This is another of those games that feels like a place to inhabit. In the category of games for peacefully whiling away the time, there's almost no match. It's the game I always wished Harvest Moon or Rune Factory would be. One of my favorite things about this game is there’s absolutely no way to fail, and you’re never penalized for allocating your time however you see fit. Even if you die in a cave, the punishment is practically nonexistent. Also, you never have to go in there. If you waste a day going to bed at 1pm, it literally doesn’t matter. If you wanna spend all your time gathering berries and hanging out with a wizard, go ahead. If you have a burning desire to become an exceptionally wealthy melon and truffle oil tycoon, no one's stopping you. If you just feel like catching fish and falling in love, do it. You could also just do it all. It’s wonderful.


Good games made by a single person or a small team aren’t extremely rare these days, but rarely do they get pretty much everything right. In terms of art and music, it’s a beautiful game, but never ostentatious. It’s beautiful in such a warm and inviting way. The art is cute and humble in a way that perfectly matches the way playing this game makes you feel. The music always feels seasonally appropriate and provides the perfect backdrop for your new life. There are few things I've seen in games quite as lovely as your first time watching the seasons change in Stardew Valley. “Labor of love” is an understatement.