Some of them slowly warm to your presence, others are not sure what to make of you, and a few find you outright disgusting. Though I spent a great deal of time with all three facets, getting to know the locals kept stealing away most of my attention. However, it is more than the sum of its parts, because all three sections work in harmony with one another to create an experience that’s almost always engaging. Stardew Valley can essentially be broken down into three sections: farming, dungeon crawling, and social simulation. Once I ventured beyond my property lines and into the neighboring town to buy some supplies, the action became more enticing.

You’re not required to do such a thing, but my compulsive personality dictated that I create a wide-open field to plant my crops. I arrived at my farm to find it a cluttered mess and then spent my first two hours cleaning it up. Stardew Valley and I did not get off to a great start, but that was largely my fault.

Though Stardew Valley’s farming simulation initially appears to be a Harvest Moon imitator, it’s much more than that: it’s a sprawling and surprisingly deep RPG filled with secrets waiting to be discovered by the most patient and vigilant players.

You move there to find a field of weeds and overgrown trees outside of a little hut as well as a town occupied by colorful personalities. You’re a cubicle drone working for a monolithic corporation who opens a letter from your deceased grandfather to find out you’ve inherited a farm. In its opening cinematic, Stardew Valley plainly presents the fantasy it wants to sell you.

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