm to maximize profits largely goes against the spirit of Stardew Valley and turns a relaxing experience into a stressful one.
Stardew Valley: 10 Ways to Make Second Playthroughs Different
Anyone looking for another reason to play Stardew Valley again, look no further. This list has everything you need.
Stardew Valley’s music, soundscape, and countryside are the perfect place to relax. At its core, it encourages you to forget about the pressures of the real world and indulge in a place where you have full control over your life. The gameplay loop is designed to be taken one day at a time and, as the seasons pass, there are new things to do on your farm and other characters that enrich your experience.
7
Helping Citizens Overcome Their Real World Mistakes
There is Comfort in Compassion
There are a few characters in Pelican Town that are not familiar when you meet them. I had issues with Shane, in particular, when he tells you to leave him alone for all three hearts before he says anything else. I also brought up George’s homophobia, and Alex stops making misogynistic comments when you start talking to him.
As you get to know everyone in Pelican Town, you learn that these characters are not leading good lives. They are all flawed in some way, and those flaws create a world that reflects the real in meaningful ways. Each of their stories has a positive outcome, and seeing these real-world problems get a positive development is comforting even in a cozy game.
6
Stardew Valley Champions Kindness
Helping Others Heal Comes With Rewards
This is not the same as the games that are comfortable, but many do not offer a difficult option when working with characters like in Stardew Valley. Choosing the kind option over anything cold-hearted or destructive is always rewarded. An example is Leah’s two-heart event, where you get the option to ask Leah to kiss you, which prevents you from seeing her heart events later.
As your relationship develops, you can choose options that help them choose the best path forward and maximize their best qualities. It is very likely that your actions in Pelican Town will have a positive effect on the town as the characters begin to face their own problems. Approaching these characters with empathy and belief in their ability to improve is a key part of Stardew Valley.
5
Sound and Music
Listen to the Birds
Stardew Valley is not only peaceful in its visuals and gameplay loop, but also in its sound. Its music alternates between joy and peace, but also includes stretches of silence where the sounds of nature are allowed to shine.
These gaps rarely occur in video games, where there is silence or wall-to-wall music. This works within their context, but the silence in Stardew Valley feels very deliberate. Instead of the hustle and bustle of the city, Pelican City and its surroundings are filled with the sounds of nature. There are birds calling to each other, squirrels and rabbits are eating, there is the sound of the wind blowing. All of this sends a clear message that this is the kind of place where anyone can find relaxation.
Renovating the City Restores the Environment
The heart of the game is best told and represented by the mechanics involved in restoring the community center. As the citizens of Pelican City begin to recover, the restoration of the community center restores the important features of the city that allow it to grow and prosper.
Supporting Joja Mart also revives Pelican Town, but the main difference in the treatment of the community center is the forest spirits that facilitate its restoration. Community development projects with Joja only require money, while cooperation with the forest spirits involves working with the environment and collaborating with various programs in Stardew Valley, especially those involving the environment around Pelican City.
3
Against the Wind
There is only one developer and free updates
Stardew Valley is up against the AAA gaming companies in many ways. Rather than having hundreds of engineers, it’s done by just one person. It has a simple, pacifist concept, and yet Stardew Valley is at the top of Steam’s review chart. It’s affordable, on multiple platforms, and ConcernedApe continues to release free updates, with the development of the tenth anniversary update.
10 Best Pixel Art RPGs
You don’t need hyper-realism to be happy!
This is a new spirit for gamers. Not only are AAA studios turning to microtransactions and in-game markets and even casual games to increase profits, but the price of AAA games on PC recently reached $80. Finding a game that is successful and yet made with love and care is a rare thing.
The Stardew Valley community is one of the best in gaming circles, which can be very dangerous and competitive. Instead of falling into this trap, Stardew Valley’s fandom supports and welcomes new players, with tons of online guides and an active subreddit with veteran players open to answering new players’ questions.
The supporting community also extends to their mods. Stardew Valley has one of the most diverse and extensive modding scenes of any game, where players create mods the size of every expansion pack and make them available to the public for free. They do this with the support of ConcernedApe, and it’s all because of their love for the game.
1
The Great Message
Access to Hope
Overall, the core theme of Stardew Valley is hope. Things get better, not worse, as you advance the stories of the citizens of Pelican Town. Even characters like Krobus and the Dwarf get narratives full of hope and healing.
Despite the main story of Stardew Valley, the basic game loop and mechanics are forgiving. There is no death mode, forgetting to water your plants is not the end of the world, and there are so many things to do that there is no single path to success in Stardew Valley. Take your time, develop your farm, and build a life that is less forgiving than the real world.
10 Fun Games for Gamers Who Like to Explore Beyond the Farm
Casual games have evolved over time, with some leading ones offering rewarding exploration among other new features, but not all of them are successful.
- Released
-
February 26, 2016
- The ESRB
-
Everyone 10+ / Imaginary Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Alcohol and Tobacco Use
- Engineer(s).
-
ConcernedApe
- Publisher
-
ConcernedApe
- Engine
-
Ownership
- Cross-Platform Play
-
Stardew Valley does not currently support cross-play between consoles and PC
