and help them with their requests, go fishing or mining while also defending themselves against monsters.
Stardew Valley has a casual feel that allows players to progress at their own pace. Some will work hard to meet a goal in just two days, while others will take their time to get the most out of the experience.
Farming
Inherit your grandfather’s dilapidated farm and cultivate a new life in this award-winning open-ended country-life RPG! Farm, fish, forage, cook, mine and explore as you create the farm of your dreams.
In Stardew Valley, players earn experience in five types of “proficiency,” which unlocks a variety of recipes and items. Each category of proficiency – farming, fishing, mining, combat, and foraging – works a little differently.
To plant seeds, players hold the action button, then walk forward to select a location. Green tiles do not prevent construction, but some objects such as Sprinklers will interfere if they are in the selected spot. To avoid this, the player can place a scarecrow at the site.
Fishing
Getting proficient at fishing is one of the most important skills you can learn in Stardew Valley. You can catch fish in the ocean and lakes by using a fishing rod, or in crab pots by placing them in the water. Fish caught in a crab pot are not of the same quality as those foraged on the beach or caught with a rod, though.
Players can unlock new rods at each level of the game, with the iridium rod being particularly powerful. They can also upgrade their bait to increase the likelihood of a fish bite, and consume food that boosts their fishing level.
Mining
The mines are the most lucrative place to collect resources in Stardew Valley. Players should look for high reward floors like Fire Quartz and Emeralds. They can also find coal and gems.
There are 120 levels in the Mines across three sections with different themes and monsters. The last ten levels of each section have a special theme and higher loot rewards.
If the player has reached Mining skill level 2, they can skip floors by using a Staircase (crafted from 99 Stone). The Mines’ entrance also has the Minecart that allows fast travel to and from the Mines. It becomes available after Joja employees remove a rockslide around the fifth day of spring.
Combat
The player’s Combat skill indicates their proficiency in fighting monsters, found mostly in the mines and Skull Cavern. The player can level up their Combat skill by killing monsters with a sword or bomb. Each experience point awarded from killing a monster unlocks new recipes and slightly improves the player’s prowess in combat.
The player can make use of a number of foods that boost the player’s performance, such as Spicy Eel and Roots Platter. They can also eat special rings that offer buffs such as Warrior Energy, which increases the player’s attack power by +3. Knowing the enemies and their behaviors will help players take them out quickly.
Friendships
A key feature in Stardew Valley is the friendship system. Each villager has a heart meter that shows your level of friendship with them, and you can improve it by talking to them often, giving them gifts they love (or dislike) and visiting them on their birthday.
You can also improve your relationship with villagers by helping them out with their problems and by participating in unique, weekly events. In addition, a new 1.5 update added movie theaters where you can take your friends out for a night of fun and potentially boost your relationship even further.
However, it’s important to note that your relationship can still decay, even when you have 10 hearts or more with a character. This is due to things such as negative choices during their heart event or giving them gifts they hate.
Story
Despite its seemingly simple premise, Stardew Valley offers a surprisingly robust experience. Players must water crops, fish, mine ores, sculpt art, and cultivate relationships with villagers.
Each villager has a unique personality and story, which can be revealed through interaction and raising friendship (or ‘hearts’) levels. Players can also pursue a number of marriage options, each with their own unique baggage.
Developer Eric Barone acknowledged that some Type-A players would use spreadsheets to maximize their farm’s output, but he did not want the game to become “a grind”. Instead, he designed the game to feel open-ended. The result is a highly addictive and relaxing game.
